INTRODUCTION:
Advances in neonatal intensive care have increased the survival of premature infants, particularly those born extremely preterm, resulting in a growing population at risk of long-term complications related to prematurity. Retinopathy of prematurity remains a leading preventable cause of childhood blindness worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where inequalities in access to timely screening and continuity of care persist. From a public health perspective, organizing integrated care networks that ensure neonatal screening and longitudinal follow-up after hospital discharge is essential to prevent avoidable visual impairment. In Brazil, the Unified Health System structures neonatal care through referral maternity hospitals and outpatient follow-up services, offering a comprehensive continuity of care model for vulnerable populations.

METHODS:
This cross-sectional, retrospective, documentary study analyzed medical records of premature infants followed in a high-risk outpatient follow-up clinic at a public university hospital in Espírito Santo, Brazil, between October 2020 and September 2021. Data collected included prenatal care adequacy, gestational age, birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit support, history of neonatal ophthalmologic screening, and clinical outcomes during follow-up.

RESULTS:
Among 132 infants followed, 116 were premature and 97 met criteria for neonatal ophthalmologic screening. Fifteen cases of retinopathy of prematurity were identified, corresponding to 11.4% of the cohort and 15.5% of screened infants. Most affected infants were extremely premature, had extremely or very low birth weight, prolonged neonatal intensive care unit stays, and inadequate prenatal care. Outpatient follow-up enabled longitudinal clinical monitoring after hospital discharge and coordination with specialized services.

CONCLUSIONS:
The findings highlight outpatient follow-up of premature infants as a core public health strategy to ensure continuity of care beyond the neonatal period. Within Brazil’s public health system, structured follow-up networks contribute to preventing long-term sequelae associated with prematurity, reducing health inequities, and strengthening integrated maternal and child health care.