Prematurely born infants may suffer from a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity. For some infants, this condition can be treated if caught early enough. For others, however, retinopathy of prematurity can lead to serious vision issues and even permanent blindness.

Baby blindness malpractice can turn retinopathy of prematurity,a relatively common condition for prematurely born infants, into something with permanent and severe effects. More and more parents of premature infants are filing baby blindness malpractice lawsuits after their children were misdiagnosed or went without proper treatment, causing them to develop the harmful effects of retinopathy of prematurity.

What is Retinopathy of Prematurity?

Retinopathy of prematurity (also known as ROP) is a relatively common condition that occurs in children born very prematurely. Infants born earlier are more likely to be diagnosed with this condition, as well as infants weighing less. Infants most likely to develop retinopathy of prematurity are those born before 31 weeks and weighing less than 2 ¾ pounds.

Retinopathy of prematurity does not have to have permanent effects. The condition occurs because premature birth interrupts the development of the fetus’ eyes, a process which only occurs in the last three months of pregnancy. Premature birth can cause infants to develop abnormal blood vessels in their eyes, which can develop in and around the retina and cause scarring, leaking, and even detachment. Retinal detachment is an extreme case, and if untreated or improperly treated it may cause blindness.

Baby Blindness Malpractice

If retinopathy of prematurity is noticed early on and diagnosed correctly, there are treatments to reverse its effects and restore normal development of the infant’s vision. However, this condition is sometimes misdiagnosed, and thus the appropriate treatment cannot be used, allowing infants to develop more permanent effects, including baby blindness.

Misdiagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity has led a growing number of patients to file baby blindness malpractice lawsuits.

Around 15,000 infants are diagnosed with this condition each year, most of which lead to recovery. However, in a few hundred cases each year, this condition has progressed to the stage where the retina has completely detached, leading to permanent infant blindness.

Filing a Baby Blindness Malpractice Lawsuit

If retinopathy of prematurity is misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late, it may prevent an infant from receiving the proper treatment that will help them recover from these serious effects. In some cases, this may be attributed to baby blindness malpractice.

Parents have filed baby blindness malpractice lawsuits after their babies ended up with late stage retinopathy of prematurity, alleging they did not properly diagnose or were not given proper instructions for treatment or follow-up care.

If your child developed infant blindness or other preemie vision problems after suffering from retinopathy of prematurity, you may be able to file a baby blindness malpractice lawsuit.

Filing a claim cannot reverse the effects of retinopathy of prematurity or infant blindness, but it can help to compensate for medical expenses.