Outcome of prematurity and retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity is a disease that manifests soon after birth in the premature infant and may lead to a lifelong disability. More infants at risk for developing the retinopathy are surviving, and the ophthalmologist must be aware of possible vision abnormalities, such as decreased acuity, strabismus, nystagmus, retinal scarring, and retinal detachment, that occur during childhood and in adult life. These abnormalities may occur in children who developed only mild forms of retinopathy of prematurity during early life.