Global and Regional Trends in Retinopathy of Prematurity

What are the recent trends in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)–related visual impairment, and what factors are associated with ROP globally?In this cross-sectional study including 8.79 million patients with ROP-related blindness and visual loss between 1990 and 2021, despite an overall reduction in the total number of visual loss cases, an increasing trend of ROP-related visual loss was observed for high-middle social demographic index (SDI) regions since 2005 and expected to escalate in high-middle and middle SDI regions. Lack of prenatal care, lack of social insurance coverage, and lack of trained personnel were associated with a higher prevalence of visual loss.These findings suggest that persistent disparities in ROP visual loss burden exists across socioeconomic localities; the projected rising burden in middle SDI countries urges targeted policy interventions.

Corresponding Author: Jason C. Yam, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle St, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China (yamcheuksing@cuhk.edu.hk).

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