Our Mission

To treat and prevent Retinopathy of Prematurity in Eastern Europe, Black Sea countries and the Russian Federation and where half their babies go blind from ROP. 

   

What is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of potentially avoidable blindness in children in many of the middle-income countries of the world and the leading cause in Southern Europe, as well as Russia, Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region. ROP is a disease of the retina, the inner portion of the eye that forms an image from absorbed light energy and relays that information to the brain where an image is formed and perceived. If the retina does not function properly due to scarring or poor development, vision is permanently lost. The premature infant is vulnerable to ROP as the newly developing blood vessels of the premature retina often grow in an abnormal manner, proliferating and scarring the retina. These conditions lead to permanent visual disability and often complete blindness in both eyes for a lifetime.