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  • ROP: Retinopathy of Prematurity Treatment

    Reviewed By Raj K Maturi, MD
    Published Mar. 01, 2017

    At first, an ophthalmologist may monitor ROP to see if it goes away on its own. If abnormal blood vessels continue to grow, the infant’s eyes must be treated.

    The ophthalmologist may treat ROP in one or more of the following ways:

    • Laser treatment
    • Freezing treatment (cryotherapy)
    • Medication eye injections

    With laser treatment, the ophthalmologist uses a laser to burn away the edge of the retina. With freezing treatment (cryotherapy), the surgeon uses a freezing cold instrument to destroy part of the retina. Both of these treatments target very specific parts of the retina to try to stop abnormal blood vessel growth.

    Research is also underway on medications for ROP. These drugs are injected (given as shots) into the eye to stop unwanted blood vessel growth.

    As babies with ROP grow, they need to be checked regularly by an ophthalmologist for vision problems. Having ROP can lead to being nearsighted, or having a detached retina, lazy eye or misaligned eyes. It also increases the risk of having glaucoma. These problems may be treated by:

    • Wearing eyeglasses
    • Taking eye drops
    • Putting a patch on one eye
    • Having eye surgery