As a new parent, one of the most common concerns is eye problems in newborn babies. This article will cover the signs and symptoms to watch out for and the best action to take if you believe your newborn has a problem.
Can babies be born with eye problems?
When you’re pregnant, you worry constantly about your baby’s health. One of the things that can be difficult to deal with is the possibility of eye problems in newborn babies. There are many different types of eye problems that can affect newborns, and some of them may require surgery right after birth.
It’s important to understand what causes these conditions so that you can monitor your child’s health and seek treatment as soon as possible if necessary.
What causes eye problems in newborn babies?
According to an article by medical professionals, eye problems in newborn babies result from the following:
1. Genetic Disorders
Genetic disorders can cause eye problems in newborn babies. These genetic disorders result from a defect in the baby’s DNA. The deficiency can cause changes in the shape of the eye, or it can affect the retina or optic nerve.
Some of these genetic disorders include:
- Albinism: This is a condition where a person lacks melanin pigment. It causes their skin, hair, and eyes to be very pale.
- Congenital glaucoma: It’s a condition causing pressure inside your child’s eyes to build up over time. The pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, which carries information from your eyes to your brain.
- Cataracts: This is a condition where one or both of your child’s lenses becomes cloudy over time due to ageing or injury (like UV radiation). It can cause blurred vision and other problems with seeing clearly, depending on how severe it is!
Image Source: iStock
2. Infection
Infections are the most common cause of eye problems in newborn babies. Infections can be either bacterial or viral and range from mild to severe, affecting one or both of your baby’s eyes.
The most common causes of bacterial infections are conjunctivitis and blepharitis. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white part of the eye). Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids.
A virus or bacteria usually causes conjunctivitis, but sometimes it reacts to something touching your baby’s eye. It usually starts with redness around your baby’s eyelid and progresses to swelling, watery discharge, crusting and possibly pus or yellowish discharge if it gets worse.
Blepharitis can also result from a virus or bacteria but is often due to allergies or irritants like dust or smoke. It usually starts with itching, redness and swelling of your baby’s eyelid before progressing to crusting and watery discharge if left untreated.
3. Alcohol
Alcohol consumption in pregnant mums can cause eye problems in newborns because it interferes with the development of the eye and brain.
It causes problems with the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting information from the retina to the brain. It also causes damage to the retina itself, which can lead to blindness.
4. Drugs
Eye problems are common in newborn babies and can result from various factors. One of the most common reasons for eye problems in newborns is drug use during pregnancy. Drugs taken during pregnancy can affect the developing fetus, often resulting in vision problems or birth defects.
Some drugs that are known to cause vision problems in newborns include:
- Heroin (also known as smack)
- Methadone
- Painkillers like codeine and morphine
5. Maternal Diabetes
Maternal diabetes can cause eye problems in newborn babies. It is defined as high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, generally due to a lack of insulin production or an inability to use the insulin produced.
Maternal diabetes is a common cause of low birth weight and premature birth. As the baby grows, it is essential to have regular eye exams to ensure that the vision problems do not get worse and cause permanent damage.
The most common eye problems in newborn babies with maternal diabetes include:
- Opacity of the cornea (clouding)
- Cataracts (clouding of the inside of the lens)
- Glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye)
- Leukocoria (abnormal white appearance in the pupil or iris of one or both eyes)
- Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
- Retinopathy (damage to the retina)
Image Source: iStock
What are the most common eye problems in newborn babies?
Newborns can be so fragile. They have very soft, delicate skin, and their eyes are especially vulnerable. A newborn’s eyes may be more prone to irritation than adults, so it is crucial to keep your baby’s eyes clean and dry.
Some of the most common eye problems in newborn babies are:
- Neonatal Conjunctivitis
- Corneal Abrasion
- Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Retinal Detachment
- Cataracts
- Strabismus
- Nystagmus
- Red eye
- Discharge from the eye
- Double vision
- Cloudy eye
- White pupil
- Twitching Eyelids
- Light Sensitivity
- Swelling of the eye or eyelid
- Abnormal Eye Movements
- Crossed Eyes
Signs of blindness in newborn babies
When you’re a new parent, it’s hard to imagine what your baby can’t see. But if you think about it, it’s true—your baby isn’t able to see the world around them until they start developing their eyesight.
That’s why it’s important to look for blindness in newborn babies. These signs can include:
- No eye blinking or eye movement when someone holds a light up to their face
- A delayed response when people talk to them, even gently
- A lack of eye contact when someone is talking directly to them.
- The baby does not fixate on objects. A blind child will not be able to keep his gaze on an object for very long, but a sighted child can do so for several minutes at a time.
- Baby does not follow objects with his eyes when they’re moved back and forth across his face; instead, he just stares straight ahead without moving anything else in his face, such as his eyebrows or mouth.
READ MORE:
Inakalang sore eyes ng baby, herpes na pala
How your baby’s eyesight develops as he grows
Baby’s eyes swollen? Conjunctivitis in newborns can lead to blindness
How are eye problems diagnosed in babies?
A paediatrician or an ophthalmologist usually diagnoses eye problems in newborn babies. Your child’s doctor will first ask questions about your child’s health history, including whether you know of any genetic disorders your family may have. They’ll also want to know if there have been any recent changes in your child’s vision or behaviour.
Your doctor will then examine your baby’s eyes with a lighted magnifying instrument called a slit lamp. It lets them see the inside of your baby’s eyes and look for signs of problems like inflammation or infection. The doctor may also test your baby’s vision and check for crossed eyes (strabismus).
Suppose the diagnosis isn’t apparent after the exam. In that case, the doctor may order additional tests such as blood tests, X-rays, or an ultrasound to ensure there aren’t other conditions causing your child’s symptoms.
What are the treatments for eye problems in newborn babies?
If your baby has a severe eye infection, they may need antibiotics or antiviral drugs to treat it effectively. The doctor may also prescribe eye drops to help with any irritation or inflammation due to their condition and any pain relief, such as acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol).
Your doctor may also suggest using artificial tears to moisten dry eyes or applying warm compresses if there is any redness around the eyes.
Some eye problems in newborn babies can be treated easily, while others are more complicated. Which is why you shouldn’t take it for granted. Consult your child’s paediatrician without delay if you notice any of the warning signs mentioned above.
Image Source: iStock
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
