Prevent Blindness has declared its third annual Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Awareness Week as Feb. 23 – March 1, 2026. The initiative is part of the comprehensive national “Prevent Blindness ROP Education and Support” initiative that provides information on the condition and the unique eye care needs of children with ROP, and support for families of children with ROP.
ROP is a condition caused by abnormal development of retinal blood vessels, occurring as a complication of preterm birth and/or low birth weight. ROP may lead to partial or complete vision loss if the condition is severe and the retina detaches. Effective screening, timely treatment, and ongoing eye care are essential for preventing ROP- associated vision loss. ROP is a leading cause of lifelong visual impairment.
ROP resources from Prevent Blindness include fact sheets, web pages, social media graphics in English and Spanish, and medical expert and patient testimonial videos. The ROP Education and Support Initiative and ROP Awareness Week are supported by funding from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Supporting Families, Healthcare Professionals, and Communities
In addition to family and patient assistance, the ROP Education and Support Initiative provides expert-approved materials for healthcare professionals about creating a holistic support system for families and children with ROP after they leave the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Materials are specifically tailored for neonatologists, nurses, professionals who serve babies in the NICU, and professionals in the healthcare, early care and education, and school systems. Prevent Blindness collaborates with leading parent and advocacy organizations, including Hand to Hold, National Coalition for Infant Health, and the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, in this effort.
During ROP Awareness Week, Prevent Blindness will debut a new Focus on Eye Health Series episode featuring NICU parent Tracy P., who will share her experience navigating the ROP diagnosis and care for her child with ROP. Also, as part of the February episode of the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Podcast, Daria B. discusses her experience as a person living with ROP and how access to education, resources, and support, like the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program, have helped her.
Additionally, the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH) is seeking parents or guardians with a child aged 10 years or younger who has spent time in the NICU and has been diagnosed with ROP.
The purpose is to conduct these focus groups to gain a better understanding of:
1. Experiences families have had when their child has been in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
2. Families’ journeys raising a child with ROP in relation to medical care, social/emotional support, and educational services
3. Barriers families experience in accessing and attending eye care appointments for their child’s ROP
For more information or for those interested in participating, please contact [email protected].
“The impact that Retinopathy of Prematurity has on the developing eyesight of newborns, as well as to their overall health, is significant,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “By providing free, helpful resources to families of newborns and all children with ROP, as well as to healthcare professionals, we are aiming to minimize the effects of this condition and prevent significant vision impairment in the future.”
For more information on ROP, please visit PreventBlindness.org/retinopathy-of-prematurity-rop/, or contact Prevent Blindness at [email protected]. For more information on the Prevent Blindness ROP Parents/Guardians Focus Group, please contact [email protected].
