Eye Health Risk For Premature Babies

July 06, 2005 (PRLEAP.COM) Health News
Babies who are born prematurely run about 16% risk of developing a severe form of retinopathy that threatens to cause blindness due to a separation of the retina from the inner wall of the eye. This condition, known as retinopathy of prematurity, results from abnormal blood vessel growth. Normally, blood vessels that nourish the retina begin to grow from the optic nerve in an orderly manner at about the fourth month of fetal life until they reach the outer fingers of the retina. In some premature infants, however, blood- vessel development goes awry. Fortunately, in such cases, retinal detachment http://www.neovisioneyecenter.com/retinaldetach.html and resulting blindness can be averted utilizing either a freezing technique or a laser to prevent further abnormal blood-vessel growth.

NeoVision Eye Center offers a patient a quiet, relaxed environment where an Eye MD listens and addresses eye health concerns. We are not alarmists. We are conservative in analyzing conditions and we follow a step-by-step approach. We offer the state-of-the-art equipment for out patients' best interest and comfort. We have an eye clinic, optical store and laser vision correction facility. Please call us to schedule an appointment for superior quality care and services that are exceptional. We're currently accepting new patients. Let us help you "see beyond your imagination" with Lasik surgery.

P.S. Today, there is an increase in retinopathy of prematurity due to the fact that neonatal care advances mean more low weight premature infants are surviving.

Shobha Tandon, MD, PhD, is an Ophthalmologist and Medical Director of NeoVision Eye Center with offices at 2 Union Square in Union City, and at 2500 Hospital Drive, Bldg. 11 in Mountain View.