Retinopathy of prematurity can develop when babies are born before their retinal blood vessels are fully formed

Andrea Molinari

Dan Weaver

Subhadra Jalali

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 COMMUNITY EYE HEALTH JOURNAL | VOLUME 30 | NUMBER 99 | 2017  49 UNDERSTANDING ROPAndrea MolinariPediatricOphthalmologist:HospitalMetropolitano,Av. Mariana de JesusOe-8, Quito, Ecuador.Dan Weaver PediatricOphthalmologist:Billings Clinic,Billings, Montana,USA.Subhadra JalaliDeputy Director: Newborn Eye Health Alliance (NEHA) and Director, Quality: LV Prasad Eye Institute,Hyderabad, India.Figure 2 In the preterm eye, the retinal blood vessels are not fully developedFigure 3 ROP occurs at the junction between the vascularised and unvascularised retinaFigure 4 Advanced ROP with partial retinal detachment  How does ROP develop?   Retinopathy of prematurity can develop when babies are born before their retinal blood vessels are fully formed. In babies who are born at full term (between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation), the retinal blood vessels are fully developed and reach the edge of the retina: the ora serrata (Figure 1). In babies who are born preterm (before 37 weeks), the retinal blood vessels are not fully formed and do not reach the ora serrata (Figure 2). If a preterm baby is examined a week or so after birth, it is possible to see whether the blood vessels are mature and have reached the ora serrata, or whether they are immature; i.e., the peripheral retina is not vascularised. If babies receive good neonatal care, the retinal blood vessels continue to grow normally.   If the neonatal environment is not ideal, particularly if oxygen levels have been higher or more variable than they should be, the retinal blood vessels stop growing. A visible line or a ridge then forms and the blood vessels may start to multiply (proliferate) abnormally. The visible line, ridge and proliferating blood vessels are all signs of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). See Figure 3.In 5–10% of premature babies, ROP progresses and can lead to retinal detachment (Figure 4). This causes irreversible blindness, often in both eyes.The edge of the retina (ora serrata)Figure 1 In the full-term eye, the retinal blood vessels are fully developedVISION RESEARCH ROPARD FOUNDATION   WWW.VRRF.ORGVISION RESEARCH ROPARD FOUNDATION   WWW.VRRF.ORGVISION RESEARCH ROPARD FOUNDATION   WWW.VRRF.ORGVISION RESEARCH ROPARD FOUNDATION   WWW.VRRF.ORG

How does ROP develop?

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How does ROP develop?

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