How to prevent and treat stage 1 retinopathy of prematurity in babies?

Generally speaking, premature babies are still in very weak physical condition and are prone to various complications, which seriously threaten their health and safety. Family members still need to pay more attention at this time. So how to prevent and treat stage 1 retinopathy of prematurity? Retinopathy is very dangerous. If protective measures can be taken early, you will not be easily harmed and threatened.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) refers to premature infants with low birth weight and under 36 weeks of gestation who have been receiving oxygen for a long time, in which the non-vascularized retina undergoes fibroangiomatous proliferation and contraction, which further causes tractional retinal detachment and blindness. It was previously called Terry syndrome or retrolental fibroplasia, but the latter term reflects only the late stage of the disease. The incidence can reach 60% to 80% in women with shorter gestational age or lower birth weight.

It is caused by vasoconstriction and vascular proliferation in the incompletely vascularized retina in response to oxygen. Normal retinal blood vessels develop to the nasal edge at about 36 weeks of embryonic development and to the temporal edge at 40 weeks. Exposure to high concentrations of oxygen during this period causes damage to capillary endothelial cells, vascular occlusion, and stimulates proliferation of fibrovascular tissue.

Once the disease occurs, it progresses rapidly and the time window for effective treatment is very narrow. Therefore, premature infants under 37 weeks of gestation should be examined promptly after birth, and those at high risk should be examined weekly. Laser or cryotherapy can be performed in stages 2 to 3 to coagulate the avascular area. In stages 4 and 5, vitrectomy is performed to remove the proliferative fibrovascular tissue and photocoagulation is performed at the same time to save vision.

Strictly limiting the use of oxygen for premature infants is the only effective preventive measure. Unless cyanosis is life-threatening, 40% oxygen concentration can be given, and the time should not be too long. In addition, the early use of large doses of vitamins may also have a certain preventive effect. Early detection and timely application of cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation have been reported to successfully prevent further deterioration of the lesions.

In order to prevent the occurrence of secondary glaucoma, in active and severe cases, mydriasis must be given frequently to avoid posterior synechiae. The appropriate mydriatic agent is 2% atropine, which can avoid atropine poisoning and prevent anterior adhesion of the iris peripheral part due to long-term continuous pupil dilation.

I believe everyone knows how to prevent and treat stage 1 retinopathy of prematurity. Family members need to take good care of their children's health at all times. After seeing their children become ill, they should rush to the hospital as soon as possible to receive professional and systematic examinations and diagnoses. This will allow doctors to develop appropriate treatment plans based on the specific situation.