Cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity. International perspectives and some recommendations for treatment.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of severe visual impairment and blindness in infancy. Transscleral cryotherapy has been shown to be effective in arresting the progression of ROP into the sight-threatening fibrovascular stages of the disease. It is currently recommended that all eyes reaching 'threshold' ROP should be treated. If both eyes of an infant reach 'threshold', both eyes should be treated. For centers that handle a limited number of infants with ROP it is suggested that the cryotherapy should be done under general anesthesia.