Saving premature babies eye sight

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) causes up to 60% of blindness in children worldwide.

About the project

In the middle income countries such as Brazil and Peru, ROP has become the leading cause of blindness. There are 50-60,000 children who are blind from ROP and at least half of them live in Lation America.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a form of blindness that affects premature babies being treated in neonatal intensive care units. Without expert training and equipment, complications can occur.

Our partners Sightsavers International will initially work in Sao Paulo and Lima to establish low vision centres and increase awareness among health care personnel. The aim is to ensure that all babies at risk will receive high quality examinations and treatment, if required.

At least one low vision centre will be set up in every major city in Brazil and Peru, with the skills and equipment necessary to manage children as well as adults.

This project will help expand existing programmes run by highly experienced eye doctors, as well implementing new ones.

By the end of 2012, we aim to:

  • Train 500 health care personnel over 3 years
  • Improve 30,000 neonatal outcomes over 3 years
  • Examine 1,500 babies in 2 years
  • Conducted 180 awareness activities
  • Conducted training programmes for eye doctors so that programmes can be established outside of Sao Paulo and Lima.
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“We aim to reduce ROP as a leading cause of child blindness.”
Seeing is Believing, 2010
PERIOD
2010-2012
PARTNER
Sightsavers International