20 May 2019 At birth, the premature baby’s retina still has few vessels and vascularisation increases as the baby develops. When the retina of the premature infant is exposed to higher oxygen levels than those in the womb (e.g. during assisted ventilation), this disrupts the normal vascularisation process, resulting in a disease of varying severity ranging from mild to blindness. Retinopathy of prematurity is the most common eye disease in neonatology . It is one of the complications of very low birth weight infants (less than 1,500 grams). Once present, retinopathy may get worse or, in the milder forms of the disease, regress spontaneously if the lesions are more peripheral. This is what happens in most cases. In more severe conditions, there may be an indication for laser photocoagulation. Monitoring of retinopathy of prematurity Monitoring of retinopathy of prematurity includes performing an ophthalmologic examination on newborns: Weighing less than 1,500 grams at birth; With a gestational age of less than 32 weeks; With a birth weight of more than 1,500 grams but who undergo supplemental oxygen therapy for an extended period of time. The first ophthalmic exam should be performed: At four to six weeks; Or 31 to 33 weeks post-conceptional age. The dates of subsequent examinations must be determined by the physician depending on the severity of the lesions. Even after regression of retinopathy, a premature newborn is at an increased risk of other ophthalmological conditions, such as: Strabismus; Myopia; Astigmatism. Children who are born prematurely should therefore be monitored throughout their visual development, for example: Between six and 12 months; Between 24 and 30 months; And between of 40 months and four years. This article was written with the support of physicians and other clinical professionals from the Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
