Retinopathy of prematurity: a review of epidemiology and current treatment strategies.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Hong EH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8898617 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Retinopathy of prematurity: a review of epidemiology and current treatment strategies.
Hong Eun Hee EH Shin Yong Un YU Cho Heeyoon H
Clinical and experimental pediatrics 20211012 3
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is among the most common causes of childhood blindness. Three phases of ROP epidemics have been observed worldwide since ROP was first described in the 1940s. Despite advances in neonatal care, the occurrence of ROP and associated visual impairment has been increasing somewhere on Earth and remains difficult to control. Conventional treatment options for preventing ROP progression include retinal ablation using cryotherapy or laser therapy. With the emergence of ...[more]
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Project description:PurposeTo survey current oxygen management, screening criteria, and methods for treating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsAn online survey was sent to ophthalmologists and neonatologists practicing in sub-Saharan Africa.ResultsOphthalmologists and neonatologists from 15 of 49 countries (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa responded. Neonatologists reported treating a median of 15 infants with supplemental oxygen per week but only had a median of 3.5 oxygen-measuring devices and a median of zero oxygen blenders in their units. Ophthalmologists reported screening a median of 5 infants per week for ROP and treating 2 infants each month for ROP. Most ophthalmologists (24/27 [89%]) had access to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs to treat ROP, but only 13 of 27 (48%) had access to a laser.ConclusionsSurvey results reveal an urgent need for additional oxygen- management equipment in hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.
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