Retinopathy of prematurity occurs primarily in low birth weight premature infants who are admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit and require oxygen supplementation.
Current teaching is that either too much or too little oxygen can result in ROP. ROP, like other retinal vascular diseases, is in part mediated by the release of excess VEGF. Thus, the treatment is similar, including laser photocoagulation and/or anti-VEGF injections. A few thoughts by a non-expert for the comprehensive ophthalmologist.
At approximately 4 months of gestation, the fetal retina begins to vascularize. Retinal