Nursing methods for retinopathy of prematurity

The vision of a newborn baby is not yet fully developed, and it is easy for amniotic fluid to enter the eyes during birth, which can easily lead to infection and disease. For example, many parents have encountered retinopathy of prematurity, a disease that causes serious damage to the baby's vision. In the following article, the editor will introduce the care methods and causes of retinopathy of prematurity.

Causes and mechanisms

The pathogenesis of ROP is still not fully understood, and it is generally believed that the immature development of the retina is the main cause. The early development of the fetal retina is supplied with nutrients by the hyaloid arteries and choroidal vessels. When the fetus is 100 mm long and about 4 months of gestation, the vitreous blood vessels pass through the optic nerve head, and small branches grow from the optic nerve head to the peripheral retina. A normal fetus has significant vascular proliferation during the 6th to 7th month. It reaches the nasal serrations at around 36 weeks (8 months).

The retinal blood vessels of premature infants are not fully developed and continue to develop after birth. There is still an avascular area in the periphery, especially near the temporal ora serrata. The tissues at the front of the developing blood vessels have not yet differentiated into capillaries and are very sensitive to oxygen. If an infant inhales high concentrations of oxygen, it can easily cause vascular closure and inhibit the formation of more blood vessels. Prematurity, low birth weight, and oxygen administration are known factors for the development of ROP. In 1950, oxygen administration was considered to be the main pathogenic factor. Subsequently, oxygen use was restricted, and the incidence of ROP was significantly reduced, but the mortality rate of premature infants increased. Later, oxygen use was increased again, the mortality rate decreased, but ROP increased again. With the current development of infant care technology, oxygen administration only plays a partial role and is only one factor that contributes to vascular abnormalities.

In addition, vitamin E deficiency, cyanosis, ventricular hemorrhage, convulsions, sepsis, intrauterine ischemia, anemia, and patent aorta may be related to the onset of ROP.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important oxygen regulator and plays a key role in angiogenesis. When the retina is deprived of oxygen, VEGF levels increase, whereas when oxygen is increased, VEGF levels decrease. Fluctuations in oxygen concentration can cause the development of severe ROP in humans.

Another factor that plays an important role in ROP is insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which plays an important role in the normal growth of blood vessels. Smith found that the serum IGF-1 level in children with ROP was lower than that in normal children of the same age. Restoring IGF-1 to normal levels may prevent ROP.

Usually, we can take care of retinopathy of prematurity through diet and supplements. If a child has this phenomenon, it is easy for him to get infected due to premature birth or amniotic fluid entering the eyes. It is a kind of disease and it can easily cause serious consequences if it is not treated in time.