Highlight
– Application of an AI-derived vascular severity score (VSS) accurately correlates with ROP clinical staging and zone involvement.
– Comparative analysis of US and Indian cohorts reveals distinct vascular phenotypes despite similar clinical stages.
– Lower VSS values in Indian infants suggest geographic or pathophysiologic variations in ROP.
– Findings support the integration of quantitative imaging biomarkers with biochemical markers like VEGF for enhanced ROP understanding.
