Retinopathy of Prematurity: The Past Informs the Present

Frank Billson

Introduction: The causes of world blindness in developing countries are moving from communicable causes of blindness to non-communicable causes. This is mirrored in the Asia Pacific region with childhood blindness. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) as a cause of blindness is emerging as economies become stronger. Great advances in knowledge have occurred since the recognition 1950s that therapeutic oxygen is an important cause of ROP in developed countries in the care of premature infants in recent decades. However the threat and possibility of the two waves of Retinopathy of Prematurity is relevant as newly emerged countries economies move in transition from intermediate economies to well developed economies.

Method: The author provides information with supporting evidence with respect to the factors that contributed to improved outcomes for premature infants in developed countries, concluding with illustrations and case studies of current practical hints in management in Neonatal intensive Care Units and principles and outcomes of treatment.

Results: Outcomes are illustrated and briefly referred to.

Conclusion: Given that more than half the world's blind children reside in our shared region of the Asia Pacific, countries including Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan as well as the emerging economies of China and India and Sri Lanka can now share in tackling the greater and wider challenges of blindness in premature infants. As antenatal and peri-natal care improves in all the respective countries of our region, we can learn from our past experiences and use it to inform our strategies in dealing with the emerging threat of blindness in less developed countries.

As Countries emerge to join countries with like Australia where Kate Campbell first recognised the importance of therapeutic Oxygen as a cause later confirmed in multicentre trials in America.

This is the current challenge and opportunity to assist for countries with well developed economies such as Australia Singapore Hong Kong New Zealand major cities that include such countries as China India and Sri Lanka.