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What We Treat > InfantsRetinopathy of PrematurityWhat is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)? Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding disease caused by abnormal development of the retina in premature infants. The retina is the inner layer of the eye that receives light and turns it into visual messages that are sent to the brain. When a baby is born prematurely, the retinal blood vessels can grow abnormally. Most ROP resolves without causing damage to the retina. When ROP is severe, it can cause the retina to pull away or detach from the wall of the eye. The retina is then unable to convert light into vision, which causes blindness. Babies who are at risk weigh about 2 3/4 pounds (1250 gm) or less and are born before 31 weeks gestation (a full term pregnancy lasts 38-42 weeks). How many infants have ROP? There are approximately 3.9 million infants born in the U.S. each year. 28,000 of these infants weigh 2 3/4 pounds or less. About half of these premature infants are affected by ROP. About 90% of those affected will have mild disease and will suffer no permanent damage. About 1,100- 1,500 of those affected will develop disease severe enough to require medical treatment and 400-600 infants each year in the U.S. will become legally blind from ROP. Has ROP always been a problem for babies? Although ROP currently affects several thousand premature infants each year in the United States, this disease was unknown prior to 1942 because premature infants did not survive long enough to develop ROP. With improvements in the medical care of very small premature infants, the incidence and severity of ROP have increased. Which babies are examined for ROP? Premature infants qualify for eye examinations based on their birth weight and gestational age at birth. In general, babies less than 1500 grams (3.3 lbs) and with a gestational age less than 30-32 weeks receive eye examinations to monitor for the presence of ROP. How is ROP diagnosed? The diagnosis of ROP is made by an ophthalmologist who examines the inside of the baby's eyes after dilating the pupils with drops. Source: www.aapos.org |
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