Mar
05
2011
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is abnormal blood vessel development in the retina of the eye in a premature infant. It is a condition most often associated with babies born at less than 30 weeks weighing less than 3 pounds.
A study appearing in the March 4, 2011 online version of the journal Eye sought to determine the link between retinopathy of prematurity and birth weight. Researchers found that though lower birth weight babies were more likely to have ROP than other babies, birth weight and the amount of weight that these babies gain in the first 4 to 6 weeks of life was not in itself a direct cause of the condition. Source: http://www.nature.com/eye/
The good news is that most babies born with ROP will grow up free of vision problems. About 1 in 10 may develop more severe retinal diseases
Oct
29
2010
A
retinal detachment is a separation of the retina, the nerve cell layer, from the outer layers of the eye. The detachment might be small and relatively innocuous. In much more serious cases, the entire retina could detach; immediate medical care is necessary to prevent blindness. The sudden appearance of eye floaters and flashes in one’s vision are indications that the retina has detached.
A recent study out of Berlin, Germany indicates that highly myopic people who have had
cataract surgery are not necessarily more likely to suffer spontaneous retinal detachment. Researchers intend this study to help inform highly myopic considering cataract surgery that their already elevated risk of retinal detachment is not increased by the cataract removal procedure.
Jun
05
2010
Due to hormonal shifts during pregnancy, a woman’s vision can undergo changes during those nine months and can make her eyeglass or contact prescription temporarily uncomfortable. This is quite normal and vision can be expected to return to its normal state after the birth.
Blurred vision or spots in one’s vision is a cause for concern, however and could indicate high blood pressure that can cause other serious health problems, including detachment of the retina. Gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that is generally temporary and lasts for the duration of the pregnancy, can also be marked by blurred vision which can mark unsafe increases in blood sugar.
Sources: CNIB and American Pregnancy Association.
