Retinopathy of premaurity is a devastating, blinding disease affecting the eyes of premature children or a low birth weight baby. We are committed try to save the vision in as many eyes as possible through our ROP screening program.
We visit the NICU and also perform the LASER whenever required in the ICU.
Other premature babies (< 37 weeks and/or < 2000gms) with any one of the following
a)
Respiratory distress
b)
Sepsis
c)
Blood transfusions
d)
Multiple births
e)
Apnoeic episodes
f)
Intraventricular haemorrhage
When to screen?
31 weeks PCA (post conceptional age) or 4 weeks after birth (whichever is earlier)
Infants < 1200 grams at birth or 24-30 weeks gestational age are screened 3 weeks after birth .
Next date of examination to be decided by the ophthalmologist based on initial findings
Complete one screening session definitely before 'Day 30' of the infant's life
How to screen?
Inform us 2 days in advance
Dilate the child's eyes with the dilating drops prepared and provided by us .
a)
Instill single drop of the dilating drops (0.5% Cyclopentolate with 2.5% Phenylephrine in both the eyes three times within the interval of 10 minutes; starting 45minutes prior to the scheduled visit of the doctor
b)
Keep the baby fasting at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time for the screening
During the screening:
a)
Keep the screening chart and the inpatient record card ready with the sister in charge
b)
Switch off the overhead lights
c)
Provide the pulse-ox meter during the examination and a nurse to assist the examination
After the screening:
a) Feed the child after 1 hour to prevent vomiting
Call the child for the follow up examination as advised by the Pediatric Ophthalmologist
