Eye Screening for Premature Babies

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants weighing about 2000 grams or less that are born before 36 weeks of gestation. The smaller a baby is at birth, the more likely that baby is to develop ROP. This disorder which usually develops in both eyes is one of the most common causes of visual loss in childhood and can lead to lifelong vision impairment and blindness.

ROP occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow and spread throughout the retina, the tissue that lines the back of the eye. These abnormal blood vessels are fragile and can leak, scarring the retina and pulling it out of position. This causes a retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is the main cause of visual impairment and blindness in ROP.

With advent of technology, hospital has been delivering ROP screening in far flung NICUs using advanced RETCAM imaging system coupled with an innovative tele medical solution for diagnosis and treatment planning. Under this project few babies who underwent laser treatment are as below:-

1. Baby of Suma – born in 33 week of gestation, weighing 1370gms male baby. The baby was diagnosed to have ROP in stage 3 in both eyes and was treated with laser intervention. Complete functional vision can be saved in infants when diagnosed and treated in time.
2. Baby of Kanaka twin 1^st – born in 31 week of gestation, weighing 1300 gms male baby. The baby was diagnosed to have ROP in stage 2 in both eyes and was treated with laser treatment.
3. Baby of Kanaka twin 2^nd – born in 31 week of gestation, weighing 1400 gms male baby. The baby was diagnosed to have ROP in stage 2 in both eyes and was treated with laser treatment.
4. Baby of Husna Babu twin 2^nd – born in 28 week of gestation, weighing 1340gms female baby. The baby was diagnosed to have ROP in stage 3 in right eye with no evidence of ROP in left eye. The baby was treated with laser intervention in right eye.

All the above babies were treated with timely intervention of laser treatment and further progression of the disease to more severe stage was controlled.