Eye Screening for Premature Babies

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is related to oxygen-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor and to insulin-like growth factor. The natural course of ROP leads to blindness, causing a social and financial burden on the community. Irreversibly impaired vision may also hinder cognitive and psychomotor development of the affected children.

ROP may be prevented by providing health care for the infant during their stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Oxygen-therapy may be potentially toxic to several organs and tissues, including the still immature retina. Preterm infants are more prone to the effects of oxygen toxicity, since they were used to low oxygen tensions during intrauterine life. After premature birth, there is a dramatic increase in oxygen concentration, which may lead to sustained hyperoxia that may overproduce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). High levels of VEGF stimulate neovascularization of the retina, which in severe cases may result in retinal fibrosis and retinal detachment

Screening programs to detect ROP, including systematic fundus examinations at NICU in infants at risk for ROP, provide the best possibility of diagnosing the disease in order to establish an appropriate treatment prior to progression to more advanced stages and blindness.

1. A 3 weeks male baby born in 36 weeks of gestation weighing 800 gms was seen on 10.01.2020 by Dr.Krishna R Murthy. Eye fundus photos of the baby showed aggressive posterior Retinopathy of Prematurity with fovea not yet vascularized (fovea is a tiny pit located in the macula of the retina that provides the clearest vision of all and is aligned with the central axis of the lens). The baby was advised of antivegf injection to both eyes at the earliest. The baby was administered injection on 14.01.2020. As on 14.02.2020; vascularisation still in zone 1 and has been advised for close observation.

1. A 6 weeks female baby born in 28 weeks of gestation weighing 1120 gms was seen on 05.12.2019 by Dr.Krishna R Murthy. Eye fundus photos of the baby showed presence of ROP in both eyes in stage 2 in zone 2 in both eyes. The baby was advised of laser intervention to both eyes. The baby underwent laser treatment on 09.12.2019. As on 03.02.2020 the baby is doing well; ROP has regressed in both eyes