A premature baby boy, born at just 27 weeks, faced a serious threat to his eyesight due to a condition called Stage 3 Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Born prematurely and to a mother with gestational diabetes, the infant spent nearly three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before receiving specialized treatment at a private hospital to save his sight.
“I didn’t think he had a chance,” said the mother in a Khaleej Times report, expressing her initial concerns upon seeing her tiny baby. “You can’t look at such a tiny baby and think this is going to be alright,” she added.
The baby’s journey began at Medcare Hospital on Sheikh Zayed Road, where he spent 92 days under intensive care. Dr. Prasan Rao, a specialist ophthalmologist at Medcare Eye Centre, explained that premature babies often face complications due to underdeveloped eyes. In the case of this infant, the condition was exacerbated by chronic lung illness and the early delivery caused by the mother’s gestational diabetes.
Dr. Rao highlighted that the baby’s retina wasn’t fully developed at birth, leading to abnormal blood vessel growth, a hallmark of ROP. While standard treatment involves laser therapy, doctors opted for intravitreal injections to stimulate proper vessel growth. Despite requiring a second injection, the treatment proved successful, and the baby’s vision gradually improved.
“Babies with ROP typically won’t show any signs or symptoms, and parents usually learn about the condition through routine tests,” noted Dr. Rao, stressing the importance of regular check-ups for premature infants.
Fortunately, the baby’s condition regressed from Stage 3 to stages 2 and 1, eventually returning to normal. The mother expressed relief, saying, “We were filled with worry as we watched our little one bravely battle through this uphill struggle, but seeing his strength filled us with pride. Now this ordeal is finally over.”