Retinopathy of Prematurity Risk Factors

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder that develops in the smallest and most premature infants. It is a potentially blinding illness affecting between 14,000 and 16,000 infants born annually. Of these, between 1,100 and 1,500 babies have ROP severe enough to require treatment.

Between 400 and 600 infants are born each year in the United States who become blind because of retinopathy of prematurity. The disorder usually develops in both eyes.

The development of ROP is tied to how the eye grows and develops.

• At 16 weeks of gestation, blood vessels in the fetal retina begin to form at the optic nerve at the back of the eye. Blood vessels and the retina develop gradually.
• The vessels extend to the edges of the retina, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the tissue.
• Twelve weeks before the pregnancy has reached term, the eye develops rapidly.
• At the time of a normal birth, between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, most of the growth of the eye has been completed.
• The retina continues to grow and develop between three and four weeks after the full-term baby is born.

When the baby is born prematurely, the growth process of the retina and its blood vessels is interrupted. The growth of normal blood vessels may cease and the edges of the retina may not receive the necessary oxygen and nutrients.

New abnormal blood vessels start to grow. They are fragile and leak blood into the eye, which causes scarring. When severe enough, the scarring can cause loss of vision and as the scar shrinks, the retina is pulled away from the wall of the eye. A fully detached retina, unless treated, causes blindness.

Medical Mistakes and Retinopathy of Prematurity

The smaller the baby and the earlier the baby is born, the more likely he or she may have ROP. Babies born before 31 weeks gestation and weighing less than 2 ¾ pounds (1250 grams) should be examined for ROP.

In the 1940s and early 1950s, ROP had reached epidemic proportions. This corresponded with the time that hospital nurseries began delivering extremely high levels of oxygen to babies in incubators to save the lives of the premature infants.

It turned out that the excessive use of oxygen corresponded with the greater number of cases of ROP. With today's modern technology, this issue is less of a problem.

Other risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity, if they are not properly attended to by the hospital's doctors and nurses, can include:

• Anemia
• Blood transfusions
• Respiratory distress
• Breathing problems
• Overall infant health

ROP can only be diagnosed by a doctor observing the abnormalities of retinal growth using an ophthalmoscope.

If your baby is diagnosed with ROP, you may be eligible to seek compensation. To learn more, contact our retinopathy of prematurity attorneys today.