Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Diagnosis

All premature babies who may be at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are carefully monitored and examined for the condition beginning a few weeks after birth, before they are discharged from the hospital. The only way to determine if a baby has ROP is to examine the inside of their eye, to detect if there are any abnormalities in the retina. Ophthalmologists trained in the diagnosis and treatment of ROP will exam your baby's eyes. During this examination, your baby's pupils will be dilated with eye drops so that the retina can be studied. If any signs of ROP are detected, follow-up evaluations will be recommended over the following weeks.

ROP is defined by different stages, based on the severity of the disease. In mild cases, the baby's retinal blood vessels may continue to grow normally, and treatment is not required. In more severe cases, there are marked abnormalities in the development of the retinal blood vessels that, in the most severe cases, can lead to detachment of the retina and blindness. This occurs rarely and only in the most severely affected infants.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007