ROP is yet another acronym the parent of a preemie will learn and hope does not become part of the baby's diagnosis. In serious cases, ROP can lead to blindness. In fact, I recently learned ROP is what caused Stevie Wonder's blindness.
The March of Dimes explains ROP as follows:
ROP is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. It occurs only in babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. ROP can lead to bleeding and scarring that can damage the eye's retina (the lining at the rear of the eye that relays messages to the brain). This can result in vision loss. An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) will examine the baby's eyes for signs of ROP.
Most mild cases heal without treatment, with little or no vision loss. In more severe cases, the ophthalmologist may perform laser therapy or do a procedure called cryotherapy (freezing) to eliminate abnormal blood vessels and scars. Both treatments help protect the retina.
(Source: "Common conditions treated in the NICU." March of Dimes website.)
Born at 28 weeks, Buzzy was checked for signs of ROP both in the hospital and after leaving. Our departure from the NICU was actually delayed because we had to wait for the opthamologist. After we went home, we had to return to the clinic for yet another check, which required my infant to have her eyes dilated and then to have a horribly tortuous device placed over her eye so that the doctor could get a proper look.
After having Buzzy, I quickly learned that the care of a premature baby involves several different doctors. An opthamologist is only one of the doctors we have seen in the last 22 months. At one point, I jokingly told people that my baby had more doctors than an 80 year old. Certainly, prematurity means careful monitoring and a detailed medical history before the baby reaches his or her first birthday. Fortunately, in Buzzy's medical history there has never been a diagnosis of ROP.
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