[Pathologic ophthalmologic changes in prematurity].

Abstract

The personal author's experiences has been presented, with regards to the early discovering and adequate preventing of ophthalmology diseases at prematurely born children. Thanks to the development of perinatology, almost every organ can be monitored and functionally examined even before the child is born. Despite all problems, the work of ophthalmo-paediatritians is extremely challenging, because that is the only situation in which embryology of the eye can be seen "In Vitro" and in which the physiological development of the eye's function can been monitored. During the period from 1999 to 2002, it was examined 66 children in total, who had an anamnestical data about prematurity, as well as the data about delivery-weight. Out of these 66 children, there were 40 (60.6%) boys and 26 (39.4%) girls, with 1-4 of age. All children were examined by usual, in daily work available, examination methods. The biggest percentage of children (80%) were sent to us by the paediatritian-neonathologist, and 20% war sent from the Primary Health Care centers, or they were sent from other centers. At 52 (78.7%) of children, the certain changes on the eyes were found, while at 10 (15.1%) children no changes at all were found. At 4 (6.2%) cases, we found minor changes, but we monitored those children as well. Ophthalmology changes were found in almost all forms, from the most complicated (ROP, coloboma horioretinae, congenital glaucoma, congenital cataract), to the simpler ones on which are less difficult to treat (refraction changes, amblyopia, strabismus, ptosis etc). Since these changes are still present with prematuruses, it is necessary to intensively monitor this population, as a part of the multidisciplinary team, made of the experts of the different profiles (paediatritian-neonatologist, otologist, logopedist, ophthalmologist, etc), and which would be possible through the Register of Prematurity. Author introduces her own experience of ophthalmologic diseases in children who are categorized as "risky". A team of different specialists does treatment.