Retinopathy of Prematurity
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
AMBULATORY CARE:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
is a condition that causes problems with how blood vessels in your baby's retinas develop. The retina is the part of the eye that captures light and sends information to the brain. ROP happens in babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight. ROP most often affects both eyes.
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Seek care immediately if:
- Your baby is irritable and crying more than usual.
- Your baby has blood spots in his or her eyes.
Call your baby's doctor or ophthalmologist if:
- Your baby has a fever.
- Your baby's eye is red, swollen, and draining pus.
- Your baby is not eating or drinking well.
- You have questions or concerns about your baby's condition or care.
Treatment
may not be needed for mild ROP. Healthcare providers may ask you to bring your baby to regular eye checkups. This will help healthcare providers monitor your baby's ROP over time. ROP may become severe if the blood vessels grow large and twisted. Your baby may need any of the following surgeries for severe ROP:
- Anti-VEGF medicine is used to help prevent blood vessels from growing. The medicine will be injected into your baby's eyes.
- Laser therapy is used to remove blood vessels.
- Scleral buckling helps prevent retinal detachment. A band is placed on the eye to help prevent fluid inside the eye from pulling on scar tissue. The band will be removed when your child is older.
- Vitrectomy is used to remove the cloudy or bloody vitreous gel that fills the center of your baby's eye. The gel is replaced by saline (salt water) to maintain normal pressure in the eye.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
Follow up with your baby's doctor or ophthalmologist as directed:
Keep all follow-up appointments. Your baby may need more tests to find other eye conditions that can happen with ROP. Your baby's pediatrician or ophthalmologist will monitor your baby's ROP and go over any test results with you. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
For support and more information:
- American Academy of Pediatrics
345 Park Boulevard
Itasca , IL 60143
Phone: 1- 800 - 433-9016
Web Address: http://www.aap.org
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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