早产儿视网膜病变筛查结果分析

目的 探索适合成都及周边地区早产儿视网膜病变(retinopathy of prematurity,ROP)的筛查模式.方法 回顾性调查分析研究.对2007年12月至2011年3月在四川省人民医院及成都市妇女儿童中心出生的332例体重2500g以下或孕周小于34周的早产儿,自生后4～6周或矫正胎龄32周开始筛查至周边视网膜血管化.结果 332例早产儿中有41例发生了早产儿视网膜病变,占12.35％.其中严重的4例(7只眼)接受了激光治疗,1例(1只眼)接受视网膜冷凝联合巩膜环扎手术治疗,占1.20％.按照卫生部制定的筛查标准,仅259例受检儿符合标准,ROP检出率为14.29％,有4例ROP患儿漏诊.眼底正常组患儿出生孕周和体重均明显高于ROP组,两组间有吸氧史者所占比例及不同严重程度ROP组与未发生ROP组吸氧时间的差异有统计学意义.结论 出生体重、胎龄、吸氧为早产儿视网膜病变发生的重要危险因素,婴儿出生的成熟度越低,早产儿视网膜病变尤其是严重的早产儿视 网膜病变发病可能性越高.成都及周边地区ROP筛查标准应在卫生部制定的ROP筛查标准的基础上适当扩大范围.     

山东省济南地区早产儿视网膜病变的筛查结果及相关因素分析

背景早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）威胁早产儿的视功能,在早产儿中进行ROP筛查并早期进行干预对保存患儿的视力有着极其重要的意义。目前相关的筛查工作已相继在中国多个地区开展或完成,但山东省济南地区尚缺乏相关的筛查研究。目的分析山东省济南地区ROP的筛查结果以及相关影响因素。方法采用横断面调查研究设计。对2008年6月至2010年6月在山东省眼科医院眼底病科就诊且来自山东省济南地区的早产儿和低体重儿144例288眼进行筛查。筛查标准参照2004年中国卫生部颁发的ROP筛查标准和国内多中心的筛查结果,纳入对象为出生体重≤2500g或矫正胎龄≤34周的早产儿和低体重儿,ROP分类标准采用ROP国际分类标准。检查前询问、记录受检儿的病史并对全身情况进行评估。对ROP患儿组与眼底正常儿组的平均出生孕周和出生体重、患儿有持续吸氧史者所占比例进行统计学分析。结果本次调查发现,济南地区符合早产儿和低体重儿标准者144例288眼,共筛查出不同程度的ROP患儿15例30眼,其中男8例,女7例;均为双眼患病;ROP检出率为10．42％。ROP患儿出生孕周平均为（30．85±1．79）周;出生体重平均为（1408．89±259．93）g。其中ROP1期者有6例12眼,2期者4例8眼,3期伴附加病变者4例8眼,5期者1例2眼。受检者中129例眼底正常,出生孕周平均为（32．38±1．48）周,出生体重平均为（1763．19±338．62）g。ROP组患儿的出生孕周明显短于眼底正常组,差异有统计学意义（t=3．71,P〈0．01）,ROP组患儿的出生体重明显低于眼底正常组,差异有统计学意义（t=2．88,P〈0．01）。眼底正常组与ROP组有持续吸氧史者所占的比例分别为58．91％和60．00％,差异无统计学意义（P=1．900）。依据中国卫生部的筛查标准所得的ROP检出率为12．93％（15／116）,按山东省的标准检出率为10．42％（15／144）,差异无统计学意义（χ^2=0．398,P=0．528）。结论济南地区ROP检出率与国内其他地区报道的数据较接近。中国卫生部制定的ROP筛查标准适合济南地区的ROP筛查工作。孕周短和出生体重低是导致ROP发生的危险因素。     

