What is the purpose of the study?
Screening for ROP is performed using a special viewing instrument, like a pair of binoculars, which is placed on the ophthalmologists head. The back of the baby’s eye (the fundus) is seen through a hand-held lens, like a magnifying glass. This examination method is used to look for ROP disease in the baby’s eyes.
A camera (ultra-wide field fundus camera), which is currently being used in the Oxford Eye Department for adults, children and babies with other eye conditions, is able to take pictures of all areas of the back of the eye in one or two clicks of a button. The main advantage of this camera compared to other cameras that have been made for ROP screening, is that it does not need to touch the babies eye (non-contact) and would therefore be more comfortable for the baby.
The purpose of this study is to assess if the pictures that this fundus camera takes are good enough to undertake routine ROP screening, and be able to judge the severity of ROP disease in affected babies. If we can show that this is the case, it would make examining babies for ROP screening more accurate and quicker – this would improve their care and be less distressing for the babies.
The study is being carried out in the John Radcliffe Hospital.