Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
The picture above shows two eyes affected by ROP. The one on the left fared much better than the one on the right. The white area in the eye on the right is scarred tissue causing a "dragged retina". The retina is being dragged away from the back of the eye by malformed blood vessels and scar tissue.
ROP is primarily found in premature babies. It is abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye, particularly in the retina.
Diagnosis of ROP
- All babies born at 32 weeks gestation or less should be screened for ROP.
- ROP is diagnosed through an opthamological examination.
- The lower the birth weight and gestation period, the higher the risk for ROP.
- Stage 1 and 2 ROP can clear up on their own without treatment. For more information about the different classifications of ROP, see any of the pages linked below.
Helpful Links
Dr. Anne Fulton's Page About ROP
Retinopathy of Prematurity (from E-Medicine)
Retinopathy of Prematurity (from Schepens Retina Associates Foundation)