Turn on more accessible mode

Turn off more accessible mode

Skip Ribbon Commands

Skip to main content

Turn off Animations

Turn on Animations

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Treatments

Treatment for ROP depends on the severity and extent of ROP. This is described in stages 1-5 (stage 1 being the least severe and 5 being the most severe), and in zones (zone 1 is the closest to the centre of the retina and zone 3 is the furthest).

The presence or absence of ‘plus disease’ (tortuosity and enlargement of the retinal blood vessels) is also an important factor in determining severity.

Majority of babies with ROP will regress spontaneously but approximately 6% will require treatment. When ROP reaches a certain degree of severity, treatment is recommended to prevent risk of retinal detachment and potential visual loss.

The two common treatments for ROP include:

Laser treatment to the immature retina, or
Intraocular injection of a medication (anti-VEGF) which reduces the formation of abnormal blood vessels within the eye.

In majority of cases, the ROP will regress after treatment. However, a minority may progress onto the more severe Stage 4 or 5 disease, which will require more complex treatment requiring surgery.

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Preparing for surgery

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Post-surgery care

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Other Information

Article contributed by Paediatric Ophthalmology ＆ Adult Strabismus Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

SingHealth

TOP

[{"SHPageId":"833","BodyPart":"#Eye#","BodyPartLst":["eye"],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Age-related Macular Degeneration#, #Diabetic Retinopathy#, #Macular Hole#, #Macular Pucker (Epiretinal Membrane)#, #Retinal Detachment#, #Childhood Cataract#, #Cataract#, #Intraocular Tumours#, #Uveal Melanoma#, #Retinopathy of Prematurity#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["age-related macular degeneration","diabetic retinopathy","macular hole","macular pucker (epiretinal membrane)","retinal detachment","childhood cataract","cataract","intraocular tumours","uveal melanoma","retinopathy of prematurity"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"82ecbe92-920c-4e6f-8f4f-06028694ac6d|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;Head ＆ Senior Consultant|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;Senior Consultant|f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Head ＆ Senior Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"82ecbe92-920c-4e6f-8f4f-06028694ac6d","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","ClinicalDesgInstId":"f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5"},{"ClinicalDesgName":"Senior Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e","ClinicalDesgInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","ClinicalDesgInstId":"f25d9c3b-fb5d-4fc6-a841-f0debeedf9b5"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Head ＆ Senior Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":" \n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiabetic Retinopathy\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eCell Replacement therapy in Retinal Diseases\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eRetina imaging\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eTelemedicine and Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, Retina Society (2023 - present)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSecretary, Singapore Society of ophthalmology\u0026#160;(2018 - present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, Macular Society (2018 - present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eCouncil Member, Asia-Pacific Teleophthalmology Society (2016 - present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, American Society of Retina Surgeons (ASRS) (2014 - present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eFellow, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (2012 - present)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) (2004 - present)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS, M Med(Ophth), MRCSEd, FRCS(Ed), FAMS, PhD (NUS)\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/230721-SNEC-Dr%20Gavin_1292-hb.jpg","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/SNEC/230721-SNEC-Dr%20Gavin_1292-hs.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Gavin Tan from Singapore National Eye Centre","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":199},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/SNEC/230721-SNEC-Dr%20Gavin_1292-hs.jpg","Description":"Dr Gavin Tan from Singapore National Eye Centre"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/230721-SNEC-Dr%20Gavin_1292-hb.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Gavin Tan from Singapore National Eye Centre","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/SNEC/230721-SNEC-Dr%20Gavin_1292-hb.jpg","Description":"Dr Gavin Tan from Singapore National Eye Centre"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#Researcher;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Assoc Prof","SHDoctorFirstName":"Gavin","SHDoctorLastName":"Tan","SHDoctorOtherName":"Gavin Tan","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Ophthalmology","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":"Head \u0026 Senior Consultant (Designate)","SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Head ＆ Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Surgical Retina Department","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"gavin-tan","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"gavin-tan","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":2},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":"Program Director","SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"SIDRP / Polyclinic","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"gavin-tan","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":4},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":"Head, Ocular Diagnostic Department ","SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Singapore National Eye Centre","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"gavin-tan","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":5}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Surgical Retina","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Surgical Retina","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"gavin-tan"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"gavin-tan"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Surgical Retina Department#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore National Eye Centre#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"gavin-tan"},{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Cataract ＆ Comprehensive Ophthalmology Department#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx","Description":"https://www.snec.com.sg/clinicalservices/subspecialties/cataract-surgery/Pages/cataract-surgery-intro.aspx"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#Singapore National Eye Centre#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/SNEC-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.snec.com.sg","Description":"http://www.snec.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"gavin-tan"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":[{"SHDoctorResearchAppPageItemId":"833","SHDoctorResearchAltDesgText":"Clinician Scientist, Singapore Eye Research Institute","SHDoctorResearchDesg":"","SHDoctorResearchInst":"","SHDoctorResearchInstLogo":null,"SHDoctorResearchInstUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchDept":"","SHDoctorResearchDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorResearchDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorResearchProg":"","SHDoctorResearchEmail":null}],"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/gavin-tan","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"gavin-tan","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null}]