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Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Monitoring Dynamic Growth of Retinal Vessels in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 2, 2021
[Retinopathy of prematurity: from prevention to treatment]
Alejandra Daruich1, Dominique Bremond-Gignac1, Francine Behar-Cohen2
1Service d'ophtalmologie, Hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants malades, AP-HP, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France - Inserm, UMRS1138, Équipe 17, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, 15 rue de l'École de Médecine, 75006 Paris, France - Université de Paris, Paris, France.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness. Management involves synergistic prevention, early screening via digital imaging, and treatments like laser photocoagulation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of preventable blindness in children.
- Its incidence is rising due to increased survival rates of extremely preterm infants.
- ROP stems from impaired retinal vascular development influenced by oxygen and nutritional factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the multifactorial nature of ROP development.
- To emphasize the need for synergistic preventive strategies.
- To describe current screening and treatment modalities for ROP.
Main Methods:
- Review of factors contributing to ROP.
- Discussion of preventive measures including oxygen control, nutrition, and ω-3 PUFAs.
- Overview of ROP screening using wide-field digital imaging and telemedicine.
- Description of treatments such as laser photocoagulation, anti-VEGF, and surgery.
Main Results:
- ROP is multifactorial, involving oxygen and nutritional elements.
- Preventive strategies should be comprehensive and synergistic.
- Wide-field digital imaging facilitates ROP screening, including telemedicine.
- Laser photocoagulation is the gold-standard treatment, with anti-VEGF and surgery as adjuncts.
Conclusions:
- Multifactorial ROP necessitates integrated preventive approaches.
- Systematic screening and timely treatment are crucial for managing ROP.
- Advances in imaging and therapeutics are improving ROP outcomes.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the leading cause of preventable blindness in children. Its incidence increases with increasing survival of extremely preterm babies. ROP results from a multifactorial impairment of retinal development, the retinal vascular network, involving both oxygen-dependent and nutritional factors. The numerous factors involved in ROP development suggest that preventive strategies should be synergistic and complementary, including tight control of oxygen therapy, optimized nutritional intakes and postnatal growth, breastfeeding, adequate ω-3 PUFAs supply and control of hyperglycemic episodes associated with prematurity. ROP requires a multidisciplinary management, which includes systematic screening, appropriate treatment and long-term follow-up. Current screening modalities are based on wide-field digital retinal imaging systems, which also allow screening by telemedicine. The gold-standard treatment for ROP remains laser photocoagulation. It may be combined with intravitreal anti-VEGF administration, which is currently being evaluated, or surgery for advanced stages.
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