What parents should know about retinopathy of prematurity
- Last Updated: April 23rd, 2025
What parents should know about retinopathy of prematurity
Retinopathy of prematurity is an eye disease that may cause blindness in infants born before 31 weeks gestation.
When the health care provider does not diagnose and treat this condition shortly after birth, permanent vision loss can result.
If your baby was born prematurely, learn more about the importance of screening for and treating ROP.
What is retinopathy of prematurity?
This disease causes blood vessels within the retina of the eye to grow abnormally and bleed.
Over time, the scarring created by the abnormal vessels detaches the retina from the back of the eye, causing blindness.
Because retina do not completely develop until near the end of pregnancy, early birth may negatively impact the normal development of these cells.
The earlier a baby is born, the more likely it is that he or she will experience ROP.
What are the symptoms of ROP?
Screening is especially important because early ROP cases show few symptoms.
As the disease progresses, the infant may display white pupils or unusual eye movements.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a dilated eye exam to check for this condition in infants born prior to 31 weeks.
The earlier a doctor detects and treats, the better the potential outcomes for the patient.
For this reason, parents may have a medical malpractice suit if the child’s doctor negligently fails to diagnose ROP.
How is this condition treated?
Most cases of ROP require surgery to prevent scars from forming.
Your child’s doctor may recommend laser surgery to remove scars from the periphery of the retina to preserve the more important central retina.
In some cases, injection of a medication into the affected area can stop the abnormal growth.
Advanced cases may require more complex surgery.
If your baby was born early and you have concerns about his or her vision, determine whether your child had an ROP screening at birth.
If not, you could have a medical malpractice claim if he or she suffers vision loss as a result of this disease.
About the Author: Frank Piscitelli
As a first-generation Italian in the United States, Frank is no stranger to tough times.
His father’s family moved to Cleveland from Italy on May 22, 1958, with a few articles of clothing, some personal items and very little money.
His family shared a home with three other related families but happily worked long hours doing jobs that involved physical labor, just to put food on the table.
There was the promise of hope and opportunity, which was missing before his family moved here.
Member of the Ohio State Bar Association since 1993. With 30+ years of legal experience, Attorney Frank Piscitelli has secured over $55 million in compensation for Ohio injury victims, car accident victims, and surviving family members of Ohio wrongful death victims.
Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and attorneys at Piscitelli Law Firm and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced Ohio personal injury lawyer, Frank Piscitelli, you can do so here.
Fact-Checked
Piscitelli Law Firm does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.
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