All About Retinopathy of Prematurity

A full-term pregnancy lasts anywhere between at least 38 weeks to 42 weeks. When babies are born in less than 31 weeks, the pregnancy is called pre-term pregnancy. When these premature babies suffer from an eye disease, it is termed Retinopathy of Prematurity. Retina, a structure in the back of the eyes is affected in this eye condition. It is because of the retina that your brain gets the signals to see. One can observe unwanted blood vessel growth on the retina of the baby under ROP. These blood vessels are responsible for the vision and eye problems that the baby experiences. The condition disappears as the baby grows but regular visits to an ophthalmologist are important.

 

Causes for ROP

 

The growth of eye blood vessels finishes a few weeks before the baby's birth. A baby's eyes get exposed to numerous surrounding factors upon birth. These factors affect the growth of blood vessels in the baby's eyes when they are prematurely born. Some causes for ROP are:

 

●       How premature the baby is born?

●       A very low weight of less than 3 pounds at birth.

●       White babies are highly susceptible to ROP than Black babies.

●       The amount of extra oxygen given to the baby after pre-term birth.

●       Other health problems that make the baby immunocompromised.

 

Diagnosing ROP

 

Every prematurebaby must be checked for ROP immediately after birth. The ophthalmologist can examine the baby and evaluate the condition of his/her eyes. One notable point is that ROP isn't detected until a few weeks after the birth of the baby. So, any preterm baby is checked by the ophthalmologist 4 weeks after birth with regular follow-ups. You must not miss the follow-up visits with the ophthalmologists. Timely detection of the condition can help to prevent vision loss in the baby.

 

Treating ROP

 

There are various ways of treating ROP in an infant depending upon their eye condition.

 

●       Freezing treatment or cryotherapy : The surgeon will use a freezing cold instrument to remove the damaged part of the retina.

●       Laser treatment: It involves the use of a laser to burn the retina edges of the baby's eye.

●       Medication eye injections: Anti- VEGF medications are used to treat the eye condition and protect the vision of the baby.

 

Sohana Hospital keeps an eye on the latest technological advancements and ensures to include them in patient treatment. We have the latest equipment that offers quick ROP treatment with faster recovery. Our experienced doctors make sure you walk out happily with your child's preserved vision.