About 200,000 pre-term babies born in India every year are at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a potentially blinding disease of the retina that can occur in babies born premature or with low birth weight. Of these, only 30,000-40,000 babies get prompt medical attention. Since the incidence of severe ROP is about 3%, it is estimated that around 5,000 children go blind in the country every year due to this entirely preventable cause of childhood blindness. This was said by doctors of ICARE Eye Hospital in Noida in the run up to World Sight Day.

ROP is a sight-threatening disease of the retina that can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated. It occurs due to abnormal proliferation of developing retinal blood vessels in premature and infants with low birth weight. In its severe form, ROP causes total retinal detachment, leading to blindness. ROP occurs due to premature delivery, so it is not preventable. However, with timely intervention (within a few weeks of birth), it can be cured and permanent vision loss prevented. Treatment of ROP includes laser therapy and intravitreal injections. In severe cases, vitreoretinal surgery is recommended.

 Dr. Saurabh Choudhry, CEO of ICARE Eye Hospital, Noida, said, "An eye checkup done within 4 to 6 weeks after the birth of a premature baby can identify ROP, but a lack of ROP-trained ophthalmologists and neonatal care paediatricians in India is a big challenge. Low awareness about ROP among parents, healthcare workers, and counsellors adds to the problem. There are only about 200 ROP specialists in India currently. "

 He added: "In India, about 1 in 1,000 children is blind. ROP is estimated to be responsible for 20% of childhood blindness, and the trend is only increasing. The most vulnerable to developing ROP is a premature baby born before 7 months of gestation with a very low birth weight (1.5Kg) who was admitted to the NICU and received oxygen therapy.

The doctor further added that advances in fertility treatments have also increased the incidence of prematurity in India. Since 2011, under facility-based newborn care, a Government of India initiative, about 650 Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) have been established at the district level across the country over the last decade. The provision of these facilities has led to the greater survival of premature babies who are at the risk of ROP.