Pune : Health considerations including eye health while welcoming a new-born are of critical importance, good eye health is a key factor to healthy beginnings and a hopeful future. World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7th April and the theme is Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures focussed on maternal and new-born health.
Under the Rastriya Bal Swashta Program. Government has recommended universal eye screening for new-borns and highlights the importance of early screening for overall development and better future .
Dr. Sucheta Kulkarni, Medical Director H.V Desai Eye Hospital said that it is important to screen the new-borns for some eye diseases which can be seen in the first year of life. These include congenital cataracts, retinoblastoma, glaucoma for full term babies, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) for premature babies, apart from other vision-threatening disorders. Simple 2-3 tests in the first month since birth can find out for any abnormality. This should be followed by a routine eye check-up before the age of 3 years. At a time when the child mortality rate is declining, intact survival and eye health will become all the more crucial for a good quality of life and overall development of the child . Early diagnosis may prevent blindness and ensure that the quality of life is not compromised.
While health camps in schools are now routine, especially in cities, the pre school age group of 0-6 years is crucial for determining eye abnormalities. Therefore, apart from new-born screening, the role of parents also becomes crucial. Dr. Kuldeep Dole, Medical Director H.V Desai Eye Hospital said that detecting eye conditions early can prevent vision impairment or loss and allow timely intervention. The role of parents is to ensure that the new-born eye screening is a part of the routine check-up. They should watch for signs like white or cloudy pupils, squint or lack of focus or stability with respect to eyes may point to some underlying eye conditions. What we look for in new-borns in congenital diseases. Those parents who have high powered glasses should also ensure that new-born screening of their babies and routine check-up is done.
Screening for normal babies is done using the red reflex test, where a light is shined into the baby’s eyes to check for abnormalities. Additional tests like ocular ultrasound or specialized imaging may be needed for a more detailed evaluation. For ROP, the pupils are dilated and bright light is used to see through the lens to check retina and other parts.
The three crucial factors for a new-born is proper breastfeeding, new-born eye screening and finding for any Vitamin A deficiency which can in turn affect eye health. New-born eye screening is a vital step toward giving any child a healthy start in life. By prioritizing early detection, parents can safeguard their baby’s vision and overall well-being.
