Can vision be restored after surgery for retinopathy of prematurity?
Mar 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
If premature infants undergo surgery in the early stages of retinopathy, there is a high possibility of vision recovery; however, if the retinopathy progresses to the advanced stage or treatment is delayed, even with retinal surgery, vision recovery becomes more difficult. Parents should highly prioritize the eye health of premature infants and ensure early detection and timely treatment to best protect the infants' vision.
Generally, if premature infants undergo timely surgery during the early stages of retinopathy, there is a high possibility of vision recovery. However, when retinopathy progresses to an advanced stage or treatment is delayed, it becomes more difficult to restore vision even with retinal surgery. If any abnormalities are detected, prompt medical attention is recommended. Detailed explanation is as follows:
In the early stages of the disease, retinal damage in premature infants is relatively mild. Timely surgical interventions, such as intravitreal injections or scleral buckling procedures, can effectively control disease progression, inhibit the growth of new blood vessels, prevent retinal detachment, and promote normal retinal development. In such cases, the success rate of surgery is relatively high, and the likelihood of good vision recovery is also greater.
If retinopathy has progressed to an advanced stage or severe retinal damage has occurred due to delayed treatment—such as retinal detachment or extensive proliferation of new blood vessels—the surgical difficulty significantly increases, and vision recovery becomes much more challenging. Even after surgery, only partial vision may be restored, or vision may not recover at all.
Parents should highly prioritize the eye health of premature infants, ensuring early detection and timely treatment to best preserve the infants' vision.
