World ROP Congress

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an increasingly important cause of visual impairment and blindness in children in low and middle income countries. A recent estimate suggests that in the year 2010, 32,200 infants developed visual loss from ROP in both eyes, with the highest incidence being in East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.

The number of visually impaired and blind children is increasing due to the rapid expansion of services for sick newborn and preterm infants who are now surviving in increasing numbers. Unfortunately in many low and middle income countries services for preterm infants are not uniformly at the level required to prevent sight threatening ROP, and not all infants at risk are screened. This means that infants with the potentially blinding stages of ROP are not all being detected and treated.

Three World ROP Congresses have been held to date, attended by ophthalmologists, neonatologists and nurses who care for sick new born infants. The purpose of the Congresses is to bring together those working to prevent visual loss from ROP in order to share experiences, to discuss research findings and latest developments, and to provide a mechanism for networking and the development of partnerships.

2nd World ROP Congress, 2009, India

The second Congress was held in New Delhi, India in November 2009. The theme was “No-ROP: Partnership, Prevention and Planning”. The meeting was hosted by Professor R Azad and Dr P Chandra, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Read more.

4th World ROP Congress, 2017, Cancun

The 4th World ROP Congress, the 4th International meeting of Retinopathy of Prematurity was held for the first time in the American continent in the beautiful city of Cancun, Mexico on August, 31st to September, 2nd, 2017 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

The theme of the meeting was World Action Plan for ROP: Avoidable Visual Disability. The congress had 410 participants and 90 international teachers representing 42 countries and 5 continents, which made an unforgettable congress for all present. Read more.