Risk Factors Associated with Retrolental Fibroplasia

The eyes of infants who were premature or had exposure to increased ambient oxygen from 1979 to 1981 were examined. Of 1012 neonates, 19 were found to have acute retrolental fibroplasia (RLF) grade III or worse in at least one eye. Sixteen also had chronic lung disease (CLD), and when compared to 25 control patients who had CLD but not grade III or more RLF, they were found to consistently have lower blood CO₂ tensions (P_CO2), lower pH values, higher inspired oxygen concentrations (F_IO2S) and a higher incidence of seizure disorders (100% vs. 48%). We could not show that an elevated PC02 increased the risk for developing RLF. Infants with either chronic lung disease or chronic lung disease and seizures had a high risk for developing RLF grade III (39% and 57%, respectively).