FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ROP

Note: This FAQ is compiled based on postings from the ROP list which have been archived by individual members since May, 1998. It is by no means a complete discussion of ROP or any related issue, but it is here to answer some of the more common questions people bring to the list. The ROP list was moderated by Dr. Scott Richards until August, 2002. The list has closed now. For more information about lists of interest to people with visual impairments, please visit the email list index.

Topics

1. What factors contribute to the development of ROP?
2. How often should my baby be examined?
3. What is meant by stages of ROP?
4. What are the benefits and outcomes of cryotherapy vs. laser therapy?
5. What is a scleral buckle? Does it need to be removed?
6. Should my child have a scleral buckle or vitrectomy done for her weak eye?
7. What is the expected outcome of a vitrectomy? What is the follow-up period like?
8. What is Atropine used for after a surgery?
9. How is nearsitedness diagnosed in a baby?
10. What is nystagmus?
11. What do I need to know about glaucoma?
12. Can dilating drops cause a person to have glaucoma? How is the pressure measured?
13. What is phthisis?
14. What are scleral shells?
15. How can I keep glasses/patches on my baby? How long does patching usually continue?
16. How much will my baby be able to see??
17. How can I best handle my feelings about my child's blindness and the reactions of the public?
18. Should I stay home with my child?
19. What can I do about my baby's feeding problems?
20. Should my child avoid sports?
21. Do people with ROP lose their vision as they get older?
22. What research is being done?
23. What about retinal implants?
24. What kind of training do ophthalmologists go through?