Retinopathy of Prematurity: Nursing Perspective

Abstract

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of childhood blindness. India and other middle income countries are currently facing the third ‘epidemic’ of this disease which is mainly due to increased survival of preterm babies, suboptimal neonatal care and lack of proper screening and management of ROP. This is a disorder of the immature retina of preterm babies in which abnormal vascularisation occurs after birth. ROP is multifactorial, and is sensitive to the quality of neonatal inpatient care received during early postnatal life. Nurses, being the primary care givers in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), plays a vital role in prevention and management of ROP.