OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the practicability and efficacy of digital retinal camera (RetCam) as a method for early diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: One hundred and twelve preterm infants admitted to the First Hospital of Jilin University from June 2007 to March 2008 were enrolled. Fundus examinations were performed by indirect ophthalmoscope and RetCam respectively. The results from RetCam were compared with those from indirect ophthalmoscopy which was a “gold standard” for ROP screening. RESULTS: ROP was identified in 46 eyes by RetCam, and in 43 eyes by indirect ophthalmoscope. The sensitivity of RetCamII was 97.7% (43/44) and the specificity was 98.3% (177/180), and the positive and negative predictive values were 93.5% and 99.4%, respectively. The concordance rate for identification of ROP between RetCam and indirect ophthalmoscopy was 97.3%. CONCLUSIONS: RetCam is an effective method for the identification of ROP and is worth recommending.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (10):774-776］