Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP, is an eye disease that affects babies born early. The National Eye Institute says ROP can happen in babies who are premature or who weigh less than 3 pounds at birth, when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Many mild cases resolve on their own, but severe cases can lead to retinal detachment, vision loss, and blindness.

Doctors grade ROP in 5 stages. Stages 1 and 2 usually improve without treatment. Treatment usually starts at stage 3, and stages 4 and 5 involve partial or complete retinal detachment that often requires surgery and may still leave vision loss. Because the disease can move quickly, premature babies at risk get scheduled eye exams in the hospital and after discharge. Treatments include laser therapy and eye injections.

ROP enters the legal world mainly through medical malpractice claims. These cases usually allege that a hospital or doctor failed to schedule or perform timely screening exams, failed to follow up after discharge, or delayed treatment until the retina detached. Because the window to treat can be short, the timeline of exams in the medical record is often the most important evidence. Premature infants face other serious risks too, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, which is the subject of litigation over cow's milk-based formula.

See our page on NEC baby formula lawsuits and our guide to suing a company or provider.