RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prospective observational study of universal newborn eye screening in a hospital and community setting in New Zealand JF BMJ Paediatrics Open FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP bmjpo-2018-000376 DO 10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000376 VO 3 IS 1 A1 Samantha Kaye Simkin A1 Stuti L Misra A1 Malcolm Battin A1 Charles N J McGhee A1 Shuan Dai YR 2019 UL http://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/3/1/bmjpo-2018-000376.abstract AB Objective Early detection of ocular abnormalities in newborn infants is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to assess wide-field digital imaging for universal newborn eye screening (UNES) to determine the prevalence of ocular abnormalities, including retinal haemorrhages, in newborn infants in New Zealand.Design Prospective ocular screening study of infants.Setting A public hospital maternity ward and a community birth centre in Auckland, New Zealand.Patients A total of 350 infants were enrolled in UNES, those with birth weight <1250 g or gestational age <30 weeks were excluded.Methods Wide-field digital images of the external eye and retina were captured by RetCam (Natus Medical, San Carlos, California, USA) and reviewed by an ophthalmologist via an established telemedicine methodology.Main outcome measures Detection of ocular abnormalities, including retinal haemorrhages. Correlation between haemorrhages and maternal, obstetric and neonatal factors.Results A total of 346 infants completed screening (median age 2 days). Retinal haemorrhages were present in 50 cases (14.5%), two cases exhibited persistent retinal haemorrhages at 6-week follow-up. A significant increase in the odds of retinal haemorrhages was present for vaginal delivery compared with caesarean section. Other ocular abnormalities, including congenital cataract and optic nerve hypoplasia, were present in 1.4% of infants.Conclusions Ocular abnormalities were detected by UNES including congenital cataract and optic nerve hypoplasia. However, retinal haemorrhages, significantly associated with delivery modality, were the most common abnormality detected. The majority of retinal haemorrhages resolved spontaneously.