Retinopathy of Prematurity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Research Paper Example The aftermath is a scarring of the surface of the eye which exerts pressure on the retina forcing it to be more taut and detached from the wall of the eye. This can easily lead to loss of vision in the affected infants. Due to the lack of symptoms that can help in detection and early diagnosis of the condition in infants, the services of an ophthalmologist are required to carry out a specialized and intense eye examination. In many case, the problem does not escalate to an acute level, the condition clears up without the need for any treatment. The eyes however require to be continuously examined to ensure that the blood vessels do mature. Additionally, if the severity of the disorder in an infant exceeds what can naturally be outgrown, they can be administered with laser treatment to avert the loss of vision in infants. Keywords: Retinopathy of Prematurity, Infant, Retina, Eyes, Vision Introduction Wormald, Smeeth and Henshaw define Retinopathy of Prematurity as a â€Å"vasoprolife rative disease of premature, low birth weight (LBW) babies, which occurs as a result of aberrant vascularization of the immature retina† (2004, p. 57). ... Retinopathy of Prematurity occurs in five stages. A number of treatments have been tried and tested for the treatment of the condition. However, to date, the treatments that have been regarded as exuding the most efficacy in dealing with the condition are Laser Therapy or Cryotherapy (National Eye Institute, 2009). Risk Factors The greatest risk factor contributing towards the development of Retinopathy of Prematurity is premature birth (Hartnett, 2005). According to Kids Health, commencing from 16 weeks into the development of a baby in the uterus of their mother, the blood vessels begin to grow within a baby’s eyes; originating from the center of the eye (2013). By the eight month of the pregnancy, the blood vessels gradually branch out to the sides of the retina. For babies born prematurely, the normal process of the growth of retinal blood vessels may be upset. This may result in abnormal development of vessels, or the growth of abnormal vessels. As a result, the vessels t hat are abnormal may leak or bleed into the eye. The vessels that may have grown randomly in the eye may result in scarring, whereby the scars on the retina may shrink and tag on the retina. The effect of this tension on the retina may trigger the detachment of the retina from the back of the eye. This may result in the baby becoming blind due to the essential role that is played by the retina in the facilitation of the ability to see (Kids Health, 2013). Another risk factor that is suggested as being a cause of the condition is light, due to the fact that it â€Å" leads to a release of free radicals that can cause oxidative damage, death of endothelial cells and release of angiogenic compounds† (Hartnett, 2005, p. 399). Researchers however pose differing