极低体重早产儿视网膜病变的临床研究

目的对极低体重早产儿出生后各因素进行分析，以寻找可能与早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）形成的有关因素及可能影响ROP轻重程度的因素。方法回顾2002年7月至2004年4月我院检查的130例体重≤1500g早产儿的临床资料，并进行统计学分析。结果ROP组60例，正常眼底组70例。ROP组平均出生体重(1256.3±196.8)g及平均孕周(29.583 3±1.543 6)周，而正常眼底组平均出生体重（1337.8±146）g、平均孕周（31.217 4±2.430 6)周。39例外地患儿中早产儿视网膜病变32例占82.1%（轻度ROP 1例,重度ROP 31例）,91例北京患儿中早产儿视网膜病变28例占30.8%（轻度ROP 15例，重度ROP 13例） 。轻度ROP的首次检查时间为(36.062 5±2.909 0)周,明显早于重度ROP(59.477 3±33.604 0)周。非玻璃体切割组的首次就诊时间及首次手术时间明显早于玻璃体切割组。结论低体重是ROP的高危因素，外地早产儿ROP较多。ROP的严重程度与首次检查时间有关，ROP手术方式与首次检查时间及首次手术时间有关。（中华眼底病杂志，2005，21：275-277）     

昆明市儿童医院ROP患儿的母亲孕期风险因素研究

目的:研究并分析昆明市及周边地区高海拔条件下早产儿视网膜病变(retinopathy of prematurity,ROP)患儿母亲孕期的相关风险因素.方法:使用宽视野数字化眼底照相机(RetcamⅡ),对2010-05/2014-12到昆明市儿童医院眼科就诊的早产儿及部分足月小样儿(出生体质量均≤2000g)共1010例进行视网膜检查,收集ROP的发病数据及患儿母亲孕期相关资料,对所获得的各项数据进行统计学处理和分析.结果:早产儿1010例中发现ROP患儿139例278眼,患病率为13.76％,其中1期病变80例(57.55％),2期病变42例(30.22％),3期病变9例(6.47％),4期病变4例(2.88％),5期病变4例(2.88％).阈值病变9例(6.47％).ROP组与正常眼底组早产儿在出生体质量、胎龄、宫内窘迫、多胎妊娠方面的差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:在昆明市高海拔低氧分压地区,ROP患病率为13.76％,低出生体重、小胎龄、宫内窘迫、多胎妊娠是ROP发生的主要孕期因素.     

西安地区早产儿视网膜病变筛查的初步结果

目的 探讨适合西安地区早产儿视网膜病变(ROP)的筛查标准并分析与ROP相关的高危因素.方法 回顾性系列病例研究.收集西安地区2008年6月至2009年6月134例(268只眼)早产儿和低体重儿ROP筛查资料进行回顾性分析.参照我国卫生部制定的ROP筛查标准,结合本地具体情况,适度扩大筛查范围,将出生体重≤2000 g或矫正胎龄≤34周的早产儿和低体重儿确定为本地区ROP筛查标准,并比较分析两个筛查标准所获结果.检查同时对受检儿全身情况进行评估与记录,分析ROP发生的全身高危因素.ROP患儿组与眼底正常儿组的出生孕周和出生体重比较,采用组间比较t检验;两组受检儿中有持续吸氧史者所占比例的比较,采用四格表资料的χ~2检验;ROP与全身相关因素的分析,采用Fisher精确检验.以P<0.05作为差异有统计学意义.结果 西安地区134例(268只眼)早产儿和低体重儿中,共筛查出18例(36只眼)患有不同程度的ROP,ROP检出率约为13.43%.其中男、女性各9例;出生孕周28～34周,平均(30.58±1.97)周;出生体重880～1950 g,平均(1388.89±268.39)g.18例ROP患儿均为双眼患病,其中ROP 1期4例(8只眼);ROP 2期5例(10只眼),其中1例病变侵及Ⅱ区且伴附加病变;ROP 3期伴附加病变5例(10只眼);ROP 4 A期1例(2只眼);ROP 5期1例(2只眼);退行性病变2例(4只眼).按照卫生部制定的ROP筛查标准,西安地区134例早产儿和低体重儿中,仅108例需要筛查,可以涵盖所有ROP患儿,ROP检出率约为16.67%(18/108).在接受筛查的134例早产儿和低体重儿中,眼底正常儿组的平均出生孕周为(32.56±2.00)周,平均出生体重为(1773.91±349.73)g,均明显高于ROP患儿组,差异有统计学意义(孕周t=3.90,P<0.01;体重t=4.45,P<0.01);眼底正常儿组与ROP患儿组有持续吸氧史者所占比例分别为59.48%和61.11%,差异无统计学意义(χ~2=0.017,P>0.05);缺血和缺氧性脑病及胎盘早剥在眼底正常儿组与ROP患儿组的比例分别为12.07%与33.33%(P=0.030)和0.86%与11.11%(P=0.047),差异有统计学意义;结果表明早产、低出生体重、缺血和缺氧性脑病、胎盘早剥等影响胎儿发育的相对缺氧因素与ROP的发生密切相关.结论 西安地区ROP检出率与国内其他地区报道的数据相近.我国卫生部制定的ROP筛查标准适合西安地区的ROP筛查工作.早产、低出生体重及相对缺氧因素是ROP发生的高危因素.     

