Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the second highest cause of blindness in America today. It affects about 15,000 premature babies each year. Therefore, women who are pregnant and those who have recently given birth to premature babies should be aware of the necessary, crucial screening and monitoring procedures for ROP that a qualified professional must conduct. Consequently, these professionals must address ROP in premature infants immediately.
Furthermore, a pediatric ophthalmologist should perform this screening; general ophthalmologists or retinal ophthalmologists may not have sufficient ROP experience to effectively monitor and treat this disease. Performing a timely ROP screening is crucial for newborns born at or before 30 weeks gestation and weighing less than three pounds at birth. If you recently gave birth to a premature child, ask your doctor whether the pediatric ophthalmologist at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has specialized training in ROP.
Ordering the screening to detect ROP should be standard procedure for all premature babies. A qualified pediatric ophthalmologist must closely monitor the regression or progression of ROP. This allows the doctor to treat the disease accordingly and prevent blindness.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a condition that only affects extremely premature babies. Fortunately, ROP is a treatable condition that should never lead to a baby born blind.
Laser surgery, when performed by an experienced and qualified pediatric ophthalmologist at the NICU, has minimal side effects and a very low risk of further injuries.
While somewhat outdated compared to laser surgery, cryotherapy is a still an acceptable treatment for ROP in infants in certain, closely guarded circumstances.
Treatment NOW includes injection of Bevacizumab, brand name Avastin, which stops the progression of growth of abnormal blood vessels. It is being rigorously tested with the hope that it will, one day, become the monotherapy for treatment, perhaps replacing photocoagulation (destruction of the abnormal vessels by laser destruction of the offending vessels), which can lift and cause detachment of the retina.
Bloomberg recently published an article discussing how technology can improve the quality of life for people with blindness. The fact that the...
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