Medical Health Encyclopedia

Retinopathy of prematurity

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Eye

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Retinopathy of prematurity

Definition:

The retina is the part of the eye that transmits visual information to the brain. Retinopathy of prematurity is a disorder of retinal blood vessel development in the premature infant. The severe form is characterized by retinal vascular proliferation, scarring, retinal detachment, and blindness.

Alternative Names:
Retrolental fibroplasia; ROP

Text Continues Below

---

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The blood vessels of the retina begin to develop three months after conception and complete their development at the time of normal birth. When an infant is born very prematurely, the infant's eye development will be disrupted.

In infants who develop retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the vessels grow abnormally from the retina into the normally clear gel that fills the back of the eye. Here, without support, the vessels are fragile and often hemorrhage into the eye.

This is followed by scar tissue development which pulls the retina loose from the inner surface of the eye and draws it toward the center of the globe, producing a retinal detachment. This can reduce vision or, if severe, result in complete blindness.

Many premature infants develop transient and mild abnormal retinal blood vessel growth that converts to normal growth without treatment. Only approximately 1 out of 10 infants with early changes will progress to more severe retinal disease.

In the past, excess use of oxygen to treat premature babies stimulated abnormal vessel growth. Currently, oxygen can be easily and accurately monitored, and this is rare.

Today, the risk of developing ROP is proportional to the severity of prematurity. Typically all babies less than 32-34 weeks gestation are screened for the condition. However, only the smallest premature babies, no matter what their gestational age, have the highest risk.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.