Dr. Jayanthi V. Subbarao & Dr.V.K. Raju Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Centre
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) or Terry syndrome, previously known as retrolental fibroplasias, is a disease of the eye affecting prematurely born babies who receive oxygen therapy due to the premature development of their lungs. It is thought to be caused by disorganized growth of premature retinal blood vessels which may result in scarring and retinal detachment. ROP can be mild and may resolve spontaneously, but it may lead to blindness in serious cases. As such, all preterm babies with very low birth weight are at risk for ROP, hence they should be screened within 1 month of their birth. Both oxygen toxicity and relative hypoxia can contribute to the development of ROP. Causes By the fourth month of pregnancy, the foetal retina has begun to develop vascularization. Such formation of blood vessels appears to be very sensitive to the amount of oxygen supplied, either naturally or artificially. Risk Factors Various risk factors that contribute to the development of ROP are:- Prematurity
- High exposure to oxygen
- Low birth weight
- Various types of infections
- Cardiac defects