Retinopathy of Prematurity and Pakistan; an Epidemic Coming

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is responsible for blindness in an estimated 50,000 children in the world each year. In middle income countries 15 – 35% of
childhood blindness is due to ROP1,2. In the USA between 1999 – 2012, 13 – 14% of childhood blindness was attributed to ROP3 . Studies have shown that this
can amount to a financial burden of $69-117 million a year. These estimates do not include loss of potential life long earnings, especially in the developing
countries where services to train individuals with blindness are lacking. Although gestational age is the most important risk factor in the development of ROP,
there are other factors that have been implicated, such as oxygen therapy.