Management of retinopathy of prematurity through telemedicine using wide-angle fundus photography

Purpose : To report the status of management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) through telemedicine using a wide-angle fundus camera. Cases and Method : This study was made on 153 babies treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the past 35 months at Fukuyama Medical Center in western Japan. The cases had either been born after gestational age of 35 weeks or less (average 32.7 weeks), with birthweight of 1,800 g or less (average 1,693 g), or were treated by supplemental oxygen. ROP was managed either by visit of ophthalmologist or by sending fundus photographs taken with a wide-angle fundus camera (RetCam™). Results : Babies in NICU were seen by visiting ophthalmologist 51 times or at an interval of 20.4 days in average. Fundus photographs were sent from the center 83 times at an interval of 12.2 days in average. ROP developed in 26 cases (17%). Eight cases with advanced ROP were treated by photocoagulation with fair outcome. Conclusion : Management of ROP by telemedicine using fundus photographs resulted in reduced frequency of bedside examination by ophthalmologist with no major problems.