Samarthanetralaya

ROP Screening

ROP screening refers to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening, a medical procedure used to detect abnormal blood vessel development in the retina of premature or low birth weight infants.

What is ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity)?

Category	Details
Definition	Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a condition where abnormal blood vessel growth occurs in the retina of premature infants, potentially leading to retinal detachment and vision loss.
Who Should Be Screened?	• Premature infants born before 30 weeks of gestation • Infants with a birth weight less than 1,500 grams • Infants with unstable clinical courses like sepsis, respiratory distress
Timing of Screening	• Infants born at 27 weeks of gestation or later should be screened at 4-week postnatal age • Infants born before 27 weeks should be screened at 31 weeks’ postmenstrual age • Timing may vary based on the infant’s condition and gestational age
Importance	• To prevent vision loss and manage the progression of the disease • Timely treatment can prevent severe outcomes such as retinal detachment and blindness • To reduce the risk of retinal detachment and blindness

Different ROP Stages

Stage 1

Mildly abnormal blood vessel growth.

Stage 2

Moderately abnormal blood vessel growth.

Stage 3

Severely abnormal blood vessel growth with scar tissue.

Stage 4

Partially detached retina.

Stage 5

Completely detached retina.

ROP Screening Treatment at Samarth Netralaya

Treatment Option	Description
Laser Therapy	Laser photocoagulation is used to treat the peripheral avascular retina to prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
Cryotherapy	Freezing parts of the peripheral retina to halt abnormal blood vessel growth.
Anti-VEGF Injections	Medications like bevacizumab are injected into the eye to block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which drives abnormal blood vessel growth.
Surgery	In severe cases, procedures such as scleral buckling or vitrectomy are performed to reattach a detached retina.