Retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity is a disorder of retinal blood-vessel development in premature infants. Abnormal vessel growth can lead to retinal scarring, detachment, and vision loss.

Retinal vascular development: The growth and maturation of blood vessels that supply the retina. ROP disrupts the normal progression of retinal vessels toward the peripheral retina.
Retinopathy of prematurity screening: Scheduled retinal examinations of at-risk premature infants to detect ROP and monitor its progression. Serial examinations identify disease severity and the point when treatment is needed.
Premature birth: Birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Immature retinal vessels make premature infants susceptible to ROP.
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy: An inherited retinal vascular disorder caused by incomplete peripheral retinal vascularization. It can resemble ROP but occurs without the defining context of prematurity.
Amblyopia: Reduced vision in one or both eyes caused by abnormal visual development during childhood. Retinal damage or unequal visual input after ROP can interfere with visual development.
Vascular endothelial growth factor: A signaling protein that promotes blood-vessel growth and increases vascular permeability. Low oxygen can stimulate excess VEGF, driving abnormal vessel growth in ROP.
Indirect ophthalmoscopy: An eye examination that uses a light source and condensing lens to view the retina. It allows clinicians to examine the peripheral retina where ROP commonly develops.
Retina: The light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye that converts light into neural signals. ROP affects the developing blood supply and structure of this tissue.
Persistent fetal vasculature: A congenital eye disorder in which fetal vascular tissue fails to regress normally. It can cause leukocoria and retinal distortion, but stems from persistent fetal vessels rather than ROP’s developmental pattern.
Myopia: A refractive error in which distant objects focus in front of the retina. Children with a history of ROP have increased risk of nearsightedness.

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