Retinopathy in premature babies (ROP) is an eye disease which happens to a small percentage of premature babies, where abnormal blood vessels grow over the retina. ROP is most often found in smaller babies with a very low birth weight.
In some cases, the abnormal blood vessels can decrease in size and disappear without treatment. In other cases, they can continue developing and cause serious eye and vision problems such as:
- Myopia
- Retinal detachment
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (uncoordinated eyes)
- Glaucoma (an increase in ocular pressure)
- Loss of vision or blindness
Doctors are not really sure of the cause of ROP. Blood vessels in the eyes usually finish their development in the last few weeks before birth. Premature babies, however, separate from the womb before those blood vessels have had the ability to fully develop.
Other factors that can contribute to the development of ROP include:
- Low birth weight
- Low gestational age
- Vitamin E deficiency
- Caucasians have a higher percentage of this disease than black children
- Anemia
- Breathing deficiencies
Early stages of ROP do not need treatment. If ROP progresses, laser treatment is used to remove the abnormal blood vessels.