Retinopathy of prematurity screening program for government neonatal intensive care units by a non-profit tertiary eye care center in India: A collaborative public health initiative

PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major public health issue in India, with many preterm infants at risk for preventable blindness. Limited structured screening exacerbates undiagnosed and untreated ROP. DESIGN: Observational retro-prospective cohort study. METHODS: A sustainable ROP screening program was established in Delhi government hospitals' neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) from January 2021 to March 2025, via a public-private partnership (Mission Neonatal Early Evaluation Vision [NEEV]), leveraging existing healthcare frameworks. RESULTS: Screening was conducted in 24 NICUs. Of 6308 preterm infants screened, 10.62% (670) required treatment with intravitreal injections or retinal laser photocoagulation. The program achieved an 81% follow-up rate. Compared to pre-program screenings, the proportion of infants needing treatment decreased from 14.5% to 10.6%. CONCLUSION: This ROP screening program demonstrates an effective and replicable model for early detection and intervention. Integrating trained personnel, technology, and systematic protocols facilitated treatment efficacy and follow-up, suggesting replication potential without adding substantial resources.