Abstract:

 Objective To investigate the etiology and prognosis of retinal white changes in infants. Design Retrospective case series. Participants 481 infants who were born in Beijing Tongren Hospital from Apr. 2015 to Aug. 2016 were involved.  Method Infants aged 6 weeks around were underwent eye screening using wide-field digital imaging system. Etiology and prognosis of retinal white changes in these infants were investigated. Main Outcome Measures Etiology, shapes, location and prognosis of retinal white changes in infants. Results 481 infants aged 45.1±6.1 days were underwent ocular screening. Retinal white changes were found in 96 cases (20.0%) 142 eyes (14.8%). 11 cases (22 eyes) were pathological changes and 85 cases (120 eyes) were physiological changes. 56 cases (69 eyes) were dot shaped and 40 cases (73 eyes) were strip or patch shaped. Retinal white changes were on posterior retina in 22 cases (25 eyes) and on peripheral retina in 74 cases (117 eyes). Of all physiological retinal white changes, 58 cases (68.2%) were absorbed spontaneously at 3 months age, 14 cases (16.5%) were absorbed spontaneously at 6 months age and 3 cases (3.6%) of retinal white changes remained at 12 months age. There were 10 cases (11.8%) refused to revisit. Sex, family history of high myopia, premature, low birth weight, macrosomia, fetal distress, umbilical cord abnormality, neonatal asphyxia, Meconium aspiration syndrome, neonatal anemia, maternal delivery mode, abnormal labor stage, amniotic fluid pollution, maternal thyroid diseases, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus were not related to the physiological retinal white changes. Conclusion  The incidence of retinal white changes in infants is high, but most cases are physiological changes.

Key words: infants, retina, screening