AAO releases ROP survey results

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) released key results from its February 2006 survey on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

The association surveyed 600 pediatric ophthalmologists and retinal specialists to find out the extent to which the specialists were treating the condition. The response rate was 37% (224 respondents), and the error range at this sample is ±5.5 percentage points at a 90% level of confidence.

The survey found that about half of the specialists currently treat ROP, and about half of the current non-treaters have treated ROP in the past 10 years. Pediatric ophthalmologists had a higher rate of treatment, and about 75% of treating pediatric ophthalmologists and retinal specialists plan to continue treatment.

Those that stopped treatment did so due to concerns about medical liability. Specialists also admitted they may have stopped treatment due to it being outside the physician's area of expertise.

Most physicians felt that ROP is a public health issue (86%), and volunteered suggestions for improving the treatment environment focused on addressing liability issues.