Previous studies have shown that a relative deficiency in IGF-1 in preterm infants can affect multiple organ systems including the brain, eyes, lungs and cardiovascular system, contributing to diseases including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (Hellström et al., 2003; Ley et al., 2019; Löfqvist et al., 2012). Here, IGF1 is linked to retinopathy of prematurity.