These therapies are surgical procedures often used to help various eye problems in older children and adults. Every surgery has risks and because we don't completely know how these treatments will affect the eyes of children as they grow older, your doctor won't recommend this surgery unless your baby's ROP becomes severe. On the average, treatment will reduce the chances of blindness by about 24 percent. These treatments are used to kill certain tissues. The cold temperature destroys a part of the retina where the blood vessels have not grown.
Laser treatment is done with a bright laser light beam aimed through the eye's pupil by the surgeon.
Hundreds of small laser treatment spots are placed to burn off some of the retina where the blood vessels have not grown. Destroying this part of the retina slows the progression of ROP, and helps stop ROP before too much scar tissue is formed. This scar tissue can cause permanent vision problems, including blindness for some babies. The entire part of the retina without blood vessels must be treated. Usually one cryotherapy or laser therapy session is enough to do this.