Factors given by birth and oxygen therapy in relation to development of retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity is a disease of the eye which affects the blood vessels of the retina and represents the most important cause of blindness and low vision in children worldwide. There are many risk factors given by birth and parameters of general health status that may influence this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of the factors given by birth and use of oxygen in relation to the development of premature retinopathy. A two-year-long prospective study was done at the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina. In this study the following parameters were examined: weight, gestational age as a factor given by birth and parameters of oxygenotherapy--the number of days on oxygenotherapy and the number of days of mechanical ventilation. The findings on the eye fundus were also taken into consideration. The test results suggest that the gestational age is the most important factor given by birth which determines the possibility of development of premature retinopathy. In fact, the most important risk factor for the development of premature retinopathy is premature birth.