Early Human Development 177-178(2023)105715Contents lists available at ScienceDirectEarly Human DevelopmentELSEVIERjournal homepage:www.elsevier.com/locate/earlhumdevUK screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity Updated 2022 Guidelines1.Executive summaryThe Guidelines have been produced for use within the UK only andsupersede the Guideline published in 2008 [5].They will not be appli-Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)is a largely preventable conditioncable in countries where more mature infants are at risk of sightthat can cause visual disability.Preterm infants are at risk of sightthreatening ROP.All the full documents,complete with the evidencethreatening ROP when bom at low gestation age and low birthweight.levels underpinning the recommendations,are available on the websitesAlthough in the majority of babies ROP never progresses beyond mildof the RCPCH and the RCOphth.disease and resolves spontaneously without treatment,it can causeblindness if left untreated.The presence and progression of severe ROP2.Key ROP screening recommendationsdisease needing treatment can be detected,making the timing of retinalscreening crucial.2.1.Screening criteriaThe UK Guideline on screening and treatment of ROP published in2008 [1]has been fully updated.The new 2022 evidence-basedAll infants less than 31 weeks'gestational age (up to and includingGuidelines were developed by multidisciplinary guideline develop-30 weeks and 6 days)OR less than 1501 g birth weight should bement groups (GDG)of the Royal College of Paediatrics Child Healthexamined to screen for the presence of ROP (one criterion to be met for[2](RCPCH)and Royal College of Ophthalmologists [3](RCOphth)andinclusion).were produced following the high standards of NICE accreditation [4].The Guidelines take into account the significant changes in both the2.2.Time of first examinationclinical and organisational aspects of neonatal care that have occurredover the previous 14 years.The most significant change from the 2008For infants bom before 31+0 weeks'gestational age,the first ROPGuideline is that the gestational age screening criterion has been low-examination should be performed between 31 +0 and 31 +6 weeks'ered to less than 31 weeks (i.e.,up to and including 30 weeks and 6postmenstrualage,or at 4 completed weeks'postnatalage(28-34 days),days),while the birth weight criterion of less than 1501 g has not beenwhichever is later.changed.Regarding treatment,this update includes detailed guidanceFor infants bomn at and after 31 +0 weeks'gestational age withon the current role of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-birthweight less than 1501 g,the first ROP examination should be per-VEGF)intravitreous injection treatment,and salvage vitreoretinalformed at 36 weeks'postmenstrual age or 4 completed weeks'posmatalsurgery.age(28-34 days),whichever is sooner.The Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations which aregraded according to the strength of the evidence underpinning themwhile th
