AIM:To determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)and to investigate the appropriate criteria for the screening ROP in Shantou.

METHODS: A total of 1 813 infants with birth weight ≤2 000g or gestational age ≤34wk in neonatal intensive care units(NICU)of four hospitals in Shantou were screened with binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and(or)wild-field digital pediatric retinal imaging system(RetCamⅡ )from January 2011 to December 2014. All infants were followed up until the retina was completely vascularized or until the disease regressed.

RESULTS:In all infants, ROP was detected in 388 eyes of 202 cases(11.14%), including 85 eyes of 43 cases(2.37%)suffering from severe ROP(threshold or pre-threshold type Ⅰ ROP). 34 severe cases(67 eyes)were screened out in 408 infants with birth weight <1 500g, accounted for 79.07% in all severe cases. GEE model analysis indicated that low birth weight, small gestational age and oxygen therapy were high risk factors of ROP.

CONCLUSION:The detection rate of ROP is 11.14% in Shantou NICU. However, the detection rate of severe ROP is lower, mainly in the infants with birth weight <1 500g and gestational age ≤34wk; Low birth weight, small gestational age and oxygen therapy are high risk factors of ROP.