Incidence of retinal hemorrhages in full-term newborn babies in a tertiary care hospital in India

Abstract

Context: Neonatal retinal hemorrhage (RH) is a condition occurring in newborns within 1 month of birth. Long-standing, dense hemorrhages obscuring the macula may lead to severe vision deprivation amblyopia. Aims: This study aimed to estimate the incidence of retinal hemorrhages (RHs) in full-term newborn babies in a medical college tertiary care hospital over a period of 1 year and to determine the association between RH and the mode of delivery. Settings and Design: This was a prospective observational study. Subjects and Methods: Screening was done in 469 full-term newborn babies within a week of delivery. Pupils were dilated with 0.4% tropicamide and 2.5% phenylephrine. Retinal evaluation was done with indirect ophthalmoscope and 20D lens. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 21. Chi-square test was used to assess the association between sex of the baby, mode of delivery, birth weight, and RH. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 469 babies screened, 27 had RH on fundus examination. Of the 266 babies who were born spontaneously through vaginal route, 20 babies had RH. Eleven babies were delivered through vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery, of which 5 had RH. Babies weighing >2.5 kg had a higher incidence of RH (6.3%). There was no significant association between sex and RH. Conclusion: The incidence of RH in newborn babies was found to be 5.8%. Incidence of RH was found to be high among vacuum-assisted delivery followed by spontaneous vaginal delivery. Babies weighing >2.5 kg had a higher incidence of RH. By 2 weeks after birth, RH resolved in 96.29% of eyes.