Nontype 1 Retinopathy of Prematurity: Disease Profile and Indications of Treatment

Abstract

Purpose: To study the features of “nontype 1” retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and indications of treatment. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Medical records of inborn or outborn neonates screened for ROP from tertiary level special newborn care unit according to national screening guidelines were analyzed. Infants diagnosed with milder than type 1 ROP, not progressing to type 1 ROP, with complete medical records were included. Features, morphology, staging and indications of treatment were recorded. Preplus disease was studied as a risk factor for treatment. Results: 464 eyes (232 infants) were screened. Thirty eyes of 16 infants with non-type 1 ROP were included. Twelve out of 30 such eyes (40.0%) underwent treatment. Three had type 2 ROP, all of which were treated, 27 had mild type ROP, 9 of which were treated. So, out of 12 eyes, 3 (25.0%) were treated due to structural abnormalities (anteroposterior traction on retina, flat retinal fibrosis, vitreous hemorrhage) and 9 out of 12 eyes (75.0%) due to persistent ROP. Eyes with preplus disease were 2.33 times more likely to be treated; presence of preplus disease came out to be a significant risk factor for treatment. Conclusions: Persistent ROP with increasing weight and structural abnormalities were the major indication of treatment in milder than type 1 ROP. Presence of preplus disease was also an important risk factor for treatment.