早产儿视网膜病变的筛查与高危因素分析

目的 研究早产儿视网膜病变(ROP)发病情况及相关的危险因素,探讨其合理的筛查标准.方法 对出生体重≤2500g,胎龄≤37周患儿进行ROP筛查,并行相关因素分析.结果 共筛查275例符合条件的早产儿,发现ROP38例(13.82%);出生体重≤1500g组,～2000g组,～2500g组患病百分比有显著性差异(P<0.05);出生胎龄≤30周组,～32周组,≥33周组间ROP患病百分比有显著性差异(P<0.05);ROP早产儿的吸氧时间明显高于无ROP组(Z=5.292,P=0.000),需要机械辅助呼吸的早产儿发生ROP者较多(x2=30.597,P=0.000),多胎与单胎间发生ROP的差异无统计学意义(x2=0.748,P=0.387),ROP发病与出生胎龄、出生体重、吸氧时间、机械辅助呼口等因素相关.结论 出生体重越低,出生胎龄越小,吸氧时间较长,需要机械辅助呼吸的早产儿,ROP患病率越高.早产儿应及时检查眼底,尽早发现ROP.     

早产儿视网膜病变的筛查及其相关因素分析

目的　探讨发生早产儿视网膜病变(ROP)的全身高危因素。方法　对2002年7月1日至2003年6月30日在北京妇产医院出生的胎龄≤34周或体重≤2000g的早产儿进行眼部检查,并分析发生ROP的相关因素。结果　北京妇产医院98例早产儿中,有17例发生ROP,ROP发生率为17 .3%。出现阈值病变需进行激光治疗者4例(7只眼),占4. 1%。ROP组与正常眼底组早产儿在胎龄、出生体重、吸氧时间( >5d)和最高氧分压及发生败血症方面的差异均有统计学意义(均P<0. 05)。Logistic回归分析结果表明小胎龄、低出生体重等是发生ROP的基本因素,长时间吸氧是发生ROP的危险因素。结论　小胎龄、低出生体重、长时间吸氧等因素与ROP的发生有关。     

单胎与多胎早产儿视网膜病变发病及治疗情况比较分析

目的 回顾性分析单胎与多胎ROP的发病及治疗情况。方法 收集2013年1月至2015年12月广东省妇幼保健院新生儿科住院早产儿病例共4596例,使用RetCamⅡ系统进行眼底筛查,记录单胎及多胎患儿性别、胎龄、出生体重、机械通气及ROP的分期、分区、治疗等情况,使用χ²检验和t检验进行统计分析。结果4596例早产儿中,诊断为ROP共239例,发病率为5.20%。单胎4096例,发生ROP 178例(4.35%),多胎500例,发生ROP 61例(12.20%),其中双胎60例,三胎1例,两组间比较差异有统计学意义(χ²=55.762,P<0.001)。单胎ROP组和多胎ROP组患儿在性别、胎龄、出生体重、机械通气、急进性后极部ROP、附加病变、ROP分期、手术治疗的比较中,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。然而在ROP分区的比较中,多胎组视网膜1区的病变较单胎组高[12 (19.67%),11 (6.18%)],差异有统计学意义(χ²=9.510,P=0.009)。结论 我院ROP的发病率为5.20%,多胎...     

