• Definition: disease of the retina with abnormal vessel proliferations that affects preterm infants
• Pathophysiology: elevated and fluctuating partial pressures of oxygen → pathological extraretinal neovascularization → hemorrhages, formation of fibrovascular membranes, and, in severe cases, retinal detachment
  • This neovascularization, however, does not supply the retina as it normally would, but instead inappropriately infiltrates the vitreous body and other preretinal regions.
• Etiology
  • Premature birth
  • Ventilation or oxygen administration
  • Birth weight < 1500 g