For babies that are born prematurely, a condition known as infant retinopathy of prematurity can potentially impair their vision. If this condition is not treated promptly, it could lead the infant to be left permanently blind.

Infant retinopathy of prematurity is a consideration for babies who are born at 31 weeks gestation or less. A baby is considered full-term at 37 weeks gestation, and babies born at 31 weeks or less are quite premature. Many of these babies born at 31 weeks or less typically weigh 2 ¾ pounds or less and much of their development has not yet occurred.

The development of the infant eye takes place in the last 12 weeks of gestation, beginning at about week 28. For babies born at 31 weeks or less, their eye development can be very limited.

Infant retinopathy of prematurity occurs when the blood vessels on the retina, the tissue at the back of the eye that senses light, grow abnormally and do not reach the edges. In infant retinopathy, both eyes are equally affected.

Because normal blood vessel growth on the retina is affected due to premature birth, the abnormal vessels that do grow can leak. These leaks in the blood vessels can cause the surface of the retina to develop scars.

This abnormal tissue growth with retinal scarring can cause the retina to pull out of place, leading to a retinal detachment. The retinal detachment from the eyeball is the cause of blindness fueled by the infant retinopathy.

Detection of Infant Retinopathy of Prematurity

As part of a comprehensive screening program for premature infants, most medical facilities invite an ophthalmologist to assist in detecting infant retinopathy of prematurity. This eye exam takes a detailed look at the blood vessels growing in the baby’s retina.

Along with a diagnosis of infant retinopathy of prematurity, parents are informed of the stage at which the disease has been observed.

Infant retinopathy of prematurity has a total of five stages. In the first two stages, the disorder may resolve on its own with time, but an ophthalmologist should be keeping a close eye on the infant’s development to note any changes that may occur.

For infants who have been diagnosed with infant retinopathy of stage III, IV or V, treatment is necessary.

Several treatments are used to address infant retinopathy of prematurity including laser therapy, cryotherapy, oxygen therapy, scleral buckle and vitrectomy. All of these treatments have different approaches and are effective for different stages of disorder.

Did Your Baby Develop Blindness after a Diagnosis of Infant Retinopathy of Prematurity?

Some parents have had the unfortunate event of being told that their baby became blind after dealing with infant retinopathy of prematurity. In some cases, the causes of infant blindness were due to a lack of the physician’s appropriate intervention to prevent the progression of the disease.

If your baby is now blind following a diagnosis of infant retinopathy of prematurity, you may be able to seek legal compensation by way of a medical malpractice lawsuit. An experienced attorney can review your individual case at no charge to you and can present the legal options that you may choose to pursue.