Importance Of Eye Check Up In Newborn Infants

Baby

oi-Staff

By Super

Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 12:28

The importance of eye examination in a new-born infant - As soon as a baby is born, doctors and parents check the baby for any problems. They generally see whether the baby is breathing, check heart beats, examine all extremities (hands, legs, fingers, toes). Also check if the functional phase is normal and then cut the umbilical cord, check weight, etc.

The parents are handed a chart that tells them the immunisation schedule, the growth chart comprising expected weight and height gains over the months and years. After a day or two, the baby and mother are sent home.

What about the eye check up?
Is it not important?

Almost one in a lakh children are born blind. Around 10% of new born babies have eye sight problems and 2% have some form of cataract.

It is a very visual world.

The eyes contribute 70% of the sensory input supplied to the brain.

Why then do we forget to check the eyes of the new born baby? Why is that important?

What are the dangers of not checking the eye of a baby?
Defects of the eye will not be found out. Defects can range from absent eyeball (cryptophthalmos) to small eyeball (microphthalmos). Eye development can be incomplete inside (coloboma). Pre-term babies can have a blinding disease called ROP (Retinopathy of prematurity), Deviated eyes (squint, strabismus) will be missed. Increased eye pressure (congenital galucoma) can be missed and will cause blindness permanently. Any white colour inside the eye can be a cataract or a tumor (retinoblastoma). A cataract in a new born will permanently make the baby blind if not treated within 6 months. A tumor called retinoblastoma in a new born can blind or kill. It is common in India. Decreased vision will be missed and the child will grow up and have to wear glasses.

These are some interesting facts:
Eye sight related problems can be identified in a new born baby. It is even possible to check the vision of a new born. The most sophisticated instrument used by Ophthalmologists (Eye Surgeons) called the slit lamp is now available as a hand held device. This device can help the doctor perform a complete eye examination while the baby is in its mothers arms.

Why condemn our children to a world of darkness? Opt for an eye examination for your new born baby.
Request your gynecologist and pediatrician for an eye check up. Today!

Every new born has a right to live a life of dignity.

What you should do:
Contact Dr. Ashley Mulamoottil, who is the Medical Director & Chief Surgeon in Mulamoottil Eye Hospital & Research Center, Kozhencherry, Kerala. You can also interact with him from his Facebook page.