Synonym: retrolental fibroplasia
The retina is unique among developing fetal tissues in that it has no blood vessels until the 16th week of gestation. The vessels grow out from the optic disc, only fully reaching the periphery of the eye one month after birth. The incompletely vascularised retina is susceptible to oxygen damage, especially in the preterm infant.1
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/paediatrics/retinopathy-of-prematurity