Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a rare eye disorder that happens in infants who are premature or have low birthweight. This problem happens when blood vessels in the tissue (retina) that lines the back of the eye grow abnormally. This can lead to vision problems. Early treatment can improve outcomes.
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ROP happens when blood vessels in the retina do not develop as they should. It is not known why this happens in some infants.
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
There are usually no signs of ROP until it reaches a severe stage. Problems may be:
An eye exam will be given to infants born prematurely or those with low birth weight. The retinas will be viewed. This is enough to make the diagnosis.
Mild ROP will usually heal on its own. An eye doctor will watch for any changes during this time.
The goal of treating severe ROP is to lower the risk of the retina detaching and causing vision loss. Treatment options are:
The best way to prevent ROP is to lower the risk of premature birth with good prenatal care.
Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.healthychildren.org
National Eye Institute
http://www.nei.nih.gov
Canadian Ophthalmology Society
http://www.eyesite.ca
Canadian Pediatric Society
http://www.cps.ca
Retinopathy of prematurity. National Eye Institute website. Available at: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/rop. Accessed August 31, 2021.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/retinopathy-of-prematurity-rop-20. Accessed August 31, 2021.
Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kari Kuenn, MD Last Updated: 8/31/2021
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