HOW TO MANAGE RED EYE IN A NEW BORN

I have decided to write today’s piece titled “How to take care of a red eye in a newborn’’ in response to a question from another reader.

Her question: My newborn son has red spots in the white parts of his eyes. Is this the same as opthalmia neonatarum mentioned in your last article? Will they ever go away? I have also used breast milk in both eyes but all to no avail.

These red spots are called subconjunctival haemorrhages. They are common in newborns and typically result from the normal trauma of birth. As newborns are squeezed through the birth canal blood vessels (on the eyes and elsewhere) can rupture.

Subconjunctival haemorrhages are bruises of the eye. As with any bruising in newborns, they increase the risk of jaundice.

Subconjunctival haemorrhage is a frequent finding in normal newborns. This condition is also called red eye. It is different from opthalmia neonatarum, which is an infection of the eye and presents with eye discharges

Symptoms

The red area may be large or small but is always confined to the limits of the sclera. It is asymptomatic, does not affect vision, and spontaneously resolves in several days. This infant may have significant facial bruising as well as the eye finding.

Subconjunctival haemorrhage is a bright red patch appearing in the white of the eye.

Also in older children, a subconjunctival haemorrhage occurs when a small blood vessel breaks open and bleeds near the surface of the white of the eye (conjunctiva). It may happen without injury and is often first noticed when one wakes up.

Sudden increases in pressure, such as violent sneezing or coughing can cause a subconjunctival haemorrhage in children. In such children, the doctor must make sure the cough is appropriately treated and the face will appear clear gradually.

Treatment

Subconjunctival haemorrhage resolves on its own over two to four weeks in the newborn. It requires no treatment, just as there is no need for eye drops.

General prevention

The tiny, delicate eyes of a newborn baby need proper care because it is important to keep them clean and healthy.

Using a soft a cotton ball (wool) and plain water, one can carefully cleanse the baby’s eyes. Dampen the cotton ball with a little bit of lukewarm water. With the baby’s eyes closed, gently wipe the eyes from the inside to the outside corners. Use a new cotton ball for each eye.

There is the need to teach pregnant women the importance of treating sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes simplex, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in order to decrease the incidence of neonatal conjunctivitis.

Conclusion

There are over 10 eye conditions in newborns. Some are self-limiting while others need paediatricians and ophthalmologists’ attention.