During the 7 year period 1985 to 1991, 170 infants born in Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark, with birthweight < or = 1500 g and gestational age < or = 32 completed weeks survived at least 8 weeks or more and had eye examinations carried out. Forty-five infants had ophthalmoscopic evidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Eighteen developed blindness or severely reduced vision and 6 developed unilateral blindness. In 21 the ROP changes regressed. Eight infants eventually developed severe myopia. The 45 infants with ROP were compared with the 125 without ROP. There was no difference in birth weight, gender, or mode of delivery. Significant difference was found in gestational age, asphyxia, intensive treatment and complications. Particularly infants with ROP born with gestational age 27 to 29 weeks needed prolonged and more intensive treatment than infants without ROP. Infants with ROP had more frequently long term sequels from the central nervous system than infants without ROP.