Pediatr. praxi. 2016;17(5):279-284 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2016.064

Current perspective on retinopathy of prematurity

MUDr.Anna Zobanová

Soukromá oční ordinace, Praha

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious vasoproliferative disorder of the retina that is currently restricted to categories of children

born before 32 weeks of gestation or those with a birth weight of less than 1,500 g. Particularly at risk are children with extremely

low birth weight under 1,000 g. Along with optic nerve hypoplasia, ROP is considered to be one of the two major causes of severe

eye injury in children worldwide. With current knowledge on the aetiology and course of ROP, the goal of ROP treatment is not only

preservation of undetached retina, but achievement of such a result when the retina allows normal or nearly normal visual acuity.

However, it is required to strictly follow the protocol of correct ROP screening and to timely indicate and correctly choose the type

of surgical management. Of essential importance is the decision to choose such a method of treatment that will enable to preserve

the best possible visual function. As a result, the historically older cryocoagulation technique, more destructive to the retina, is being

abandoned in favour of a more sparing and effective transpupillary laser photocoagulation. The latest method tested, intravitreal

injection of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, appears to be a very effective therapeutic method, nearly eliminating

the final scarring stages of ROP. An important part of the comprehensive care of very and severely premature children with ROP

is long-term follow-up care by appropriate specialists, including follow-up checks by an experienced paediatric ophthalmologist.

Keywords: aetiology, classification, screening, treatment, long-term follow-up of prematurely born children with ROP, retinopathy

Published: November 1, 2016  Show citation