Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness for children, early detection and treatment can prevent ROP progression and improve the visual prognosis. ROP prevention system, including advocacy, screening, diagnosis/treatment and follow-up, is the key to reducing the rate of blindness in children. The proposed tertiary ROP prevention network includes primary health centers in county-level, secondary health centers in municipal-level and tertiary health centers in provincial-level or national-level. The idea is to explore the greatest benefits in the ROP prevention process from the existing allocation of medical resources, but also to avoid wasting at the current stage of social development. We tested this idea in Shaanxi Province recently. The preliminary practice results indicated that ROP tertiary prevention network can increase the ROP screening coverage, promote the prevention and treatment of ROP. However this work is still in its infancy. We need to expand its scope and strength the advocacy efforts to find a way to prevent and treat ROP in China.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has become the leading blinding eye disease in children worldwide. In recent years, the recognition and treatment of acute stage lesions have achieved remarkable results. Fundus lesions could spontaneously regress in most of children with ROP, while the understanding of the law of spontaneous regression is still very limited. Although the fundus morphology is significantly improved after spontaneous regression, the long-term prognosis of visual function is not optimistic. The introduction of new technologies such as fundus fluorescence angiography and optical coherence tomography and angiography will help further understanding the nature of the spontaneous regression. To increase the study about spontaneous regression of ROP, which has significance for rationally arranging an economical and efficient screening time, formulating a scientific and individual treatment and follow-up plan, and improving the prognosis of visual function.
Macular edema is a common cause of visual loss in patients with retinal vascular diseases represented by diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Laser photocoagulation has been the main treatment for this kind of diseases for decades. With the advent of antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor and dexamethasone implant, diabetic macular edema and macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion have been well controlled; the use of laser therapy is decreasing. However, considering possible risks and complications, lack of extended inspection of efficacy and safety of intravitreal pharmacotherapy, laser therapy cannot be replaced by now. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of laser therapy will improve by sober realization of role of photocoagulation and proper selection of treatment indication.