Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of intraocular hemorrhages among babies screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and thereby their additional risk to the progression of ROP.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital, which included 108 eyes of 60 neonates who were discovered to have retinal hemorrhages on retinal screening of 540 babies at risk for ROP. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors were assessed in neonates with retinal hemorrhages. Retinal hemorrhages were assessed in terms of type, area, and relation to different retinal zones.
Results: Among 540 neonates who were screened, retinal hemorrhages were found in 11.2% (n = 60 babies). Elderly primigravida mothers and spontaneous vaginal deliveries with prolonged second stage of labor were a common maternal risk factors for retinal hemorrhages. Low birth weight and preterm were fetal risk factors with neonatal retinal hemorrhages. These hemorrhages were more often bilateral (no. of babies = 48, 80%). Flame-shaped hemorrhages were more common than dot and blot ones. The majority of cases (no. of eyes = 74, 65%) resolved within 4 weeks, whereas four babies (8 eyes, 7.4%) progressed to ROP were treated with laser.
Conclusion: Retinal hemorrhages in neonates are commonly associated with prolonged duration of second stage of labor, advanced maternal age, and anemia. Although not all progress to ROP, recognizing preterm and low birth weight babies with junctional hemorrhages is crucial not to delay the treatment. Regular follow-up until the clearance of hemorrhages and monitoring systemic conditions in these babies of amblyogenic age-group are required.
Keywords: Preterm babies; retinal hemorrhages; retinopathy of prematurity.