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Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a major cause of childhood blindness. Its pooled prevalence worldwide is 31.9%, and that of severe ROP is 7.5% among prematurely born babies. Investigating risk factors is essential for improving early detection and treatment outcomes. Purpose : To determine the frequency and stages of ROP cases and evaluate the treatment methods for premature infants at the Medical University of Vienna. Methods : In this retrospective study, 352 children who underwent ROP screening between 2018 and 2021 with a gestational age (GA) ≤ 32 weeks and/or a birth weight (BW) ≤ 1500 g were included. Results : ROP was found in 144 (40.9%) of the 352 screened premature infants, with 17 (4.8%) requiring treatment. Significant risk factors included GA and BW, while sex and pregnancy type were not significant. The mean GA was 27.7 ± 2.5 weeks, and the mean BW was 989.1 ± 359.7 g. Infants with ROP had a lower GA (25.9 ± 1.7 weeks) and BW (778.6 ± 262.4 g) than those without ROP (28.9 ± 2.2 weeks; 1134.9 ± 345.9 g). GA and BW were significantly lower in infants developing ROP ( p < 0.001). Stage 2 ROP was the most common severity in 74 children (51.4%). Laser therapy was the most common first-line treatment, used in 11 infants (64.7%), followed by anti-VEGF therapy, used in 6 infants (35.3%). Children were treated within 1.0 ± 0.6 days on average. Of the 17 infants treated, 14 (82.4%) showed initial regression. Three infants (17.6%) required re-treatment: two with initial anti-VEGF therapy and one after laser therapy. Conclusions : The findings provide insights into ROP's prevalence and treatment preferences at a university tertiary care center. GA and BW were confirmed to be significant predictors, aiding in early detection and informing treatment decisions. These insights will enable comparisons with similar studies and contribute to improved patient care.

Objectives: This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of ocular biometric parameters in pediatric patients with cataracts to optimize surgical outcomes. By evaluating various biometric data, we seek to enhance the decision-making process for intraocular lens (IOL) placement, particularly with advanced technologies like femtosecond lasers. Methods: This retrospective comparative study included pediatric patients with cataracts who underwent ocular biometric measurements and cataract extraction with anterior vitrectomy at the Medical University of Vienna between January 2019 and December 2021. Parameters measured included corneal diameter (CD), axial length (AL), corneal thickness (CT) and flat and steep keratometry (Kf and Ks). The study explored the correlations between these parameters and IOL placement. Results: A total of 136 eyes from 68 pediatric patients were included in the study. Significant positive correlations were found between corneal diameter, age and AL. The mean CD was 11.4 mm, mean AL was 19.5 mm, CT was 581.2 ± 51.8 µm, Kf was 7.76 ± 0.55 mm and Ks 7.41 ± 0.59 mm, respectively. Older pediatric patients with larger corneal diameters and longer ALs were more likely to receive in-the-bag IOL implantation. Conversely, younger patients often required alternative IOL placements or remained aphakic. Our data indicated that over 95% of the study population and all patients aged one year and older had a corneal diameter of 10 mm or larger. Conclusions: Detailed ocular biometric analysis is crucial for optimizing both surgical outcomes and postoperative care in pediatric cataract patients. The positive correlations between CD, age and AL underline the importance of individualized surgical planning tailored to each patient's unique anatomical features. Additionally, our findings suggest that the use of a femtosecond laser is both feasible and safe for pediatric patients aged one year and older, potentially offering enhanced surgical precision and improved outcomes.