Premature baby battles retinopathy risk after early NICU birth

Born at just 29 weeks and weighing less than a bag of sugar Swapnil name changed was a tiny survivor in the NICU But the real battle was happening inside his eyes His underdeveloped retinae were at risk of developing Retinopathy of Prematurity ROPmdasha condition that can cause blindness in premature babiesIn observance of World Retinopathy of Prematurity ROP Awareness Week retina specialists from across the city stress that with the rise of IVF and surrogacy leading to more preterm births early detection and intervention have never been more critical Thanks to timely screening and treatment Swapnilrsquos vision was savedmdasha powerful reminder that early eye screening gives every tiny fighter the chance to see the worldData procured by midday from 10 hospitals in Mumbai Thane and Navi Mumbai shows that a total of 7175 newborns April 2024 March 2025 and April 2025 September 2025 were screened which includes followup screening of babies among them The King Edward Memorial Hospital KEM in Parel recorded the highest combined volume with 2181 screenings followed by Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion with 1836Case of baby SwapnilAccording to Dr Anand Subramanyam who treated infant Swapnil ldquoAt three weeks of age our tiny fighter Swapnil began retina screening for ROP His parents were informed and reassured about the importance of regular screening By five weeks his retina showed signs of ROP Special images of his retina were taken using a specialised instrument and the images were explained to his parents He underwent a laser procedure not surgery performed by a retina specialist under the supervision of a paediatrician Within two weeks his retina healed beautifully Now he can smile at his parents and will soon be running around with his toy carrdquoDr Subramanyam a retina specialist attached to KBH Bachooali Charitable Ophthalmic and ENT Hospital Parel said ldquoToday with most IVF and surrogacy procedures multiple embryos are implanted of which one or two survive With proper care we often see twins or even triplets which increases the risk of preterm births Around 30 percent of preterm babies develop Retinopathy of Prematurity ROP Moreover there are usually no visible symptoms or signs so by the time the infant shows signs like a white reflex or squinting the disease may have already advanced putting the baby at risk of losing vision Therefore screening for ROP immediately after birth is crucial especially for infants born through IVF or surrogacyrdquoProtecting the Future of Preterm BabiesEvery premature baby deserves a chance to see the world clearly Timely eye screening starting at three weeks following birth can prevent blindness A little care at the right time can change a lifetimerdquo said Dr Karobi Lahiri Coutinho consultant vitreo retinal surgeon Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences and National Ambassador for ROPldquoPremature births bring not just physical challenges but also emotional turmoil for parents who anxiously wait hoping their baby will thrive Among the most vulnerable are their delicate eyes Early screenings for ROP can mean the difference between sight and blindness Itrsquos not just about saving vision itrsquos about saving a future full of possibilities By ensuring timely intervention we can give these tiny warriors the chance to grow to dream and to live without limitations As parents demanding an eye examination at three weeks by eye doctors dealing in prematurity problems is a fundamental right of the child for a colourful future Gift your child with visionrdquo she added7175screening encounters The Fight Against Childhood BlindnessWorld retinopathy of prematurity disease awarenessThe data compiled from various MumbaiThaneNavi Mumbai hospitals for two periods April 1 2024 to March 31 2024 April 1 2025 to September 30 2025 highlights the significant volume of screening and intervention necessary to prevent blindness caused by Retinopathy of Prematurity ROP