Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease that primarily
occurs in premature babies. It causes abnormal blood
vessels to grow in the retina, the layer of nerve tissue in the
eye that enables us to see. This growth can cause the retina
to detach from the back of the eye, leading to blindness.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
GREATER AFFINITY OF O2
VIT.E ANTIOXIDANT DEFICIENT IN
PREMATURE INFANTS
AFTER BIRTH THE HIGHER
CONCENTRATION OF O2 (OVER A
PERIOD OF TIME)
ACTS UPON THE PREMITIVE VASCULAR
OF THE EYES AND CAUSES
VASOCONSTRICTION OF THE RETINAL
CAPILLARIES LEADING TO AN
GROWTH OF THESE VESSELS
RETINAL VEINS DILATE AND BECOME
TORTUOUS
NEW VESSELS DEVELOP TOWARDS THE
LENS, THE AQUES AND VITREOUS
HUMORS BECOME TURBID
EDEMA OF THE RETINA
AND HEAMORRHAGE WITH
EXUDATE INTO THE RETINA
STRUCTURE SEPARETES FROM THE
INNER SURFACE OF THE EYE
RETINA DETACHES
AND FLOATS (MOVES)
FORWARD IN THE EYE
RETINA BECOME ATROPIC (A COMPLETELY
DETACHES AND USELESS FIBROTIC MASS)
BLINDNESSNESS MAY OCCUR
ZONES
EXTENT
STAGES
STAGE -0
STAGES
Stage One – A line of demarcation
between the vascular and avascular retina
Stage Two – The line comes a ridge
Stage Three – The ridge is associated with
neonvascularization entering the vitreous
Optical Coherence Tomography
(OCT)
Noninvasive
Usually
forms 2-D
images
3-D pictures
can be
formed
Treatment
Treatment should start within
72 hours of the eye exam
“Plus disease” babies
need immediate treatment
Cryotherapy (freezing)
Laser therapy
Surgery is needed if the retina
detaches
Plus Disease
Prevention of severe disease
•Primary – decrease the number of infants
born at the gestations with highest risk
•Secondary -An agent that will prevent the
retinal blood vessel drop out after birth in
very premature infants
•Limit the vaso-proliferative phase
•Safe oxygen administration
NURSING MANAGEMENT
Cyanotic infants who need 02 therapy do
not require an arterial PO2 much higher
than 50mmhg
<70mmhg, inspired 02 concentration
should be reduced immediately
Continuous trans-cutaneous Pa02
electrodes is of vital importance in
monitoring PaO2 levels
Provide support to the parents and explain
their doubts.