Researchers found that dexamethasone eye drops may reduce the risk that retinopathy of prematurity advances to the treatment stage. The results suggest that dexamethasone eye drops may lower the likelihood that the disease progresses to the point where more aggressive treatment is required. Eye drops reduced treatment needAmong the children given dexamethasone, 20 percent developed ROP severe enough to require treatment. It is the first double-blind randomized clinical trial to examine dexamethasone eye drops as a treatment for ROP. If eye drops can prevent severe ROP, it could save the sight of many children around the world,” says Ann Hellström.