Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand over a 10-year period.

AIM: To describe the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the Christchurch Hospital neonatal intensive care unit over a 10-year period.

METHOD: All neonates included in ROP screening from 2007-2016 were identified. Patient demographics and clinical details including the gestational age at birth, birth weight, birthplace, stage of ROP and treatment status were collected for analysis.

RESULTS: Over 10 years, 431 eligible babies born in Christchurch Hospital and admitted to NICU were examined and had findings documented. Nineteen were found to have ROP of any grade, and three required treatment. One hundred and thirteen neonates born outside of Christchurch and later admitted to the Christchurch NICU had screening examinations documented. Eighteen of these were diagnosed as having ROP, and eight required treatment. Five of the neonates born outside Christchurch who required treatment had been specifically transferred to Christchurch for the purpose of treating ROP.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity of any stage was 4.4% in at-risk premature neonates born in Christchurch Hospital over 10 years. 0.7% of all neonates screened required treatment. This represents an extremely low incidence of treatment requiring ROP, and of ROP in general.