Early Weight Gain Predicts Retinopathy in Preterm Infants: New, Simple, Efficient Approach to Screening

Abstract

The weight, insulin-like growth factor, neonatal retinopathy of prematurity algorithm detected early 100% of infants who developed retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment and correctly predicted the majority who did not require treatment. With this simple postnatal evaluation, costly stressful eye examinations can be markedly reduced (approximately 75% of infants). In addition, early identification of children at risk may lead to the initiation of interventions and possibly prevent sight-threatening retinopathy of prematurity.