Analysis of the parental satisfaction for retinopathy of prematurity screening using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy versus wide field retinal imaging

PURPOSE: Analysis of the parental satisfaction for retinopathy of prematurity screening using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy versus wide field retinal imaging. METHODS: This was an observational, questionnaire survey-based study. The study cohort comprised of parents/legal guardians of consecutive Asian Indian premature infants enrolled for retinopathy of prematurity screening (for infants less than 2000 gms and/or 34-weeks gestational age) using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO) with scleral depression and b) wide field retinal imaging using the 3Nethra Neo Camera (Forus Health, India). We evaluated the retina for the presence or absence of stages of ROP and plus disease. The survey analysis used closed-ended (multiple-choice) and open-ended questions for assessing 1) parents’ experience/preference among the two screening modalities namely, BIO and wide field imaging used in the study, 2) knowledge prior to ROP screening, 3) knowledge gained post ROP screening, in the outpatient ophthalmologic care unit in our hospital. RESULTS: Parents/legal guardians of 90 infants were included in the study. Among the 90 parents who filled in the questionnaire, 62.3% were referred by their pediatrician, 23.3% came for self check-up and 14.4% incidentally came to the hospital for complaints like ocular discharge and were screened. 93.3% parents were satisfied with either ROP screening modality in our study, with 54.4% stated a preference for retinal imaging. In the study 20% of the parents felt that retinal imaging was painful for the infant and 31.1% felt that BIO was painful for the infant. CONCLUSION: Wide field imaging is increasingly becoming an effective tool and screening tool in ROP screening and helps in better understanding of the disease amongst parents.