Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) continues to occur in nurseries world-wide because more immature babies are surviving the neonatal period. In order to establish the incidence and severity of this disease at Groote Schuur Hospital, 141 very-low-birth-weight infants were examined; 27 (19.2%) were found to have ROP, and among these 2 (1.56%) had a particularly severe form of the disease. None of the infants required treatment. The incidence and severity of ROP is compared with similar studies, and the monitoring of oxygen therapy and screening of infants is discussed.