Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

By Randy Rosenblum

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a disease that affects the eyes of premature babies. The blood vessels that nourish the developing retina of a premature infant may grow out of control toward the center of the eye and not into the retinal bed. If not properly detected and treated, ROP can lead to retinal detachment and blindness.

With proper monitoring, physicians are usually able to identify the disease before it develops to a stage when intervention will no longer alter the outcome. If properly and timely identified, laser treatment can be highly successful.

Unfortunately, not all physicians properly monitor premature babies that are at a high risk for developing ROP. Each year in the United States, approximately 500-700 children become blind because of ROP. If your newborn was born at a high risk hospital, the hospital has a responsibility to ensure proper monitoring by a trained ROP specialist. If this was not done, the hospital may have liability.

All parents of premature and low birth weight babies should ask their pediatrician and/or neonatologist about this potentially vision-destroying disease. Constant monitoring by an ophthalmologist trained in ROP is critical.

It is also a parent's responsibility to ask the right questions regarding whether their child is receiving the appropriate care. The highest risk time is from 30 to 42 weeks, but the risk may be enhanced from other factors, such as the baby being on oxygen, low birth weight, or serious illness.

We suggest these questions, at the least:

1. What is the ROP experience of the eye doctor examining my child? Insist on a specialist.
2. Have there been ROP findings so far? If so, the risk is enhanced and more frequent exams are necessary so the disease does not slip by the examiner. Specialists in ROP often say experience is important, but there are no substitutes for diligence and vigilance.
3. How frequently will my child's eyes be examined? Do not accept a schedule of every two or three weeks. Careful specialists will see an at risk child as frequently as two or three times a week, as the disease can progress rapidly.

If you or someone you know believes that a physician and/or hospital has not properly monitored a premature baby that has developed the devastating consequences of ROP, contact FREIDIN · DOBRINSKY