筛查标准在早产儿视网膜病变中的应用

目的 正确认识早产儿视网膜病变(简称ROP)的筛查标准;评价筛查标准在早产儿视网膜病变防治中的实用性、可行性、有效性;探讨建立完善的早产儿视网膜病变筛查体系,提高筛查水平.方法 回顾性研究.收集2005年1月1日至2010年12月31日期间住院治疗并新生儿医师请会诊的672例早产儿.参照中华医学会制定的早产儿视网膜病变防治指南进行筛查.在早产儿生后4～6周,由有经验的眼科医师应用双目间接眼底镜对其进行定期眼底筛查.每两周行1～2次早产儿的眼底筛查,根据患儿筛查情况结果,决定进行下一步的工作.结果(1)在所筛查的672例早产儿中首检为正常视网膜者605例,发生ROP 67例,占9.97％,其中ROP Ⅰ期38只眼,ROPⅡ期60只眼,ROPⅢ期4只眼,ROPⅢ期伴plus病变(3区)16只眼,ROPⅢ期伴plus病变(2区)10只眼,ROPⅣ期2只眼,AP-ROP(进展性后部ROP)2只眼;阈值前病变20只眼,阈值病变14只眼.(2)其中接受眼底激光治疗26只眼,行玻璃体切割手术6只眼(ROP发展至Ⅳ期);其中死亡5例10只眼.(3)67例ROP患儿出生体重均低于2500 g;出生体重≤1000 g、1001～1500 g、1501～2000 g、≤2500 g的早产儿ROP的比例分别为56.76％、12.83％、5.10％、3.42％.(4)孕周小于32W,发生ROP 55例,占82.09％;孕周小于34W,发生ROP 64例,占95.52％.结论 早产、低出生体重是ROP发生的高危因素;对于全身疾病严重的患儿需适当放宽筛查标准.根据不同地域,制定不同的筛查标准.孕周小于34周或出生体重小于2000g的早产儿进行ROP筛查的标准是可行的,值得推广应用.     

广州市番禺区670例早产儿视网膜筛查结果报道

目的 了解早产儿视网膜发育特点及眼底病变发生情况.方法 用带视频录像的双目间接眼底镜对番禺区670例早产儿进行眼底检查,观察视网膜发育及其眼底病变的发生情况.结果 (1)正常早产儿眼底表现:大部分视盘欠圆,色淡,边界欠清,视杯不明显.后极部视网膜动静脉血管条纹及其次级分支清晰可见.黄斑部轮晕明显,范围大,光反射强,大部分黄斑中心凹不明显.(2)眼底病变发生情况:发现ROP者8例,发病率为7.1％;其中,ROP1期者2例,2期者2例,3期者4例,未发现4期及5期病变.视网膜出血发生11例,均为自然分娩患儿.玻璃体病变3例.(3)并发症发生情况:21例患儿发生不同程度的球结膜下出血,2例患儿头皮下见大量出血点,1例患儿发生急性结膜炎.在检查前后过程中未发现有呼吸暂停、休克等严重并发症.结论 基层医院早产儿胎龄、体重、ROP发病率、ROP严重程度等方面与三级医院有较大差异.在基层医院普及筛查制度,可以避免绝大部分严重致盲ROP发生,具有重大意义.     

Regressed retinopathy of prematurity and its sequelae in children aged 5-10 years.

Regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its sequelae were studied in children born prematurely (less than 1501 g birth weight and/or less than 33 weeks gestational age) in Stockholm county during 1976-81. Through various searches of the records at the different eye departments and other sources in Stockholm county we found that 134 out of a total of 528 premature babies (25.4%) had needed ophthalmic care for different reasons. They were re-examined and reliable information on the fundus could be obtained for 105 of them. The frequency of regressed ROP was 45.5%. Severe forms with vitreoretinal scarring and retinal traction were seen in 9.7% of cases and moderate forms with pigmentary changes and/or vitreoretinal interphase changes in 35.8%. The sequelae of regressed ROP were mainly reduction of visual acuity and myopia. Children with a birth weight below 1000 g and a gestational age less than 30 weeks presented the highest rate of regressed ROP (68.5% and 61.9%) and ocular abnormalities.     

早产儿视网膜病变发病情况分析

目的 分析早产儿视网膜病变(ROP)的发病情况.方法 回顾性分析2005年9月至2008年5月来就诊的胎龄小于36周、体重低于2500g的210例早产儿的眼底筛查情况及高危因素.结果 210例早产儿中,ROP的发生率为12.9%,其中ROP3期以上的发生率为3.8%;低孕周、低体重、出生后吸氧时间过长、严重的新生儿疾病的早产儿ROP发生率高;双生子ROP发生率(20.5%)高于单生子(10.8%),且ROP发生严重.结论 低孕周、低体重、出生后吸氧时间过长、患严重的新生儿疾病、非单生子等是引起早产儿视网膜病变的高危因素.     

