Objective   To investigate the clinical value of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in the diagnosis and clinical follow-up of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).    Methods   From  March 2008 to February 2009

98 eyes of 49 premature infants (gestational age≤37 weeks

or birth weight≤2 000 g) underwent ROP screening by RetCam digital retinal camera and indirect ophthalmoscopy in the fourth to sixth postnatal week. At the same time

they were also examined by 8-14 MHz CDFI.    Results   Determined by RetCam digit

al retinal camera and indirect ophthalmoscopy，ROP was found in 41 eyes

including 8 eyes at stage Ⅰ

19 eyes at stage Ⅱ

  6 eyes at stage Ⅲ

8 eyes at scarring stage and no eye at stage Ⅳ andⅤ. Compared with ophthalmologic examination

the specificity of CDFI for ROP diagnosis was 85.5%

  and the sensitivity was 76.7%. Detected by CDFI

typical changes were not found in the infants with ROP at stage Ⅰ. In the infants with ROP at stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ

abundant blood flow signals were found in the central retinal artery(CRA). Increased amounts of the small vessels and irregular circuitousness were also observed. There was no obvious change in the systolic velocity (V

S

) of CRA. The diastolic velocity (V

d

) was decreased and the resistance index (RI) was increased. A  strong zonal echo protruded into the vitreum. Small blood flow signals which came from CRA by tracing toward their distal end were found in the same position using CDFI.    Conclusions   Detected by CDFI

the sonographic features of infants with ROP at stage Ⅰ are not typical

but those of infants with ROP at stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ are specific. CDFI is valuable in clinical ROP screening  of high risk group.