Blindness In Newborn And Busting Associated Myths.

A newborn is a ray of hope for parents, and with him or her comes bounty full of happiness. What if a child is born with a vision problem? ETV Bharat Sukhibhava spoke to Dr. Sushma Reddy Katukuri, MS Ophthalmology, Pediatric, and Neuro Ophthalmologist, and she gives us hope in the form of her expert advice.

Vision plays an important role in the way we perceive and understand the world and the way the child learns and form concepts. Being deprived of this faculty poses various challenges for the child and the parents.

ETV Bharat Sukhibhava was in conversation with Dr. Sushma Reddy Katukuri, MS Ophthalmology, Pediatric and Neuro Ophthalmologist (Fellowship at LVPEI, Hyderabad) and Consultant Ophthalmologist at Rainbow Children’s Hospital Banjara Hills and Director, Diya Pediatric Eye Care Gacchibowli, about various conditions which cause blindness in newborn and busting a few myths about blindness.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially preventable blinding eye disease that primarily affects premature infants

• The smaller the baby at birth the more likely that baby to develop ROP. If detected and treated on time lifelong vision impairment and blindness can be avoided
• So, all the babies born before 34 weeks of gestational age or birth weight less than 2kg and babies who receive oxygen for more than 30 days, and babies with other risk factors should be screened for ROP within the first 3 weeks of life.

Every parent of a premature newborn baby should be aware of the eye check-up that has to be done within 3 weeks of life.

• Early recognition of ROP by screening provides an opportunity for effective treatment.
• Screening is generally done by a trained ophthalmologist in ROP or any retina specialist or any Pediatric ophthalmologist. The child, If detected to have ROP will need immediate treatment. Treatment can be using laser or injections or surgery depending on the stage of ROP. And some forms of ROP are very rapidly progressive and can lead to retinal detachment within few days.

Keeping this in view, there are some protocols to screen premature kids for ROP and every treating Paediatrician/neonatologist should be aware of these protocols.

Symptoms in the newborn:

1. ROP doesn’t have any early symptoms.
2. It can be detected only when screened by an eye doctor.
3. Other blinding disorders like retinoblastoma (eye cancer) and congenital cataract will present with white reflex in the center of the eye.
4. Infections/conjunctivitis will present with excessive redness and watering of the eyes.
5. Congenital glaucoma should be suspected in newborns with excessive watering, and abnormally big eyes.
6. Big eyes are not always a sign of beauty.

Other signs:

• Eyes that flutter quickly from side to side or up and down,
• Absence of blinking to bright light/torchlight
• Drooping of eyelids
• Sometimes congenital malformations such as small eyes (microphthalmia) or no eye (anophthalmia).

Dietary myths about eye health:

Myth 1. Eating carrots will reverse eyesight.

Many parents keep asking in the clinic “My child drinks carrot juice daily and still why got glasses!” “Is it ok if my child eats daily carrots and not wears glasses instead?”

Although it’s true that carrots are rich in vitamin A, eating carrots alone will not necessarily reduce glass power.

Carrots are good for overall eye health and not necessarily the remedy to treat eye problems.

Myth 2. Breast milk in the eyes will treat eye infections

Many believe that protective substances in mothers' breast milk will cure eye infections.

But it is not recommended to use any kind of drops in an infant's eye unless prescribed by a doctor. Unhygienic ways to express and handle breast milk can be a potential source of infection. Any pink eyes in infants need consultation because sometimes simple-looking pink eyes can be underlined by a serious vision-threatening eye disease.

One should not use any drops in the eyes of infants without proper consultation.

Myth 3. Vitamin A overdose prevents blindness:

Many parents have a misconception that vitamin A is the only vitamin that can prevent vision problems, and ask for extra vitamin A injections but this is a fallacy, which can lead to overdose and toxicity. Hence it is advisable to consult your pediatrician before giving them any kind of vaccines or injections.

For your queries, contact sushamakatukuri@yahoo.in