Hope for premature babies at risk of blindness

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization reports there is an estimated 1.4 million visually-impaired children worldwide. They are either born blind or lose their sight before turning five. Almost 40 percent of the causes of childhood blindness is preventable or treatable, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), an eye disease among premature babies.

“ROP occurs when the formation of normal retinal vessels is incomplete and there is subsequent development of abnormal blood vessels. This causes the retina to detach from the back of the eye, leading to vision loss,” says Dr. Pik Sha Chan-Uy, resident expert of the Pacific Eye and Laser Institute (PELI).

ROP is classified into five stages. Stages 1 and 2 can be resolved without any treatment while Stages 4 and 5 may require surgical treatment right away. “It’s best to catch ROP at Stage 3 where immediate and proper treatment can be done to improve the baby’s chance for normal vision,” adds Dr. Chan-Uy.

Christopher and Diane Veluz were worried when they found out their daughter, Carmela Angela, had ROP. “Since our baby was born prematurely, her pediatrician advised us to have her eyes checked at PELI,” relates Christopher.

At the PELI Surgicenter in Makati, an eye checkup confirmed Carmela had ROP and she was given treatment right away. Dr. Chan-Uy monitored her development and gave her periodic checkups.

Now four months old, Carmela is recovering well. “PELI has helped us save Carmela’s eyesight, thanks to their medical expertise, efficient service, and genuine care. We’re very thankful for everything that they’ve done for our baby,” say the parents.

Dr. Chan-Uy advises parents to have their babies’ eyes checked by an ophthalmologist. She stresses the importance of vigilant monitoring and timely intervention.

Full-term babies are not exempt from eye problems and parents should also monitor whether they exhibit any unusual behavior like not making any eye contact.

Committed to delivering top-quality, comprehensive eye care, PELI aims to be one of the premier eye care centers in Asia. Boasting the most advanced equipment, it is manned by highly skilled ophthalmologists who are trained at prestigious schools such as Harvard, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and Johns Hopkins University.

PELI is located at 50 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City. It also has clinics in Quezon City and Binondo, Manila. For more information about PELI’s services and to find out more about ROP, visit www.pacificeye.com.ph.