Hanyang Med Rev.  2009 Nov;29(4):362-369. 10.7599/hmr.2009.29.4.362.

Retinopathy of Prematurity: Current Understanding and Treatment

• Cho HY

• KMID: 2053723
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2009.29.4.362

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematury (ROP) is a major cause of blindness that affects premature infants. With advances in neonatology, ROP is likely to emerge as a more significant problem of vision loss in children in developing countries. With the recent advances in basic science research, our understanding of the pathophysiology of ROP has rapidly evolved. Clinical trials along with natural history of the disease have lead to updated screening and treatment guidelines. For successful control of ROP, timely and accurate screening is very important because early treatment leads to favorable outcomes. New treatment modalities are being explored with pharmacologic agents targeting the modulation of angiogenesis. The improved surgical intervention offers the potential for preservation of vision for eyes of ROP-related retinal detachment. The body of information germane to caring for ROP from infancy to adulthood continues to grow up. Improved surveillance and treatment programmes are likely to be most effective in reducing blindness caused by ROP in developing countries.

Keyword

Retinopathy of prematurity; Screening; Vascular endothelial growth factor

MeSH Terms

Blindness
Child
Developing Countries
Diterpenes
Eye
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Mass Screening
Natural History
Neonatology
Retinal Detachment
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vision, Ocular
Diterpenes
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Retinal finding after laser photocoagulation in threshold ROP with plus disease and extensive extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation (EFP, white asterix). There are moderately intense, gray-white laser burns spacing of less than or equal to one-half burn widths on peripheral avascular retina. (quoted from: Kim JH, Yu YS. Assessment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) revised. Korean J Pediatr 2009:52:22-7).

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