Retinopathy of premature (ROP) is a serious proliferative disorder that affects premature infants and one of the most common causes of blindness in children.

In Russian Federation more than 100 thousand premature infants are being saved each year. ROP is the leading problem of pediatric ophthalmology.

The risk factors of developing ROP include low birth weight and immaturity of the eye.

In premature infants the normal growth of blood vessels stops. Abnormal vessels begin to develop and may lead to a formation of a ring of fibrous scar tissue attached to both the retina and the vitreous gel that fills the center of the eye. As the scar contracts, it may pull on the retinal creating a traction retinal detachment.

ROP is divided into stages: the active stage of ROP is replaced by the stage of regress and the stage of scar formation. The International classification of retinopathy of premature defines retinopathy by several distinct criteria: location, stage, extent.

• Stage1 is caracterized by a thin demarcation line between the vascular and avascular region
• Stage 2 ROP has a ridge of scar tissue in place of demarcation line
• Stage 3 shows an increased size of the vascular ridge with growth of fibrovascular tissue on the ridge and extending out into the vitreous
• Stage 4 refers to a partial retinal detachment
• Stage 5 implies a complete retinal detachment

The severe form of retinopathy of prematurity is termed "plus-disease". Plus-disease implies dilation and tortuosity of the retinal blood vessels, formation of strong peripheral vascular arcades, vitreous haze and hemorrhages.

• "Plus-disease"