[Ophthalmologic after care of premature infants].

Preterm infants, owing to their relative immaturity of organs and tissues show an increased vulnerability to exogenous factors such as oxygen, which may be required as a life-saving measure. In certain cases this may lead to retinopathy of prematurity and even blindness in the most severe cases. Regular ophthalmological follow up of at-risk infants is, therefore, essential to avoid irreparable retinal damage. From 1.8. 1983 till 31.7. 1985 159 at-risk infants were investigated ophthalmologically by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. 14 cases (8.8%) of stage I/II and one case (0.6%) of terminal stage retinopathy of prematurity were observed. In 34 children (21.4%) other changes of lesser (dacryostenosis) or greater pathological severity (hydrophthalmus, disc abnormalities, manifest squint) were seen. Initial results in preterm infants with an improved ophthalmoscopic device für examining the temporal periphery of the fundus, the site of predilection for early retinopathic changes, are reported.