[Retinopathy of prematurity. Notes on pathogenesis and therapy].

The retinopathy of prematurity reveals a pathology that involves a very important organ for the relation-life of a newborn. It was first identified and described by Terry in 1942. The incidence of retinopathy decreased dramatically after the discovery of the damages of oxygen an a sensitive immature retina and the oxygen monitoring therapy. Since the mid 1960's, the incidence of ROP is risen again, probably, in relation either to the more precise and developed techniques of examining, or to the increased rate of survival of a newborns with a very low birth weight, who are the most high-risk infants. This work considers the participations of several authors about the pathogenesis and the therapy of the retinopathy of prematurity. After a review of some historically important works, the author describes the pathogenesis of the illness and inspects the therapeutic methods that are now possible in relation to the changes and the stages of ROP (Vit. E, photocoagulation, cryotherapy, scleral buckling and vitrectomy). The conclusions of this study emphasize the essential role of the prevention and the early diagnosis of retinopathy and wish the diffusion and the standardizing of this methodologic approach.