What is "ROP?"

Retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP, is an eye condition that can happen in premature babies. When babies are born early, the blood vessels in the back of the eye, called the retina, haven’t finished developing. After birth, those blood vessels may grow in an abnormal way.Most of the time, ROP is mild and gets better on its own as the baby grows. But in some babies, the abnormal blood vessel growth can become more serious. If it worsens, it can pull on the retina and, in rare cases, cause vision problems or even blindness if not treated.

That’s why we screen premature babies’ eyes regularly in the NICU. If we see signs that ROP is getting more severe, there are treatments—like laser therapy or injections—that can stop the abnormal growth and protect your baby’s vision. The earlier we find and treat it, the better the chances of preventing vision loss.

So while ROP can be serious, close monitoring and timely treatment are very effective at keeping babies’ eyes healthy.