Elsevier

Survey of Ophthalmology

Volume 63, Issue 5, September–October 2018, Pages 618-637
Survey of Ophthalmology

Major review
Retinopathy of prematurity: a review of risk factors and their clinical significance

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2018.04.002Get rights and content

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a retinal vasoproliferative disease that affects premature infants. Despite improvements in neonatal care and management guidelines, ROP remains a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Current screening guidelines are primarily based on two risk factors: birth weight and gestational age; however, many investigators have suggested other risk factors, including maternal factors, prenatal and perinatal factors, demographics, medical interventions, comorbidities of prematurity, nutrition, and genetic factors. We review the existing literature addressing various possible ROP risk factors. Although there have been contradictory reports, and the risk may vary between different populations, understanding ROP risk factors is essential to develop predictive models, to gain insights into pathophysiology of retinal vascular diseases and diseases of prematurity, and to determine future directions in management of and research in ROP.

Keywords

pediatric ophthalmology
preterm infant
retina
retinopathy of prematurity
risk factor
risk model

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1

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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