FP62

FROM SURVIVAL TO SIGHT: TRENDS IN ROP AMID ADVANCING NEONATAL CARE

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a preventable retinal vasoproliferative disorder of preterm infants requiring timely screening. This retrospective study included 100 preterm infants (<34 weeks gestation or <2000 g birth weight) screened at a tertiary charitable hospital in Maharashtra (October 2023–October 2025). ROP was diagnosed using the ICROP 3rd revision. ROP was detected in 8% of infants (5% Stage 1, 3% Stage 2), with no Stage ≥3 disease. Blood transfusion, sepsis, anemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and apnea were significant risk factors (p<0.001). All cases regressed spontaneously without treatment. The low incidence and mild severity likely reflect improved neonatal care, highlighting the value of risk-based screening and early ophthalmic evaluation.