Clare Elizabeth Gilbert
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
Title: The role of nurses in the prevention of blindness from retinopathy of prematurity
Biography
Biography: Clare Elizabeth Gilbert
Abstract
The incidence of blindness from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasing, particularly in middle and low income countries as services for preterm infants expand. The annual incidence of blindness and visual impairment from ROP in 2010 was estimated to be 32,200 with the greatest number being in South Asia. Nurses can play a key role in reducing the risk of blindness from ROP, by counselling mothers at risk of preterm delivery to deliver in well equipped facilities and by reducing exposure of preterm infants to the known risk factors for ROP such as sepsis (hand washing and aseptic techniques); poorly administered and monitored supplemental oxygen (setting alarms correctly; responding to alarms appropriately); reducing stress (pain control, reduce unnecessary handling, swaddling and kangaroo care) and by promoting good nutrition (human breast milk). Nurses can prepare infants for screening for ROP and assist the ophthalmologist during examination, and can counsel parents of infants who need ongoing screening after discharge from the unit of the importance of attending the appointments.