Kerala - Kochi   

Chance for eye-related diseases in pre-term babies: ophthalmologist

KOCHI: Eye-related diseases have been reported in a number of pre-term babies and the screening of babies born prematurely is important to avoid blurred vision and blindness in them, Lingam Gopal, director of Sankaranetralaya, who was here to participate in a three-day conference of the Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons, said. He said that the retina of many babies born prematurely would not have developed fully.

Delivering the P.K. Alexander Memorial Oration on eye complications in premature babies, Dr. Gopal said that identifying ‘retinopathy in prematurity' through a screening programme is important to prevent blindness. The neonatologists and paediatricians should join together in an effort to prevent blindness in babies born prematurely, he said. Treatment of such improperly developed eye can be taken up in time if screening is conducted early, he said.

Retina, the most important part of the eye, matures to its full potential only when the babies are born after being in the womb for 36-37 weeks. In babies born after 30 weeks, there are chances that the retina development may not take place fully as in full-tem babies.

S.J. Saikumar, organising secretary of the conference, said that the Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons would be setting up certain minimum standards for a functional operation theatre, such as the kind of microscopes, sterilisers and tools used.

The conference that concluded on Sunday installed A. Giridhar as the new president of the Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons.

About 750 delegates from the State and neighbouring States attended the conference that had various sessions dedicated to prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, prevention of infection in operation theatres and on aesthetic ophthalmology.

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