Sight-Threatening Retinopathy of Prematurity: Changing Trends in Treatment

PURPOSE To study the incidence and treatment of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants younger than 30 weeks' gestational age (GA) in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia, from 2003 to 2008. These data were then compared to data from previously reported epochs (1986 to 1987, 1992 to 1997, and 1998 to 2002). METHODS Data were divided into two sub-epochs (2003 to 2005 and 2006 to 2008) to study trends and combined to compare over 22 years. RESULTS From 2003 to 2008, 2,550 of 3,004 (84.9%) infants survived, 200 (7.8%) were diagnosed as having severe ROP, and 119 (59.5%) required laser therapy. No significant difference in the incidence of severe ROP or treatment rate in infants younger than 27 and 30 weeks' GA from 2003 to 2005 and 2006 to 2008 occurred. Similarly, between 1986 and 2008 there was no difference in the incidence of severe ROP. However, the treatment rate significantly increased during this time. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of severe ROP has been stable since 1986. However, laser treatment significantly increased to include 8 infants with stage 2 ROP from 2003 to 2008