Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Subtle changes in a baby's retina are not easily detected and therefore cannot be seen by parents or the pediatric doctors and nurses who are taking care of your baby. Only a pediatric ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in eye care, can detect signs of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by using special instruments to examine the baby's retina.

Severe and untreated ROP may cause some of the following symptoms:

• White pupils, called leukocoria
• Abnormal eye movements, called nystagmus
• Crossed eyes, called strabismus
• Severe nearsightedness, called myopia

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