According to Indian national ROP screening guidelines, which infants require retinopathy of prematurity screening?
- A All preterm infants born before 37 weeks regardless of weight
- B Only infants weighing less than 1000 g at birth
- C Infants born at less than 34 weeks gestation or weighing less than 2000 g, and any preterm infant exposed to supplemental oxygen ✓
- D Only infants who received mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days
Correct answer: C. Infants born at less than 34 weeks gestation or weighing less than 2000 g, and any preterm infant exposed to supplemental oxygen
Explanation
Indian guidelines screen infants born at less than 34 weeks gestation or with birth weight under 2000 g, plus any preterm infant exposed to supplemental oxygen, because Indian babies develop ROP at larger size and later gestation than Western cohorts. First examination is done at 4 weeks postnatal age or 31 to 32 weeks postmenstrual age, whichever is earlier. Restricting screening to extremely low birth weight infants would miss most treatable disease in India.
Reference: AIOS ROP Screening Guidelines / Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.