ROP and eye exams

[BabyMaybe917]

Ellie had her first eye exam today and I'm trying to understand it all. She is 31w1d and was born at 25w5d.

So one eye is Stage 1 and the other eye is start of Stage 2. And they also said zone 2 but I don't know if it's one eye or both.

The eye dr didn't seem concerned at this point and said she'd be back next week for a 2nd exam. However, the nurses have stated they didn't anticipate her to have ROP because of her decreased oxygen needs and also because she's so early gestationally still. They said she could be more mature than we think and this could be her peak and her ROP improve or it could get worse and require laser surgery.

I'm just wondering what other experiences have been at this point.

 

[AP]

Our Alex had countless eye exams. After a few weeks of them,being diagnosed up and down levels, it progressed to stage 3 and she had to have laser eye surgery. The laser eye surgery ended up being done about 5 weeks after she was discharged. It went much easier than I anticipated, they do have to put the child to sleep and back on a vent til they wake up, which is the crappiest bit, but we were home hours later, and you would never have known it had been done.

Shes almost 5 now and has glasses, but thats it

 

[jandksmommy]

Our little gal had about 6 retinal exams (3 in the NICU, 3 more once home). She never developed the need for laser surgery however, blood vessels did not develop in one area of both eyes so she will have a small blind spot in each eye. At her last eye appointment, we were told that she will need glasses by the time she is 2 years old.

 

[4 boys]

My 26 wk had stage 3 both eyes, needed lazer surgery now needs to wear glasses full time.
Hel be 4 in May

 

[BabyMaybe917]

Ellie had her eye exam last week and is stage 2 zone 2 both eyes. She has another exam tomorrow.

Did your babies have trouble with the stimulation? Ellie had major desats requiring simulation which is unlike her. She had one desat down to 30's. It was a scary day. She has another exam tomorrow and I'm hoping it goes better.

They have 2 eye drs looking at her because 1 is training. Ellie's dr wrote an order for only one to examine her. I hope it helps!

 

[jandksmommy]

Yes... the stress on the eye examine caused major desats when Reese was still in the NICU. As she got older, the exams didn't cause so much of a problem.

 

[Cryssie]

I don't know how many Lainee had in nicu (only aware of one), and had two after she came home. Her blood vessels took forever to close in one eye. But everything's fine with her. He did say to get another done at a year because preemies are known for nearsightedness.