Babies who once had no chance of survival if born premature now not only survive but even thrive, doing well academically and holding jobs as adults. Many live with long-term effects because of premature birth such as blindness, cerebral palsy, and neurological disorders. These disabilities may or may not prevent them from achieving independence in adulthood. At Night-Light, we assist families in learning to cope with chronic illness and disability and in finding support resources. Since Night-Light’s founder is a person who was born premature, we take particular interest in the needs of families with premature infants and children and adults who are dealing with long-term effects of premature birth.
Retinopathy of prematurity has been a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in children since the 1950s. Due to advances in screening and treatment procedures, children are less likely to become blind because of ROP now. However, it is still important for families to understand what ROP is, how it is evaluated and treated, and long-term complications which can occur as a child grows older or during adulthood. The ROP links page addresses these issues, with annotated links to pages with detailed information about diagnosis, treatment procedures, and complications. Articles on this site address questions people often have that concern practical aspects of life with ROP. If there is something you would like to see addressed here, please send email or leave a comment. We will be glad to assist if possible.