Ocular sequelae of retinopathy of prematurity in Manaus, Amazonas

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the structural ocular sequelae of retinopathy of prematurity in children at risk for the disease in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Methods: A prospective, cohort-type, observational study was conducted. Fifty-seven children at risk for this retinopathy, who were born in the public health system facilities, were referred for ophthalmic evaluation at a secondary eye hospital. Inclusion criteria were gestational age ≤ 32 weeks and/or birth weight ≤ 1500 g. Results: Eighteen (31.6%) children were diagnosed with any stage of retinopathy of prematurity during the study period, and four (7.0%) of them needed treatment. Structural ocular sequelae were identified in 3 of 56 children (5.3%), consisting of peripheral retinal detachment with macular dragging in 3 eyes of 3 children and macular involving retinal detachment in 2 eyes of 2 children. Associations between occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity and birth weight, gestational age at birth and days in oxygen were observed (p<0.05). Indication of treatment was associated with birth weight (p<0.05). Conclusion: Retinopathy of prematurity stands out as an important cause of avoidable blindness in Amazonas, affected 31.6 % of children at risk in the present paper, which in this same context, led to ocular strucutral sequelae in about 5.3% of these infants, either peripheral or macular involving retinal detachment. A local program for screening and treatment of the population at risk is necessary in order to avoid blindness from this disease, providing care to the public health system users that contemplates equality and universality of access.