Early eye screening can prevent the risk of blindness in premature babies, know how?

Retinopathy of prematurity is an eye disease that mainly occurs in premature babies. In this, the red blood cells of the retina present at the back of the eye start growing in an abnormal manner. The retina is the part that detects light and sends messages to the brain. If this disease becomes severe, the retina may detach from its place and the child may lose his eyesight forever. However, its treatment is possible in the initial stage.

Every year a large number of premature children are born in India. Whereas earlier the chances of survival of such children were less, now their lives are being saved due to better care, but eye examination facilities and monitoring arrangements are not equally available in all hospitals. This is the reason why experts are considering ROP as the third epidemic in India. Here, this disease is being seen not only in very low birth weight babies, but also in babies born up to 34 weeks or weighing up to 2 kg.