Retinopathy of prematurity

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Eye

Retrolental fibroplasia; ROP

Treatment may include:

• Cryotherapy (freezing therapy).
• Laser therapy (which is now used more commonly than cryotherapy) may be used to treat areas of retina that have not had normal development of blood vessels. To be effective, this must be done before scarring and detachment occurs.
• Surgery to reattach the retina if detachment develops.
• Children with milder changes may need special low vision support as they grow.

In the early stages of ROP with proper screening, treatment is usually limited to laser therapy and close follow-up. Fortunately, laser therapy can be performed in the nursery using portable equipment.

The majority of infants with mild ROP can be expected to recover completely. Severe ROP may lead to marked visual abnormalities or blindness. Again, the most important factor in the outcome is early detection and treatment.

• blindness
• severe myopia (near-sightedness)
• Most children with severe vision loss from retinopathy of prematurity have other complications of prematurity and require a multi-disciplinary approach to rehabilitation

This condition is discovered in the hospital setting during evaluation of the premature infant. If your child has had ROP and appears to be having increased visual difficulties, contact your health care provider.

Review Date: 05/18/2006
Reviewed By: Paul B. Griggs, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.