What Is Retinopathy of Prematurity?

Overview of Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity is an eye problem that occurs in babies born before 31 weeks of gestation. In severe cases, it can lead to blindness, but if the condition is treated early, blindness can be prevented.

This disease affects the retina, which is the part of the eye on the back of the eyeball that receives light that comes in through the pupil. In the case of retinopathy of prematurity, the blood vessels in the retina are affected.

In retinopathy of prematurity, the blood vessels in the retina may not fully develop by the time the baby is born, which can cause bleeding and scarring in the retina. This may then cause the retina to detach from the rest of the eye, which can, in turn, lead to blindness.

KidsHealth says that during pregnancy, blood vessels begin growing from the center of a fetus’s retina at 16 weeks into the pregnancy. Around eight months into the pregnancy to when the baby is full term, they reach the edges of the retina. When a baby is born prematurely, normal vessel growth may be impeded, which can cause abnormal vessels to develop. 

Symptoms and Causes

According to Stanford Children’s Health, retinopathy of prematurity has no signs or symptoms, and can only be diagnosed by a pediatric opthalmologist who performs an eye exam on an infant.

Experts do not know exactly what causes retinopathy of prematurity. Babies who are born prematurely, before 31 weeks of pregnancy, are at the greatest risk for developing the condition — especially premature babies who weigh less than two pounds, 12 ounces.

There has been some evidence that unusually high levels of oxygen in the blood may contribute to ROP development, so premature infants may undergo blood tests and be closely monitored with a pulse oximeter, (a monitor on the skin that checks the percentage of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in the blood).

If the doctor notices ROP, and the condition is severe enough to run the risk of causing vision impairment or blindness, it should be treated.

Treatment

The first step in treating retinopathy of prematurity is to identify the condition. 

Most instances of the condition go away on their own, but some may not, and may require treatment.

In babies who do have retinopathy of prematurity, lasers can be used to inhibit the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Other treatments include cryotherapy (cold therapy) or injections. However, Stanford Children’s Health notes that the long term effects of the injectors used to treat this condition have not yet been observed.

In the case of babies who have partially or completely detached retinas, one of two surgeries may be conducted – scleral buckling surgery or vitrectomy.

In the scleral buckling surgery, a band is placed around the affected eye to push the detached retina back into its proper position. In a vitrectomy, the gel-like substance inside of the eye is removed so that a surgeon can reach the retina in the back of the eye. A substance is then injected into the eye to better hold the retina in place.

After initial treatment, a child with retinopathy of prematurity will have to have regular follow-ups with a doctor.

Possible Complications

The National Eye Institute notes that between 1,100 and 1,500 infants develop retinopathy of prematurity that is severe enough to require medical treatment, and around 400 to 600 infants in the US become legally blind from ROP each year. 

Lawsuits Filed?

If blindness does result from a failure to diagnose and treat retinopathy of prematurity, it may be the result of medical malpractice. 

If your child developed blindness from ROP, you may have a legal claim against a hospital or medical professionals who treated your child and be bale to gain compensation to help with medical bills, your child’s physical injury, and possible emotional injury.