ROP No More!

We can officially say that we missed one major hurdle while we were in the NICU now. Today we were released from the retina specialist, which means Addie's ROP has officially regressed and her eyes are no longer affected! I know I have mentioned ROP in previous posts, but for those who may have missed that, ROP is Retinopathy of Prematurity. It is thought to be caused by the increased oxygen levels that preemies must be exposed to during their earliest days, particularly when they are oxygen dependent on a ventilator. The increased oxygen levels seem to trigger these "free radicals" as one doc explained, and they can cause the blood vessels forming on the back of the eye to begin to grow in, away from the eye wall, creating a ridge. If this progression continues, it can ultimately lead to retinal detachment and even blindness for these tiniest of people. There is a surgery that can help stop the progression, but it, like everything else in the NICU, comes with side effects and creates other problems. Thankfully, although we got as close to needing surgery as one can get and still not have surgery, Addie's eyes are in the clear! We will see a pediatric opthamologist for regular eye appointments starting in July. I'm sure that could bring with it a whole new set of concerns, but for today, we are simply thankful.