Eye Screening for Premature Babies

ROP is a disorder of development of retinal blood vessels in premature babies. Normal retinal vascularization happens centrifugally from optic disc to ora. Vascularization up to nasal ora is completed by 8 months (36 weeks) and temporal ora by 10months (39–41 weeks).The incidence of ROP is increasing in India because of improved neonatal survival rate. The crucial risk factors are – birth weight, gestational age and oxygen therapy. There is need to increase the awareness of the disease to make sure these babies can be treated on time.

1. A 5 weeks female baby born in 27 weeks of gestation weighing 1000 gms was seen on 27.05.2019 by Dr.Krishna R Murthy. Eye fundus photos of the baby showed absence of ROP. The baby was reviewed on 10.06.2019 eye fundus pictures of the baby showed presence of ROP in both eyes in stage 2 in zone 2 with plus disease. The baby was advised of laser intervention to both eyes. Since the stimulus for abnormal vessels comes from the avascular retina therefore ablating the peripheral avascular retina is believed to cause regression of the ROP. The baby underwent laser treatment on 26.06.2019. As on 14.08.2019 the baby is doing well; ROP has regressed.

 2. A 2 weeks female baby born in 29 weeks of gestation weighing 1020 gms was seen on 17.07.2019 by Dr.Krishna R Murthy. Eye fundus pictures showed absence of ROP. When the baby was reviewed on 24.07.2019 eye fundus pictures of the baby showed presence of ROP in both eyes in stage 1 in zone 2 with early plus disease. Close observation of the baby was advised. When the baby was reviewed on 31.07.2019; ROP had progressed to stage 2 in zone 2. The baby was advised of laser intervention to both eyes. The baby underwent laser treatment on 03.08.2019. As on 21.08.2019 the baby is doing well; ROP has regressed.