The Great Vazquez (2010)
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the most widely recognized cause of visual impairment after preterm birth and is defined as a vision-threatening disease associated with abnormal retinal vascular development at the boundary of vascularized and avascular peripheral retina (Table 2) (4). Babies who are most preterm or have associated neonatal morbidity, e.g., respiratory distress syndrome, infection, poor weight gain, and hyperglycemia, are at the greatest risk of ROP (5,6). Oxygen plays a critical role in this process, with both hypoxia and hyperoxia affecting levels of growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, essential for normal retinal vascular development. Hence, rates of ROP are dependent on the quality of care received, including oxygen delivery, with continuous monitoring to maintain safe oxygen saturation levels (7). Most cases of ROP are mild and resolve spontaneously without treatment. A small proportion progress to more severe ROP, which, if untreated,…