Every year, millions of babies are born too soon, leaving them fighting to survive. On World Prematurity Day, we’re shining a light on premature babies and the vital eye care that helps protect their sight and give them a brighter future.
This World Prematurity Day, the theme “Give premature babies a strong start for a brighter future”, reminds us that every small beginning deserves the best possible care, including eye care.
Premature babies start life with big challenges - and one of them, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), can put their vision at risk. At Orbis, we want to ensure no baby goes blind from a condition that’s so easily treatable.
ROP affects babies born early because their eyes are still developing. Fragile blood vessels in the retina can grow abnormally, leading to scarring or even retinal detachment. Without early screening and treatment, ROP can lead to bleeding or scarring in the retina, and in its worst form, the retina can detach, placing babies at serious risk of permanent vision loss
In countries where neonatal care is limited, ROP is rising fast. In Peru, around 8,200 newborns are at risk every year, but with the right training, screening and equipment, blindness can be prevented.
When Elisa, a mother from Peru, gave birth to triplet girls, Ruth, Sara and Ester, at just 32 weeks, she faced the worry and uncertainty that comes with having extremely premature babies.
Thanks to an Orbis-supported hospital, the babies were screened for ROP shortly after birth. Ester showed no signs of the condition, Sara’s mild case healed on its own, but Ruth’s eyes showed advanced ROP.
Thanks to timely laser treatment, Ruth’s sight was saved. Today, all three sisters are healthy, growing and seeing the world clearly, proof that a strong early screening and treatment truly does build a brighter future. Without this, Ruth’s story could have been very different.
Every partnership, every trained health worker, every screening, it all adds up to more babies seeing their families, their schools, and their futures.
Every premature baby deserves the chance to see their world, and your support makes that possible.
This World Prematurity Day, let’s make sure no baby loses their sight simply because they were born too soon.
Together, we can give premature babies a strong start for a brighter future.
