A premature baby boy born in the United Arab Emirates experienced a serious eye condition known as Stage 3 Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) due to his early birth and his mother’s gestational diabetes. After spending around three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), he underwent a specialized procedure at a private hospital to preserve his eyesight.

The condition posed a threat to the baby’s vision, leading to a mix of happiness and worry for the parents upon his arrival. The mother expressed her doubts, stating that she didn’t believe he had a chance due to his tiny size.

The baby’s journey began in the NICU at Medcare Hospital on Sheikh Zayed Road, where he received extensive care from healthcare professionals for 92 days.

According to Dr. Prasan Rao, an ophthalmology specialist at Medcare Eye Centre, premature babies who are born well before the typical 40-week gestation period often face various complications, including underdeveloped eyes.

Dr. Rao explained that in normal pregnancies, the retina, which is responsible for vision, completes its development by the 40th week. However, in premature babies, certain parts of the retina may not fully form.

In addition to the eye condition, the infant also suffered from chronic lung disease and required mechanical ventilation. Given his premature delivery due to complications from his mother’s gestational diabetes, the risk of vision loss at birth was a common concern.

Dr. Rao further explained that retinal development begins around the 16th week of pregnancy, and by the 27th week, some parts of the retina have blood vessels while others do not. Therefore, the baby’s retina was not fully developed at birth.

Around six weeks after birth, doctors discovered the issue. In some premature babies, blood vessels grow abnormally into the gel inside the eye instead of across the surface of the retina, which can cause the retina to detach. This condition is called stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and requires treatment.

Treatment options include injections or laser therapy. At six weeks old, the doctors chose to administer intravitreal injections to induce regression of the abnormal blood vessels, instead of using laser treatment. In most cases of ROP, one injection is sufficient to stimulate proper vessel growth.

However, in this baby’s case, the initial treatment did not work, and a second injection was necessary around 42 weeks, approximately 15 weeks after birth. Fortunately, the second injection showed progress.

Dr. Rao emphasized that babies with ROP typically do not exhibit signs or symptoms, and parents usually become aware of the condition through routine tests. Premature babies undergo regular check-ups to monitor their health, so parents may perceive everything as normal despite the underlying condition.

As a result of the treatment, the severity of the ROP regressed from stage 3 to stages 2 and 1, eventually returning to normal. The baby’s vision is now perfect, and all required treatments have been completed.

The mother expressed her anxiety and pride as she witnessed her little one courageously overcoming this challenging ordeal. She expressed relief that the ordeal is finally over.