Latest Trends in Retinopathy of Prematurity: Research on Risk Factors, Diagnostic Methods and Therapies
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents
Published on: September 16, 2020
Laura Bujoreanu Bezman1,2, Carmen Tiutiuca1,3, Geanina Totolici1,3
1Department of Ophthalmology, "Sfantul Apostol Andrei" Emergency Clinical Hospital, Galati, Romania.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness. This review explores new risk factors, advanced diagnostics like OCT and AI, and effective anti-VEGF treatments for ROP management.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious vasoproliferative disorder that can lead to blindness if not diagnosed and treated early.
- Continuous advancements in ROP management aim to preserve visual acuity in premature infants.
- Understanding ROP is critical for preventing vision loss in vulnerable newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).
- To highlight emerging risk factors and novel diagnostic technologies for ROP.
- To discuss the evolving therapeutic landscape, including anti-VEGF agents, for ROP.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of current literature on Retinopathy of Prematurity.
- Analysis of recent research on novel risk factors, including proteinuria, IGF-1, and blood transfusions.
- Evaluation of digital imaging, telescreening, OCT, deep learning, and anti-VEGF therapies in ROP management.
Main Results:
- Identified potential new risk factors for ROP, expanding beyond established ones.
- Digital imaging, telescreening, OCT, and AI-powered tools are enhancing ROP detection and staging.
- Anti-VEGF therapy is a growing treatment trend for ROP, with research suggesting no adverse neurodevelopmental impact.
Conclusions:
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing blindness in ROP.
- Emerging risk factors and advanced technologies are improving ROP diagnosis and management.
- Anti-VEGF agents represent a promising therapeutic avenue for ROP, supporting infant visual health.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disorder with an imminent risk of blindness, in cases where early diagnosis and treatment are not performed. The doctors' constant motivation to give these fragile beings a chance at life with optimal visual acuity has never stopped, since Terry first described this condition. Thus, throughout time, several specific advancements have been made in the management of ROP. Apart from the most known risk factors, this narrative review brings to light the latest research about new potential risk factors, such as: proteinuria, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and blood transfusions. Digital imaging has revolutionized the management of retinal pathologies, and it is more and more used in identifying and staging ROP, particularly in the disadvantaged regions by the means of telescreening. Moreover, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and automated diagnostic tools based on deep learning offer new perspectives on the ROP diagnosis. The new therapeutical trend based on the use of anti-VEGF agents is increasingly used in the treatment of ROP patients, and recent research sustains the theory according to which these agents do not interfere with the neurodevelopment of premature babies.
