| Here you can find links and information on Retinopathy of Prematurity. It mainly affects many premature infants who are born weighing less than 1,500 grams. Retinopathy of Prematurity occurs when blood vessels that normally would develop in the womb begin to grow in the wrong places in the eye after premature delivery. Early examination by an ophthalmologist is necessary to catch ROP and treat it in its early stages. ROP regresses spontaneously in most infants and approximately 600 children per year have permanent vision damage due to the condition. Premature babies who are born at 26 weeks or greater are progressively less likely to develop the more severe stages of retinopathy of Prematurity. As ROP progresses, certain eye problems are more likely to occur, such as detached retina, cataract, glaucoma, strabismus (wandering eye), amblyopia (lazy eye), and myopia (nearsightedness). Routine ophthalmologic exams are strongly recommended throughout life since vision loss and blindness are more common in adults who had ROP as a child. |
