Impact of expansion of telemedicine screening for retinopathy of prematurity in India

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to estimate the unknown burden of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) blindness from nine states of India using demographic, incidence and treatment data from an ongoing statewide ROP program in Karnataka called the Karnataka Internet Assisted Diagnosis of ROP (KIDROP) and to calculate the fiscal quantum of preventable blindness in these states. MATERIALS AND METHODS The KIDROP model is an ongoing tele-ROP service providing screening and treatment for ROP in Karnataka since 2008. Using this index strategy, an impact assessment in nine other states was constructed, the number of potential blind babies enumerated, the fiscal quantum of blindness prevented in blind person-years (BPYs), and the increase in burden with improving survival and institutional deliveries calculated. RESULTS The total population in the ten study states is 681.5 million. The eligible babies for ROP screening annually are 467,664. The number of babies admitted to neonatal units is 188,561 of which 160,277 are likely to survive and require screening. Based on KIDROP data, ROP would develop in 35,886 of these infants, and 1281 babies would require treatment annually. The fiscal quantum of BPY saved in these ten states is USD 108.4 million annually, with a further increase of USD 106.8 million with improving infant survival and higher admission rates for delivery. CONCLUSION A KIDROP like model can provide ROP screening in low-resource settings, remote centers, and regions with few ROP specialists. Expanding the model to other states with similar demographics can prevent over USD 100 million of blindness burden annually.