Newborn baby blindness affects prematurely born infants, but the condition can be stopped if caught early.

The condition, medically known as retinopathy of prematurity, is detected by screenings. If newborn baby blindness results from a doctor of facility’s failure to diagnose and treat the condition, you could have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

What Is Newborn Baby Blindness?

Retinopathy of prematurity affects babies born before 32 weeks’ gestation and under 2.75 pounds. Those born prior to 30 weeks’ gestation are most at risk.

A baby’s eyes complete development during the last 12 weeks of gestation. A baby who is born prematurely may have not had a chance to complete this period of retinal blood vessel development.

Premature babies can start to grow abnormal blood vessels in and around the retina, which is the part of the eye that is the light receptor. These abnormal blood vessels are fragile, prone to leaking, and can scar and move the retina out of place. If the retina detaches, the baby can be severely visually impaired or suffer complete newborn baby blindness.

As medical advances have allowed younger premature babies to live and often thrive, the number of premature babies with ROP has increased.

Doctors and ROP

ROP was the leading cause of blindness in American children in the 1940s and 1950s. For several years, oxygen therapy was blamed for the condition, but now studies indicate oxygen saturation might stop the disease from getting worse if caught in the early stages.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening at-risk infants for ROP at certain times and scheduled follow-ups. Health care workers in all areas of a hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are required to be trained on how to diagnose and respond to potential cases of retinopathy of prematurity.

By screening, monitoring and treating the disorder, blindness can be prevented. If a baby becomes blind due to any neglect of the standard protocol for diagnosis and treatment, the hospital staff can be held accountable.

Retinopathy of prematurity exists in five stages:

Stage 1: Mild number of abnormal blood vessels observed; most babies recover with no treatment.

Stage 2: Moderate number of abnormal blood vessels observed; still, most infants recover with no treatment.

Stage 3: Large number of abnormal blood vessels observed; infant might recover without treatment, but treatment is most likely recommended if the blood vessels are enlarged and twisted, a condition known as “Plus Disease.” Upon treatment, retinal detachment is usually avoided.

Stage 4: The retina has partially detached.

Stage 5: The retina has completely detached.

Ninety percent of the 14,000 infants diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity are in stage 1 or 2. Early-stage ROP is most often treated with laser therapy to prevent the abnormal blood vessels from spreading and leaking.

The disease requires close monitoring because a baby’s eyes can quickly worsen. Between 1,100 and 1,500 babies experience cases of ROP that require treatment. Four hundred to 600 infants develop newborn baby blindness.

If you have a child who developed newborn baby blindness as a result of ROP, you may qualify to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.