Analysis of risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity

AIM: To analyze the incidence and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 568 premature infants from September 2005 to December 2010 with birth weight(BW) equal to or less than 2 500g or a gestational age(GA) at birth of 34 weeks or less. All of the members were examined by indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS: ROP occurred with an incidence rate of 10.7% among 568 premature infants, and stages 3 and above ROP occurred with an incidence rate of 2.5%. This study showed the infants were more prone to develop ROP with short geststional age, low BW, long time of oxygen inhalation, and severe infants diseases. Twins had a significantly higher rate of ROP(18.3%) than singleton babies(9.8%), ROP were severer in twins than singleton babies . CONCLUSION: Short GA, low BW, long time of oxygen inhalation, severe infants diseases, and non-singleton babies were the most significant risk factors associated with ROP.     

Clinical features of premature twin babies with intersibling asymmetry of retinopathy of prematurity severity

ObjectiveTo report the clinical features of premature twin babies showing intersibling asymmetry in their severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and analyze risk factors associated with development of severe ROP between twin siblings with discordant ROP severity.MethodsA retrospective study of records of 105 premature twin pairs was conducted. The criteria for discordant ROP with an intersibling difference in ROP severity were as follows: (i) two or more stages of difference in ROP between siblings, (ii) one sibling having treatment-requiring ROP and the other having no ROP or ROP that regressed spontaneously, or (iii) one sibling having aggressive posterior ROP and the other having staged or no ROP. Twin siblings were classified into two groups according to the severity of ROP (no or less ROP and more severe ROP). We examined ocular features in twins having intersibling asymmetry of ROP and analyzed perinatal risk factors for ROP.ResultsOf 105 twin pairs, 32 pairs (30.5%) showed intersibling asymmetry of ROP severity, and 15 pairs (14.3%) showed ROP asymmetry in terms of need for ROP treatment. The development of more severe ROP was associated with longer duration of oxygen supplementation and greater frequency of total blood and packed red blood cell transfusion (p = 0.020, p = 0.045, and p = 0.036, respectively). Longer duration of oxygen supplementation remained a statistically independent risk factor of severe ROP using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ConclusionsOphthalmologists caring for premature infants should be aware of the variable courses and progressions of ROP between twin babies. Longer duration of oxygen supplementation and greater frequency of blood transfusions were associated with higher ROP severity in twins.     

Research of myopia development in children with self-regression of retinopathy of prematurity and in children with regression after cryotherapy

PURPOSE: The aim of the paper is to estimate the influence of self-regression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and regression after cryotherapy for development of axial myopia in premature babies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The researches concerned 4 groups of premature babies in the 6th, 12th and 24th month of life. Group 1--without ROP, group 2--with self-regression of ROP, group 3--with regression of ROP after cryotherapy and group 4--with one eye with self-regression of ROP and second eye with regression after cryotherapy. RESULTS: In the 6th and 24th month of life mean axial length of eyeball in children from group 3 was statistically significantly higher than mean axial length of eyeball in children from group 1 and 2. In the 12th month of life mean axial length of eyeball in children from group 3 was statistically significantly higher than mean axial length of eyeball in children from group 1. In group 4 mean axial length of eyeball with regression of ROP after cryotherapy was statistically significantly higher than mean axial length of eyeball with self-regression of ROP. CONCLUSIONS: Self-regression of ROP and regression of ROP after cryotherapy may cause development of axial myopia in premature babies.     

Visual acuity, strabismus, and amblyopia in premature babies with and without retinopathy of prematurity

One hundred eighty-seven premature babies, 48 of whom suffered from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), were examined. A higher incidence of strabismus was found in the group with cicatricial ROP (23% vs. 9%). Amblyopia was present in 6% of the ROP group and in only 1.4% of babies without ROP. Myopia was found in 50% of the ROP group as compared with 15% in the nonROP group. Astigmatism and anisometropia were more common in the ROP group, but hypermetropia was equally represented in both groups.     

