Is retinopathy in premature babies dangerous?

The article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Phan Thi Cam Van - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang. Uncle has 09 years of experience in the field of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy with strength in endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, performing complex interventional procedures related to digestion.

Retinopathy of prematurity is an eye disorder that can cause blindness, occurring mainly in infants weighing less than 1.5 kg or born before 31 weeks of pregnancy. The younger a baby is born, the more likely they are to have retinopathy. This disorder is one of the most common causes of vision loss and impaired vision in children.

Premature babies born under 37 weeks of age are divided into 3 levels: extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very premature (28 to less than 32 weeks) and premature (32 to less than 37 weeks). Babies born prematurely are more likely to die and face more health risks in the first days after birth and for years to come.
One of the health risks of premature babies is retinopathy. The condition of retinopathy in premature babies is divided into two types: mild disease that can heal on its own and severe disease that requires treatment.
Most cases of retinopathy of prematurity are mild (about 90%), the disease improves on its own and has no lasting effects. However, parents still need to take their children to have regular eye exams and follow up regularly to avoid complications later on.
Severe neonatal retinopathy needs to be treated as soon as possible, otherwise it will cause retinal hemorrhage in newborns, visual impairment, many cases of permanent blindness.

During the last 12 weeks of pregnancy, the eyes of the fetus will develop very quickly. By the time a baby is born, most of the blood vessels in the retina are nearly complete. The retina will gradually fully develop within the first few weeks after birth.
If the baby is born too early, the blood vessels may stop growing or develop incorrectly. The delicate blood vessels can burst, causing a retinal hemorrhage in the newborn. Scar tissue forms, and as they contract they can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This phenomenon is called retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a major cause of vision problems and even blindness in children with ROP.

In mild form:
Retinopathy in premature babies can cause complications later in life such as strabismus, myopia, glaucoma, and delayed retinal detachment. In severe form:
Premature retinopathy can cause blindness if not detected and treated successfully, occurs mainly in babies born less than 30 weeks premature or with low birth weight less than 1.5 kg or has other factors. Other risks such as neonatal asphyxia, prolonged oxygen therapy. Pulmonary-bronchial dysplasia, mainly occurs in extremely preterm infants or premature infants with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Infections caused by an immature immune system, pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis are common. Severe jaundice, anemia.

The best way to prevent retinopathy of preterm infants is to manage pregnancy to avoid preterm birth. Prenatal care and counseling can help prevent preterm birth and inform women about factors that affect the health of their unborn baby in utero.
Other preventive interventions include close monitoring of oxygen requirements in premature infants. Take your child for regular eye exams so the doctor can monitor his or her condition, regardless of the stage of the retinopathy.
Ophthalmology at Vinmec Times City International Hospital is a prestigious unit in the field of care and treatment of eye diseases in premature babies. Currently, the hospital is applying Pascal beam laser with many advantages. This is the most advanced retinal laser photocoagulation device in the world today, overcoming many disadvantages of today's common lasers.
The time of laser effect on the retinal tissues is very short, does not cause extensive burns around the laser area, so it helps to control the desired effect, causing less damage to the retina around the laser area. Besides, this is a safe method of treating the macular area. Moreover, this method causes no or very little pain, minimizing complications and side effects of the laser.