Infant blindness can be a preventable condition when diagnosed and treated early. Known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the eye problem can affect babies born prematurely.

Any baby who weighs 2 ¾ pounds or less or is born before 31 weeks of gestation is at risk for infant blindness.

The chance of blindness decreases greatly, though, when the condition is caught and treated early. When doctors fail to screen or treat retinopathy of prematurity, they can be sued for malpractice if the baby goes blind from the disorder.

Infant Blindness Affects Youngest Babies

A baby’s eyes develop the most during the final 12 weeks of gestation. A baby who is born prematurely might not have complete retinal blood vessel development.

Retinopathy of prematurity is the abnormal growth of blood vessels in and around the retina. These uncharacteristic blood vessels are fragile, apt to leak, may produce scars on the retina or might even move it from its intended position, resulting in retinal detachment.

A detached retina can cause blindness, because the retina not only processes light but also communicates with the brain. Unfortunately, this type of infant blindness usually affects both eyes.

Infant Blindness Can Be Prevented, Treated

Every hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is required to have personnel trained on how to diagnose and respond to potential cases of retinopathy of prematurity.

By screening, monitoring and treating the disorder, infant blindness can be prevented. If a baby becomes blind due to any neglect of the standard protocol for diagnosis and treatment, the treating physician may be held accountable and potentially charged with negligence or malpractice.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the American Association of Certified Orthoptists, doctors should perform four follow-up retinopathy of prematurity screenings on premature infants.

Follow-up visits should be held at one week or less; one to two weeks; two weeks; and two to three weeks.

Retinopathy of prematurity is often treated with laser therapy to prevent the abnormal blood vessels from spreading and leaking.

Nearly 90 percent of the 14,000 infants diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity are in stage 1 or 2. The condition can quickly worsen, which means close monitoring is needed.

Annually, between 1,100 and 1,500 babies experience cases of ROP that require treatment. Between 400 and 600 babies go blind from ROP.

If a doctor neglects to inform parents about follow-up care for ROP or they don’t give parents a referral to a specialist for follow-up care, the baby can develop infant blindness. Sometimes, the stage of retinopathy of prematurity is incorrectly identified, impeding the appropriate treatment steps.

If you have a child who developed infant blindness, you may benefit by speaking to a lawyer regarding your options.