Babies born very early have retinas that are still developing. In some of them, the blood vessels of the retina grow abnormally, a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP. Severe ROP can threaten sight. At the Retina Society 2026 meeting, Nimesh Patel, MD, presented research on how the timing of ROP can signal which babies are likely to need treatment.
What the research found
ROP is graded by stage, location, and the appearance of the vessels. Dr. Patel noted that as more babies survive at very early gestational ages, some develop ROP sooner and more severely, and these infants were less represented in the trials that shaped today’s treatment guidelines.
- Babies who reached stage 2 ROP before 34 weeks had a significantly higher treatment rate than those who reached it later.
- Among babies with stage 2 disease that did not yet meet treatment guidelines, 66% ultimately needed treatment.
“If you see any ROP, just refer it”
Dr. Patel said ROP blindness is largely preventable, and that delayed referral is one reason poor outcomes still happen. He proposed a more risk-tailored approach: earlier attention for high-risk babies and possibly less frequent screening for low-risk ones. He also described a telemedicine program that let babies stay in their local neonatal intensive care unit for screening.
How ROP is treated
Dr. Patel said he usually treats first with an injection of anti-VEGF medicine, which is quick and avoids putting a baby back on a breathing tube, and reported no infections in a review of 1,600 injections at his center. Laser treatment is also used. Treatment choices are made by pediatric retina specialists for each child.
For parents of preemies
- Keep every scheduled eye screening, even after leaving the hospital.
- Ask what stage and zone your baby’s ROP is, and when the next exam is due.
For more plain-language reading on eye health, see foreverfreecontacts.com.
Source: Retina Society 2026: Timing matters: Early stage 2 ROP signals higher risk of treatment (Ophthalmology Times, 09/25/2026). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.