Parents have to worry over a plethora of potential complications that can affect a newborn infant. An eye condition known as premature retinopathy is one of the most prominent complications on the list.

While this eye disorder can occur in premature infants, the majority of cases resolve themselves without any medical intervention. It is important for medical professionals to diagnose premature retinopathy, as well as the stage the condition is at, in order to remedy the condition to prevent baby blindness.

Premature retinopathy is an eye disorder that primarily affects infants born before 31 weeks of pregnancy and weighing 2 ¾ pounds or less. The smaller the infant, the higher the likelihood of premature retinopathy. This is because the eyes develop over the last 13 weeks of pregnancy, making premature infants very vulnerable to this condition.

In premature retinopathy, abnormal and fragile blood vessels grow in and around the eye’s retina, which is responsible for light reception and plays a vital role in vision. The retina is essentially responsible for the communication between the eye and the brain.

These abnormal blood vessels are fragile and were vulnerable to breaking, which may scar the retina and move the retina from its initial position.

Overview of Premature Retinopathy Stages

Premature retinopathy may lead to retinal detachment and ultimately baby blindness if the stage of the condition is not properly identified and if treatment is not quickly implemented.

Approximately 14,000 to 16,000 infants are born with premature retinopathy, with 400 to 600 of those infants at risk for baby blindness. With this in mind, it is important for physicians and patients to recognize the symptoms of each premature retinopathy stage:

• Stage 1: The abnormal blood vessel growth is mild, with most infants being able to recover without medical treatment.
• Stage 2: The abnormal blood vessel growth is moderate, and also typically recovers without medical treatment.
• Stage 3: The abnormal blood vessel growth is severe, but some infants still may recover without medical treatment. However treatment is still advised if the infant exhibits signs of “Plus Disease”, which is when the abnormal blood vessels swell and become entangled.
• Stage 4: The abnormal blood vessel growth is severe, causing the retina to become partially detached.
• Stage 5: The abnormal blood vessel growth is severe, causing the retina to become completely detached.

There are a number of treatment options available for premature retinopathy that have been in use since their development in the 1980s. Researchers have found that certain treatments can be very effective in combating the effects of premature retinopathy including:

• Oxygen Treatment
• Laser Therapy: to dissolve the abnormal blood vessels
• Scleral Buckle: a silicone band placed around the eye to repair retinal detachment
• Vitrectomy: surgery performed that removes the vitreous gel from the eye to treat retinal detachment
• Retina Repair Surgery

Physicians who fail to diagnose this condition promptly and begin suitable treatment may be liable for medical malpractice for not referring the parents to a specialist or stressing the importance of follow up care. Concerned parents should contact a medical malpractice lawyer to determine eligibility for a premature retinopathy lawsuit.