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Retinopathy of Prematurity

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Anti-Angiogenic Therapy in Ophthalmology

Part of the book series: Essentials in Ophthalmology ((ESSENTIALS))

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding disease of the retina. It is still a major cause of blindness in children in the developing and developed world despite current screening and treatment guidelines. Originally named “retrolental fibroplasia,” ROP was first connected to premature birth in the 1940s and slightly later to oxygen supplementation in these premature infants. Today, an ever-improving understanding of ROP pathomechanisms, new screening tools, and novel treatment options have helped to reduce the number of sight-threatening complications from ROP. This chapter summarizes the basic characteristics of ROP and discusses promising preventive and therapeutic options with a particular focus on angiogenic and antiangiogenic treatment approaches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Center at the Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79106, Germany

    Andreas Stahl

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 416-85, Sweden

    Ann Hellström

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02465, USA

    Lois E. H. Smith

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  1. Andreas Stahl
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  2. Ann Hellström
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  3. Lois E. H. Smith
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Correspondence to Andreas Stahl .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Center at the Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Andreas Stahl

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Stahl, A., Hellström, A., Smith, L.E.H. (2016). Retinopathy of Prematurity. In: Stahl, A. (eds) Anti-Angiogenic Therapy in Ophthalmology. Essentials in Ophthalmology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24097-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24097-8_2

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