[Value of the RPM safety index in retinopathy of prematurity].

The safety-index (S-index): S = log birth weight (kg) + gestational age (weeks)/oxygen therapy (days) combines the three main risk factors for a development of ROP. Only in very immature children which had a long time oxygen therapy (and therefore a low S-index) one finds severe stages of ROP. In our study, we correlated retrospectively ROP stages versus S-index in 261 children. The results confirm that children with S-index greater than 1 never had a severe ROP (that means, stage 3 and more, which need treatment). Therefore, the 2/3 of all newborn infants at risk with an S-index greater than 1 need only minimal ophthalmological controls.