Advances in the management of retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the leading causes of blindness in medically advanced countries and is becoming more prevalent in developing countries. It affects premature infants and may result in retinal detachment and significant visual impairment. Management of retinopathy of prematurity begins in the nursery with screening and follow-up examinations. When required, prompt treatment is carried out via laser diode photoablation of the avascular retina to prevent retinal detachment. Treatment prior to threshold is more effective in preventing retinal detachment and vitrectomy is effective for some cases of stage 4 disease. Telemedicine screening is evolving and may have particular application for underserved areas. Novel treatments are under investigation and show promising results in animal studies.

Keywords::

• diagnosis
• laser treatment
• molecular basis
• new treatment strategies
• retinal detachment
• retinopathy of prematurity
• screening
• telemedicine
• treatment