Someone has rightly said, “Eyes are the most beautiful things. They enable you to see the immense beauty around you.”
Babies born before 37 weeks are called premature or preterm babies. Parents of premature babies do know that their infant, because of being born before time, does have some challenges ahead to face. Retinopathy Of Prematurity or ROP is one such eye condition that premature babies face. So, what is the connection between a premature baby and eye problems?
A highly premature baby can be vulnerable to many health hazards and eye problems are one of them. The fact that a fetus develops rapidly in the last 12 weeks has made the experts believe that eye development does get affected if the baby is born early. Vision complications could arise due to retinopathy of prematurity and strabismus, or misalignment of the eyes.
In This Article
- What Is Retinopathy Of Prematurity (ROP)?
- Causes Of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Potential Complications Of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Prevention Of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
- Other Eye Ailments
- FAQ’s
What Is Retinopathy Of Prematurity (ROP)?
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease connected to the improper development of the eye. Earlier it was referred to as retrolental fibroplasia.
The risk of development of ROP is greater in premature babies because their retina is improperly developed and has an insufficient supply of blood vessels at the time of birth.
A large number of premature babies receive surplus oxygen immediately after birth. This increased percentage of oxygen rather than variation in oxygen level can hamper the improperly formed blood vessels of the retina.
Causes Of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
The eyes begin to form when the baby is just 16 weeks old in the uterus. During the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, eye development usually speeds up. The untimely delivery of the baby interferes with the development of the eyes and ROP is the outcome. Besides retinopathy, other threats are anemia, breathing problems, poor health, etc.
The retinopathy of prematurity causes the irregular formation of blood vessels. They can bleed and scar formation can also occur. This scar tissue pulls the retina and results in its detachment. Blindness is the obvious outcome. Around 10 to 30 percent of premature babies born are affected by ROP.
Screening for Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
A thorough eye examination is the only way to detect retinopathy of prematurity. Premature babies, particularly those born at 30 weeks or less and weighing less than 3 pounds, should undergo ophthalmic examination. Parents should consult the doctor about whether or not the eye exam should be done for the baby.
If the doctor does feel that the baby needs an ROP test, it should be done between 4 to 9 weeks after the baby’s birth. After the eye exam, the doctor will let you know whether treatment will be required or if you will need to come for follow-ups.
Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
The retinopathy of prematurity can be prevented by early diagnosis and by proper subsequent treatment.
Treatment may include
1. Scleral Buckling
In this technique, a band is placed in the eye which pushes it back and keeps the retina in its actual place. The band can be removed afterward.
2. Cryotherapy
This process is also termed photocoagulation or freezing or laser therapy. It prevents the growth of blood vessels and thus checks the pulling of retina-detachment of the retina.
3. Vitrectomy
This is a surgical process where vitreous humor present inside the eye is replaced by an aqueous saline solution. The scar tissue is also surgically removed from the eye
These treatments restore central vision however some side vision can be lost.
Potential Complications Of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
There are a few complications associated with ROP treatment. Some of them are listed as under:
- Nearsightedness or myopia
- Farsightedness or hypermetropia
- Misalignment of the eyes or starbismus
- Lazy eyes or amblyopia
- Glaucoma
- Retinal detachment
Prevention Of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
Premature babies should be closely monitored for their blood oxygen levels. Pediatric ophthalmologists should examine the babies when they are 5 to 6 weeks old.
Other Eye Ailments
Besides ROP, other eye problems affecting premature babies are strabismus or nearsightedness.
Strabismus in Babies
Infantile esotropia is a subtype of strabismus affecting newborns. In this condition, the muscles surrounding and controlling the eye do not work in coordination and make the eye focus in opposite directions. Strabismus is believed to develop in premature babies as their brain has not developed properly to control the muscles of the eye.
There are other factors concerned with strabismus, which are as under:
- Retinal hemorrhage due to ROP
- Brain or nervous disorders such as seizures, cerebral palsy, etc.
- Eye or brain tumor
- Cataract surgery
- Developmental delay
The brain receives different images because the eyes see in different areas. The brain takes into account the image received from the straight eye and ignores that of the crossed one. But the depth perception is not assessed properly.
Strabismus can result in amblyopia or lazy eye. This usually happens when the vision of the crossed eye is hampered and there can be a loss of vision.
Newborn care is a very intricate, frightening, and amazing job for parents. Your tiny tot is brave enough to withstand the preterm birth-surely a blessing! But you know that she is vulnerable to many infections- a challenging job to keep the baby protected!
So, if you have a preterm baby, you might be at the threat of vision issues and even the loss of vision. Never hesitate to get your baby’s eye check-up by a pediatric ophthalmologist.
FAQ’s
1. Do Premature Babies Have Eye Problems Later In Life?
Premature infants have a somewhat significant risk for eye disorders. As adults, extremely preterm infants have a greater risk of eye problems.
2. How Does Oxygen Affect Premature Eyes?
The use of too much oxygen in treating premature babies caused the blood vessels in the eyes to grow abnormally. this adversely affects the vision of the baby.
3. Does ROP Go Away?
ROP usually resolves without inflicting any harm. Advanced ROP, on the other hand, might result in lifelong vision impairment or blindness.
