Ocular histology in premature infants with reference to retrolental fibroplasia.

IN the years following the first description of retrolental fibroplasia by Terry (1942), the reported incidence of the disease rose alarmingly and it was soon considered by many to be the most common cause of blindness in children under school age. Much thought and study have been given to the aetiology of retrolental fibroplasia and almost every aspect of pregnancy and premature baby management has come under close scrutiny. About the time this investigation was planned, interest was focused on the question of pre-natal versus post-natal origin; was some predisposing condition or nucleus of disease present at birth? Whilst there was little clinical evidence of congenital affection, some investigators (Heath, 1950; Reese and Blodi, 1951; Reese, and others, 1952) described pathological changes in eyes obtained from premature infants at or within the first day or two of birth. It was, therefore, decided to examine the eyes from a significant number of premature infants in search of early signs of retrolental fibroplasia and of physiological or pathological conditions which might predispose to this disease.