Retinopathy of Prematurity Management

"Currently, treatment relies on the destruction of the areas of the retina that are without blood vessels. This becomes necessary only if the disease has reached a certain, well defined stage, as the milder forms often regress spontaneously. By destroying the retina, the stimulus for the growth of the abnormal blood vessels is removed. The destruction is achieved by cryotherapy (literally freezing the retina, using a small pulse) or photocoagulation with laser energy. Rarely, surgery is undertaken in an attempt to remove the scar tissue. To prevent ROP, Paediatricians attempt to minimise the amount of supplemental oxygen the infant is receiving."