retinopathy of prematurity

retinopathy /ret·i·nop·a·thy/ (ret″ĭ-nop´ah-the) any noninflammatory disease of the retina.

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circinate retinopathy  a condition in which a circle of white spots encloses the macula, leading to complete foveal blindness.

diabetic retinopathy  retinopathy associated with diabetes mellitus, which may be of the background type, progressively characterized by microaneurysms, intraretinal punctate hemorrhages, yellow, waxy exudates, cotton-wool patches, and macular edema, or of the proliferative type, characterized by neovascularization of the retina and optic disk, which may project into the vitreous, proliferation of fibrous tissue, vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment.

exudative retinopathy  that marked by masses of white or yellowish exudate in the posterior part of the fundus oculi, with deposit of cholesterin and blood debris from retinal hemorrhage, and leading to destruction of the macula and blindness.

hypertensive retinopathy  that associated with essential or malignant hypertension; changes may include irregular narrowing of the retinal arterioles, hemorrhages in the nerve fiber layers and the outer plexiform layer, exudates and cotton-wool patches, arteriosclerotic changes, and, in malignant hypertension, papilledema.

retinopathy of prematurity  a bilateral retinopathy typically occurring in premature infants treated with high concentrations of oxygen, characterized by vascular dilatation, proliferation, tortuosity, edema, retinal detachment, and fibrous tissue behind the lens.

proliferative retinopathy  the proliferative type of diabetic retinopathy.

renal retinopathy  a retinopathy associated with renal and hypertensive disorders and presenting the same symptoms as hypertensive retinopathy.

stellate retinopathy  a retinopathy not associated with hypertensive, renal, or arteriosclerotic disorders, but presenting the same symptoms as hypertensive retinopathy.

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retinopathy of prematurity

n.

Abnormal replacement of the sensory retina by fibrous tissue and blood vessels, occurring mainly in premature infants who are placed in a high-oxygen environment. Also called retrolental fibroplasia, Terry's syndrome.

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Retinopathy of prematurity

A condition in which the blood vessels in a premature infant's eyes do not develop normally, and can, in some cases, result in blindness.

Mentioned in: Prematurity

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retinopathy of prematurity

Retrolental fibroplasia Neonatology Inflammation of the retina of premature infants, characterized by retinal vascular proliferation, vitreous scarring with funneling of the retina, leading to extreme distortion of vision or complete blindness, retinal detachment Risk factors Prematurity, O₂ excess, hypoxia, respiratory distress, infection, congenital heart disease. See Retinopathy.