Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Monitoring Dynamic Growth of Retinal Vessels in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 2, 2021
Retinopathy of prematurity: the disease process, classifications, screening, treatment, and outcomes
Sallie Nash Harrell1, Debra Huffman Brandon
1Women's Hospital, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. sallie.harrell@duke.edu
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is abnormal eye vessel growth in premature infants, a leading cause of childhood blindness. Early detection and treatments like laser photocoagulation are crucial for managing this condition.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious condition affecting premature infants, characterized by abnormal retinal vascularization.
- Historically, ROP was a primary cause of childhood blindness, and it continues to cause significant vision loss annually.
- Disease severity correlates with decreased gestational age, highlighting the vulnerability of extremely premature infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), including its pathophysiology, classification, diagnosis, and treatment.
- To emphasize the importance of early screening and intervention for premature infants at risk of ROP.
- To discuss the long-term visual outcomes associated with ROP.
Main Methods:
- Review of the international classification system for ROP.
- Description of ophthalmological examination techniques for ROP assessment.
- Summary of current treatment modalities, including cryosurgery and laser photocoagulation.
Main Results:
- ROP involves the cessation of normal eye development and abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.
- Key factors in ROP pathogenesis include oxygen levels, VEGF, and IGF.
- Ophthalmologists diagnose ROP by evaluating vascularization extent, abnormal vessel growth, and affected eye areas.
Conclusions:
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment of ROP are essential to prevent blindness in premature infants.
- Long-term follow-up is necessary to manage structural and functional vision impairments resulting from ROP.
- Understanding the multifactorial nature of ROP aids in developing targeted screening and treatment strategies.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the cessation of normal eye development and subsequent abnormal vessel growth that occurs exclusively in premature infants. ROP was first discovered in the 1940s and was for two decades the leading cause of blindness in children. Currently, the disease causes about 500 new cases of blindness per year. The severity of the disease increases with decreasing gestational age. The pathogenesis of ROP involves disruption of normal retinal vascularization. Vessel endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and oxygen play important roles in its development. ROP is classified using an international classification system that provides direction for screening and treatment of premature infants. Examinations are performed by ophthalmologists, who identify the scope of vascularization, the degree of abnormal vessel growth, and the amount of the eye that is affected. Treatment modalities include cryosurgery and laser photocoagulation. Long-term outcomes include both structural and functional vision problems.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...