Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can be a devastating condition to new parents who discover their infant has become blind and that it could have been prevented. Healthcare providers are supposed to identify and diagnose retinopathy of prematurity stages to prevent potential baby blindness.

While this condition is treatable in early stages, ROP can induce permanent blindness if allowed to progress. This eyesight disorder is most prevalent in premature infants weighing 2 ¾ pounds or less and born before 31 weeks of pregnancy.

This is because infants develop their eyes during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, resulting in the eyes being underdeveloped when the infant is born. This condition is characterized by the appearance of frail small blood vessels in the eye, which are prone to leaking and breaking.

When these blood vessels break it may cause the cornea to become dislodged, ultimately resulting in baby blindness. Due to the severity of this condition, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of the retinopathy of prematurity stages:

• Stage 1: Abnormal blood vessel growth in the eyes is mild, with most infants recovering at this stage on their own without medical intervention.
• Stage 2: Abnormal blood vessel growth in the eyes is moderate, with most infants also recovering on their own without medical intervention.
• Stage 3: Abnormal blood vessel growth is severe, with some infants being able to recover on their own. However, infants with “Plus Disease,” in which the blood vessels become enlarged and tangled, must have medical intervention to prevent retinal detachment.
• Stage 4: Abnormal blood vessel growth is severe enough to cause partial retina detachment.
• Stage 5: Abnormal blood vessel growth is severe, and has ultimately resulted in complete retinal detachment.

Overview of Retinopathy of Prematurity Risks

As indicated in the retinopathy of prematurity stages, ROP appears in a number of infants per year but often resolves itself without any assistance. Approximately 14,000 to 16,000 infants are born with ROP ever year, but only between 1,100 to 1,500 of these cases are severe enough to warrant medical intervention.

Out of the small number of cases that warrant further treatment, approximately 400 to 600 infants develop baby blindness. This means approximately 90% of ROP cases diagnosed per year are in the retinopathy of prematurity stages that do not need medical intervention, but this does not mean physicians should not take the risk lightly.

While there are a number of treatment options available, including oxygen treatment and laser therapy, the ROP cannot be resolved if allowed to progress to advanced stages. Physicians must carefully examine the infant’s eyes to look for any potential signs of retinopathy of prematurity stages, and must also prescribe follow-up care or refer the family to a specialist.

Healthcare providers who fail to do this may be at risk for medical malpractice allegations.