Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | Sign In

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Preemie Eye Disorder May Require Laser Surgery

Sep 13, 2009 Kathy Jackson

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an eye disorder most commonly found in premature infants, may require laser eye surgery to prevent blindness.

Having a preemie in the NICU puts new parents on the proverbial “preemie roller coaster” with many ups and downs in health related issues. ROP typically affects premature infants who weight less than 1250 grams or are born before 31 weeks gestation. Smaller infants have a higher risk for ROP

ROP in Premature Babies

The national Eye Institute reports annual estimates of 14,000 to 16,000 preemies with some degree of ROP each year. Of these, an estimated 1100 to 1500 require medical treatment and 400 to 600 cases result in legal blindness each year in the US. ROP is most common in preemies because of their delivery before the blood vessels of the eyes have completely developed. A premature baby’s eyes have fragile blood vessels which can leak blood into the eye causing scarring and possible retina detachment if not caught early enough.

Retinopathy of Prematurity Stages

Preemies are checked regularly while in the NICU to evaluate eye condition and monitor any scarring or leaks which might progress to ROP. The disease is classified in five stages. Stages I and II of ROP involve abnormal blood vessels growth but resolve on their own. If the ROP continues to progress and not resolve it is reclassified at a higher level.

Eye treatment for ROP begins at Stage III. In Stage III some premature infants have enlarged blood vessels at the retina which could cause retinal detachment if not treated. Treatment involved laser eye surgery to remove the scarring. ROP Stages IV and V involve partially and fully detached retinas. The retina detachment is caused by the scarring from bleeding. Treatment is critical to prevent complete blindness.

Laser Eye Surgery for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Preemies who reach Stage III of ROP may require laser eye surgery to prevent further scarring and progression of damage to the eye. The eye treatment involves either burning away or freezing the peripheral area of the retina to prevent the abnormal blood vessels from progressing further. While this causes permanent damage to the baby’s peripheral vision it saves the overall vision.

Other ROP Complications

As preemies grow older, previous episodes of ROP increase their risk for eye problems. Premature infants are at a higher risk for myopia, strabismus, and lazy eye. Eye treatments for these issues and regular check ups for to watch for other issues should be a regular part of the preemie’s medical care plan.

The information presented herein should not replace the advice of a physician. Additional information on ROP can be found at the National Eye Institute website and the Schepens Retina Associates Foundation website.

The copyright of the article Retinopathy of Prematurity in General Medicine is owned by Kathy Jackson. Permission to republish Retinopathy of Prematurity in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

ROP May Cause Vision Loss