Retinopathy of prematurity, a decrease in frequency and severity. Trends over 16 years in a Danish county

PURPOSE: To analyse the trends over 16 years (1982-97) in a Danish county regarding the clinical appearance of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: The data for birth years 1993-97 regarding the regular ophthalmic surveillance for ROP in the region have been analysed. With gestational age (GA) 32 weeks and/or a birthweight (BW) 1750 g as attempted screening limits a total of 177 premature infants were surveyed. Comparison was made with studies of a similar set-up from the preceding four 3-year periods comprising a total of 814 subjects. RESULTS: The number of survivors regarded at a higher risk of developing ROP (GA and BW both <32 weeks/1750 g, n=478) showed an even increase over the five investigation periods. The ROP frequency, however, fell from a level of 39% to 10%, there were fewer with severe sequels to ROP, and the children surveyed 'above limits' eventually avoided ROP. CONCLUSIONS: Using the ROP profile as a yardstick for the quality of the neonatal service given to the most immature newborns over the period 1982-97, the risk limits regarding GA and BW have gone down. More and more of the heavier preterm babies now escape ROP. A significant decrease in frequency of ROP in the more immature groups has been observed, and fewer cases have progressed to visual impairment.     

''Rush'' type retinopathy of prematurity: report of three cases.

Three premature infants observed to develop severe stage III retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at 3 to 5 weeks of age received immediate treatment by cryoablation and photocoagulation, with good results. The critical importance of the ophthalmic examination of premature babies from the age of 2 weeks, so as not to overlook such cases of 'rush' type ROP is stressed and the difficulty involved in treating such small neonates is discussed.     

Retinopathy of prematurity in practice. I: screening for threshold disease

AIMS: To review an 11-year period of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the north of England by a single ophthalmologist. To identify the gestational ages and birth weights of babies reaching different stages of ROP. To investigate the workload involved in screening to detect threshold ROP, and that the practical outcomes had narrower inclusion criteria for screening. To identify babies treated for threshold disease. METHODS: During the period August 1987-October 1998, babies were screened according to the national guidelines and the results were prospectively entered onto a computerised database. These data were then systematically reviewed. RESULTS: Data were available for 484 babies: 203 (41.9%) developed any ROP, 46 (9.5%) reached stage 3 ROP, and 25 (5.2%) reached threshold and were treated. Data on 425 babies showed them to require an average of 2.3 screening examinations per baby. It took an average of 39 screening examinations to detect one case of threshold ROP. The more premature and lighter birth weight babies required the most examinations. Therefore, restricting the inclusion criteria for screening would only have reduced the total number of screenings modestly and could have allowed us to miss two of our threshold cases who were both of 30 weeks gestational age and >1400 g birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Screening is time consuming but worthwhile in view of the benefits of treatment. As applied to babies in the north of England, the current national screening criteria are satisfactory. The results of treatment of the babies identified in this study are presented in the accompanying paper.     

Evaluation of a prospective card for prematures: retro- and prospective evaluation of 2393 histories

BACKGROUND: Is it really true, that prematures have an accelerated maturation, are very intelligent and--with or without ectopic macula--get as myopic as Annette von Droste-Hülshoff was? To find a time schedule in prevention or early detection of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and also to detect risk factors, we looked for critical phases in the development of premature babies in analogy to those found in the development of other mammals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined the data of 294 children (1981-84) retrospectively and then prospectively those of 100 children from 1984 - 93 and of further 1999 babies since then. All findings were noted in the International Committee for Retinopathy of Prematures scheme (ICROP 1984). We elaborated a time table which shows in parallel the actual dated and the age of the baby in gestational months, duration of oxygen application, birth weight, safety index s of the ancient K?rner-Bossi and known risk factors, recently the blood serum glucose levels. In this so-called prospective card we noted the time table of developing ROP in 31 children. Furthermore, we chose matched pairs for these ROP-babies out of the data of 1200 healthy babies and evaluated risk factors such as days of oxygen supply and blood glucose levels. Finally, we transformed our data into an excel data base and calculated the economic advantages of examinations by our method. RESULTS: After an adaptation to recent data we showed the epidemiology, therapeutic attempts and a critical review of so-called risk factors. Risk babies had a K?rner-Bossi index of less than 1.0; this corresponds to a birth weight of less than 1000 g, a gestational age of less than 29 weeks, and oxygen application for more than 3 days. During the last 15 years, age and weight of the prematures decreased steadily. The onset of ROP occurred always between the 35th and the 40th gestational week. In spontaneous regression, cicatricional stages mostly started in the 41st week. CONCLUSION: In order to win time for the examinator and to avoid stress for the baby, the prospective card proved very useful. It was helpful also in medico-legal discussions. The prospective card made it evident that the babies pass critical maturation stages during all their development, before as well as after birth. In screening premature babies, this critical phase requires to be respected.