Materials and Methods: Records of premature infants who underwent ROP examination between January 2011 and December 2022 were evaluated. In addition to ophthalmological findings, gender, gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), mode of delivery (vaginal delivery/cesarean section), type of pregnancy (singleton/multiple), type of conception (spontaneous/IVF) and risk factors were noted and analyzed.

Results: Of the 500 infants included, 457 (91.4%) were conceived spontaneously and 43 (8.6%) were conceived through IVF. ROP was detected in 222 (44.4%) of the infants, of which 203 (40.6%) were conceived spontaneously and 19 (3.8%) were conceived through IVF. The incidence of severe ROP requiring treatment in these infants were 15.1% (n=69) and 23.3% (n=10), respectively. No statistically significant differences was found between the groups in terms of the incidence of any stage ROP and severe ROP requiring treatment. Although the incidence of multiple pregnancies was significantly higher in infants conceived through IVF (p = 0.00), no significant differences was found between pregnancy type and ROP. Additionally, the rate of ROP was found to be significantly higher in vaginal deliveries (p=0.029). In multiple regression analysis, the most significant variables associated with ROP were GA and BW.

Conclusion: IVF was not found to be an independent risk factor for ROP. However, it was found that ROP could develop at similar rates in both conceived through IVF and conceived spontaneously. Therefore, it would be appropriate to screen these infants carefully. Keywords : Retinopathy of prematurity, in vitro fertilization, premature, spontaneous conception