Kumar Jogender, Kumar Praveen, Deorari Ashok Kumar
Neonatal Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Indian Pediatr. 2025 Jul 24. doi: 10.1007/s13312-025-00142-1.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness in India. We examined the progress, current status, and challenges related to ROP in India. Despite national guidelines and initiatives, the coverage of ROP screening remains highly variable across regions. Key challenges include lack of screening facilities, trained personnel, inadequate awareness, and delayed referrals. Successful strategies include capacity building, quality improvement approaches, and telescreening. We recommend policy actions, including mandatory ROP screening arrangements by neonatal care facilities, raising community awareness, and the inclusion of ROP indicators in health system monitoring. Leveraging digital technologies and focusing on primary prevention through improved quality of neonatal care are crucial. With sustained commitment and intersectoral collaboration, India can create a comprehensive model for neonatal eye care for low- and middle-income countries, preventing ROP-related visual impairment and ensuring the right to sight for all infants.
早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）是印度儿童可预防失明的主要原因。我们研究了印度与ROP相关的进展、现状和挑战。尽管有国家指南和倡议，但ROP筛查的覆盖率在各地区仍存在很大差异。主要挑战包括缺乏筛查设施、训练有素的人员、认识不足以及转诊延迟。成功的策略包括能力建设、质量改进方法和远程筛查。我们建议采取政策行动，包括新生儿护理机构进行强制性ROP筛查安排、提高社区认识以及将ROP指标纳入卫生系统监测。利用数字技术并通过提高新生儿护理质量专注于一级预防至关重要。通过持续的承诺和部门间合作，印度可以为低收入和中等收入国家创建一个全面的新生儿眼保健模式，预防与ROP相关的视力损害，并确保所有婴儿的视力权。
