Retinal haemorrhages in the newborn.

The present study shows the frequency and severity of retinal haemorrhages in 200 newborn, of which 100 were delivered spontaneously, 51 delivered by vacuum extractor and 49 by forceps. The incidence of retinal haemorrhages was highest in the vacuum group (50%), lowest in the forceps group (16%), while the spontaneously delivered children showed an incidence of 41%. The incidence of severe retinal haemorrhages was about five times higher in the vacuum group than in both forceps and control groups. The authors propose a quantitative grading of the haemorrhages. The purpose has been to obtain a better way of relating the haemorrhages to mode of delivery and probably also to relate retinal haemorrhages to possible brain damage.