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¹M.D , Tuzla Statae Hospital, Eye Clinic, Tuzla-Istanbul/TURKEY
²M.D. Professor, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul/TURKEY Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the major causes of visual loss in childhood in developed and developing countries. With the convenient screening and treatment methods, blindness due to ROP has significantly reduced. In Turkey, the incidence of ROP has been gradually increasing upon improved conditions of neonatal intensive care units. Conventional laser retinal photoablation therapy has provided effective results though it is inadequate in certain cases such as posterior ROP, small pupil and hazy ocular media. Additionally, laser photocoagulation destructs peripheral retina stopping the physiologic extension of normal blood vessels as well as abnormal ones. The intravitreal administration of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injection is becoming more popular in the treatment of severe posterior ROP in the last few years. This article reviews the effectiveness of anti-VEGF applications in the treatment of ROP. Keywords : Retinopathy of prematurity, anti-VEGF treatments, intravitreal injection