Prof. Songtau Yuan on behalf of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China.

 

 

 

Aim

To improve the detection and treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in Jiangsu province, China by establishing a ROP screening web platform.

 

Project details

1.5 million premature infants are born every year in China, of which approximately 12% are diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).1 Several studies have reported that ROP is a leading cause of blindness in Chinese children, which can cause a considerable and increasing financial burden on individuals, families, and societies. Thus, timely screening and treatment of ROP can directly reduce the economic impact of ROP associated sight loss.

This initiative will utilize XOVA funding to develop a web platform for ROP screening and referral in Jiangsu province, China. A consultation center and a remote medical institution will also be established, to screen all premature infants for ROP.

In time, the screening platform will be deployed in maternity and children’s hospitals throughout the province, alongside the development of additional consultation and remote centers. An estimated 50,000 people will benefit from this project and the screening platform will eventually be replicated in all provinces and municipalities of China.

1. Li Q. et al, A Prospective Study of the Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity in China: Evaluation of Different Screening Criteria. J Ophthalmol. 2016; 2016:5918736. doi: 10.1155/2016/5918736