Screening For Retinopathy Of Prematurity May Safely Start At 31 Weeks.

Medscape (2/28, Barclay) reported, "Screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) may safely start at 31 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA)," according to a study published in the February issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. After examining data on 506 infants, the study authors wrote, "In our population of infants born before 27 weeks' gestation, the first examination could safely be postponed until PMA of 31 weeks because the onset of ROP stage 3 did not occur before then and criteria for treatment were not reached before PMA of 32 weeks." They added, "Gestational age at birth and PMA at the time of examination should be considered when deciding when and where the next examination should be performed."