What treatments are there for ROP?
Currently, the standard of care treatment for ROP severe enough to require it is destroying the retina without blood vessels with laser. On occasion, freeze-treatment is used to accomplish the same goal. By destroying the peripheral retina the goal is to save central vision so that the infant can have as normal vision as possible. Other experimental treatments are being studied as well – most notably a drug called Avastin (bevacizumab). Once the retina detaches (Stage 4 or 5), there are surgical therapies which may be employed to salvage vision.
