FAQ
How can the Advanced Eye Screening protect vision?
Vision is valuable and the mission of the Advanced Eye Screening is to protect it - especially in newborns. Examination and early intervention are powerful tools, and maternity hospitals that work with the Advanced Eye Screening make this available to parents. Even babies who appear healthy can suffer from conditions that carry the risk of serious and potentially permanent vision deficits. Most pathologies are associated with the back of the eye - the retina - and trained experts can identify them in images - especially if supported by dedicated Artificial Intelligence.
What is the Advanced Eye Screening for infants
The exam is painless, non-invasive and very effective. The Advanced Eye Exam captures images of the entire back of the eye (retina) taken by a handheld wide-angle camera. The images are sent to highly specialized doctors and spacialists of Stanford University to identify newborns who have vision abnormalities. The result is immediately delivered to the requesting doctor, who will determine an additional test if necessary.
Is the procedure safe?
Newborn retinal imaging has been performed on more than 300,000 babies worldwide without any adverse events. The exam is also performed on premature babies. Image capture is performed by highly trained nurses and is faster (5 minutes) and more comfortable for the baby than direct ophthalmoscopy performed by a doctor over the course of an hour.
When is the baby examined?
Ideally the test takes place within 72 hours of birth (babies at least 37 weeks in the womb) and is carried out in the maternity where the baby was born.
Why should the test be performed on apparently healthy newborns?
Parents already benefit from a wide range of pre- and perinatal tests. A decade of research has shown that many babies need early interventions, and the Advanced Newborn Eye Screening is the only method to add an effective vision exam. Capturing the images is highly effective and does not require the baby to "talk" about vision problems. Once the disease is diagnosed, treatments for almost all problems will be readily available.
What are hereditary retinal diseases?
Hereditary retinal diseases are rare but often serious and are the most common cause of blindness in many countries. As the genetic study is complex, parents may carry the disease gene and not know it. The Advanced Eye Exam can detect signs of hereditary diseases in images and can help you understand which genetic mutation is present in your baby. This allows parents to connect with new treatments – including gene therapy, which promises to completely restore impaired vision.
What other tests are available?
Currently, the only formalized ophthalmological examination of newborns is the Red Reflex Test. This exam must be carried out in every healthy child up to 18 years of age. Although the Simple Test detects pathologies such as corneal scars, cataracts, pupillary reclusion, vitreous hemorrhage and retinoblastoma, it does not detect retinal pathologies and has low efficacy.
What to expect from the exam report?
The Advanced Eye Screening for babies is a test in which the anatomy of the entire ocular structure is observed. In this way, if the anatomical structures are normal, there is no disease, but if there is an abnormality, then we associate the structures or the environment with the change and a possible disease.
Infant Retina Diseases
RETINOPATHY OF
PREMATURITY (ROP)
In Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) the blood vessels in the retina of premature newborns do not develop as they should. ROP is a severe disease that may cause blindness.
CONGENITAL RETINAL
DISORDERS
These serious conditions present at birth due to abnormal development of the retina, for example, retinoschisis and Leber retinal arterial aneurysms.
RETINAL INFECTIONS
Infections during pregnancy can damage the baby's retina. Examples are Toxoplasmosis, Syphilis.
RETINOBLASTOMA
Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor in one or both eyes that affects the retina. This type of eye cancer is the most common in childhood.
OCULAR TRAUMAS
Eye injuries can cause damage to the retina. These include, for example, accidental penetrating injuries or traumatic injuries that can damage the retina.
INHERITED RETINAL DISEASES
Some retinal disorders are caused by genetic mutations and lead to progressive vision loss. Early detection is key to slowing or preventing progression