The Second Annual “Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Awareness Week

Prevent Blindness Provides Free Retinopathy of Prematurity Educational Resources to Parents and Professionals, Including Updated Fact Sheets, Web pages, and a New Video Series with Medical Expert and Parent Testimonials

Prevent Blindness has declared Feb. 24 to March 2, 2025, as the Second Annual Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Awareness Week. The initiative supports the comprehensive “Prevent Blindness ROP Education and Support Program,” designed to provide education and support for families of children with ROP, promote the role of early intervention programs for these children, and explain how allied healthcare professionals assist in continuity of care.

During the awareness week, Prevent Blindness will be sharing a variety of free educational resources to the public and professionals, including updated fact sheets, web pages, social media graphics in English and Spanish, and a new video series. The ROP Education and Support Program and ROP Awareness Week is supported by funding from Regeneron.

ROP is an eye disease that occurs in some babies who are born prematurely (earlier than 30 weeks of pregnancy); have low birth weight (less than 3 lb. 5 oz. or 1,500 g.); or have complications after they are born and receive extra oxygen for more than a few days. ROP affects the retina, the back part of the eye, and occurs when the retinal blood vessels, which are not fully developed at birth, begin to grow abnormally and in the wrong direction.

Prevent Blindness is once again collaborating with leading parent and advocacy organizations, including Hand to Hold, the National Coalition for Infant Health, and the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, to enhance and expand the reach of the program.

“We had such a tremendous response from our Retinopathy of Prematurity Education and Support program launch last year that we are thrilled to build on and expand these resources,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Our ultimate goal is to empower families and provide healthcare professionals with the information they need to help save children’s sight from ROP.”

Prevent Blindness recently conducted a roundtable discussion, “Your Child and ROP- 2025.” As part of the conversation, medical experts, and parents of children with ROP shared experiences and helpful suggestions on accessing early intervention programs and the importance of adhering to follow-up treatment plans after leaving the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

This recorded session will soon be published as a free video series available on the Prevent Blindness ROP website and as part of the ROP-dedicated Prevent Blindness YouTube playlist. These short-form videos will also be shared across Prevent Blindness social media platforms during ROP Awareness Week.

This year, Prevent Blindness is offering new, condensed versions of its ROP fact sheets, including:

Reset

Retinopathy of Prematurity: What is ROP? – Quick Facts for Parents

Download

Participants in the 2025 ROP roundtable include:

V. Paul Chan, MD, MSC, MBA, FACS, Director, Pediatric Retina and ROP Services, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago
Kristina Clark, BSN, RN Nurse, Care Coordinator, Lurie Children’s Hospital
Ali Huckins, LPC, BCBA, Developmental Psychology Consultant, Anchor Center for Blind Children
Kelli Kelley, NICU parent and Founder and CEO, Hand to Hold
Gigi Khonyongwa-Fernandez, parent of a child with ROP
Nicole Pratt, MAT, BS, parent of child with ROP and Family and Professional Training Director, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
DeEtte Snyder, TVI, Outreach Director Birth – 3 Services, Blind and Visually Impaired, State of Washington

Prevent Blindness also offers the “Retinopathy of Prematurity” episode in its Focus on Eye Health Expert Series, featuring Dr. Chan, also a volunteer member of the Prevent Blindness Board of Directors.