Treatment for retinopathy of prematurity should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis of the problem and aims to prevent the development of blindness, which is caused by detachment of the retina inside the eye. However, even with the diagnosis of retinopathy, in some cases, it is only important to keep regular evaluations in the ophthalmologist because the risk of the disease is low.
In addition, it is advised that all babies who have been diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity make annual consultations in the ophthalmologist because they are at greater risk of developing visual problems such as myopia, strabismus, amblyopia or glaucoma, for example.
Treatment Alternatives for Retinopathy of Prematurity
In the chaos in which the ophthalmologist considers that there is a risk of blindness, some of the treatment options may be:
- Laser surgery : is the most commonly used form of treatment when retinopathy is diagnosed early and consists of the application of laser beams in the eye to stop the abnormal growth of blood vessels that pull the retina out of place;
- Placement of a surgical band on the eye : it is used in advanced cases of retinopathy when the retina is affected and begins to take off of the fund of the eye. In this treatment, a small band surgery is placed around the eyeball to allow the retina to remain in the right place;
- Vitrectomy : is surgery used in the most advanced cases of the problem and serves to remove the gel with scars that is inside the eye and replace it with a transparent substance.
These treatments are done with general surgery so that the baby is calm and does not feel any type of pain. Therefore, if the baby has already been discharged from the maternity hospital may have to stay in the hospital one day after the surgery.
After treatment, your baby may need to use an eye patch up to about 2 weeks after surgery, especially in case you have done a vitrectomy or have put the surgery band on the eyeball.
How is recovery after treatment of retinopathy of prematurity
After treatment for retinopathy of prematurity the baby needs to be hospitalized for at least 1 day until he is fully recovered from the effects of anesthesia and can return home after that time.
During the first week after surgery parents should put the drops prescribed daily by the doctor on the baby's eye to prevent the development of infections that may alter the outcome of the surgery or aggravate the problem.
To ensure the cure for retinopathy of prematurity, the baby should have regular visits to the ophthalmologist every 2 weeks to evaluate the results of surgery until the doctor discharges. However, in cases where a strip has been placed in the eyeball, routine visits should be maintained every 6 months in the ophthalmologist to adjust the range according to eye growth.
What can cause retinopathy of prematurity
Retinopathy of prematurity is a very common visual problem in premature babies that occurs because of the reduced degree of development of the eye, which usually occurs during the last 12 weeks of gestation.
In this way, the risk of developing retinopathy is greater as the gestational age of the baby at birth is lower, not being influenced by external factors such as lights or flashes of a camera, for example.
