ORGANIZATION OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL CARE FOR THE CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA

Abstract

Aim. The objective of the present study was to identify the main stages of the organization and the results of the ophthalmological care for the children presenting with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the Republic of Crimea. Material and methods. This retrospective analysis of the results of ophthalmological screening of 2105 prematurely born children, monitoring of 281 children with the early stages of ROP, the laser-assisted treatment of 64 babies undergoing the progression of the disease to its threshold stages and the follow up of the children with ROP in the Crimea during the period from 1999 to 2016 years. All the above patients were nursed and treated in the clinical hospital over the territory of the Crimea and in the perinatal centre of Simferopol. Results. ROP was diagnosed in 281 (26%) of the 2105 prematurely born children. The progression of the disease to the threshold stage was documented in 64 (22.8%) patients within 1 to 12 (mean 3-4) weeks after the identification of the initial stages of active ROP. ROP of the posterior aggressive type developed in 15 children. The duly-timed laser-assisted treatment permitted to prevent the appearance of blindness among the prematurely born children attributable to retinopathy of prematurity. As a results of the implementation of the program for the modernization of the ophthalmological care for the retinopathy of prematurity in the Republic of Crimea it is currently organized and provided in conformity with the relevant normative acts of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The ophthalmological Department of the Republic of Crimea Children’s Clinical Hospital is equipped with the necessary modern medical and diagnostic instruments and techniques; training of the Crimean ophthalmologists in retinopathy of prematurity and laser-assisted treatment of active retinopathy of prematurity.