The eye doctor will check your baby’s retinas at each exam to see whether the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is staying the same, getting better, or getting worse. If the ROP starts to worsen and the retina is at risk, the doctor may recommend laser treatment to help stop abnormal blood vessels from growing.

What Is Laser Treatment?

A laser is used to treat the part of the retina that has not finished growing. The goal is to stop abnormal blood vessels from growing in those areas. This helps protect the baby’s vision.

Before the procedure:

• Your baby will be asleep under general anesthesia.
• They will also get medicine to keep them relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure.

During the procedure:

• The doctor uses a laser to make tiny marks along the edges of the retina. No cuts are made during the laser treatment.

After the procedure:

• Your baby’s eyes will not need bandages.
• It is normal for the eyes to look a little red or puffy for a short time.
• Your baby will use eye drops to prevent infection. Follow the eye drop instructions.

Are There Side Effects?

It is very important to go to all follow-up visits after laser treatment.  The eye doctor will do eye exams to watch for side effects, make sure the eyes are healing well and the treatment worked.  In rare cases, more treatment may be needed.

Loss of side (peripheral) vision is expected after laser treatment. The amount of side vision loss can be different for each person. This happens because the laser is used to protect the central vision, which is the sharpest and most important for seeing details.

Other side effects are rare but can include:

• Cataract (clouding of the eye’s lens)
• Glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
• Swelling or inflammation
• Needing glasses
• Crossed eyes (strabismus)
• Needing more treatment
• ROP getting worse even after treatment