Myopia Incidence Among Premature Infants with Type-2 ROP and Without ROP: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) arises from the atypical development of retinal blood vessels in infants born prematurely. These infants face an increased likelihood of developing myopia, particularly those diagnosed with ROP. The occurrence and intensity of myopia in this population are associated with various factors, including low birth weight, the degree of prematurity, the severity of ROP, and the treatments administered for the condition. Purpose: This study aims to compare the incidence of myopia and examine the relationship between risk factors (birth weight, gestational age, oxygen use) and myopia in premature infants with Type 2 ROP and those without ROP at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya. Methods: This analytical observational study used a retrospective cohort design. All premature infants meeting the inclusion criteria from medical records between January 2017 and December 2022 were included. Visual acuity was assessed using Grating Acuity and Cycloplegic Examinations, and myopia was evaluated at 12 months using streak retinoscopy. Results: Among 67 preterm infants, 34 (50.7%) did not develop ROP, while 33 (49.3%) had Type 2 ROP. Most infants had a birth weight between 1500-2000 grams (43.3%) and a gestational age over 32 weeks (55.2%). Oxygen use was recorded in 39 infants (58.2%). Most infants did not develop myopia, with 62.7% in the left eye and 67.2% in the right eye. A notable difference in the incidence of myopia was observed between infants with Type 2 ROP and those without, with statistical significance (p = 0.002). In contrast, factors such as birth weight, gestational age, and oxygen therapy showed no significant association with myopia in either group. Conclusion: Preterm infants without ROP exhibited a lower rate of myopia compared to those with Type 2 ROP. The lack of correlation with common risk factors implies that impaired anterior segment development may contribute to the onset of myopia.