Referable Macular Hemorrhage-A Clinically Meaningful Screening Target in Newborn Infants. Position Statement of the Association of Pediatric Retina Surgeons

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2022 Jan;53(1):3-6. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20211214-01. Epub 2022 Jan 1.

Abstract

Universal newborn eye screening facilitates early diagnosis of ocular abnormalities and mitigates vision loss. "Referral warranted" eye disease is present at birth in about 5.5% of term infants, with "macular hemorrhage impinging on the fovea" representing about 50% of referral warranted disease. The Association of Pediatric Retina Surgeons held a symposium on February 9, 2021 that culminated in a position statement on "referable macular hemorrhage" (RMH) in newborn infants. RMH is meaningful in that in can cause amblyopia through deprivation, can be readily captured with wide-angle photography in a safe and efficient manner, and may lead to early intervention with mitigation of vision loss. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2022;53:3-6.].

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Eye Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neonatal Screening / methods
  • Retina
  • Retinal Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Surgeons*