What is newborn eye screening?

Newborn Eye Screening is an eye examination for newborns after 24 hours of birth, focusing on retinopathy, congenital glaucoma, congenital cataract and other eye diseases, with the aim of early detection and treatment through screening to avoid visual disability in children. The screening consists of 4 parts: initial screening, re-screening, therapeutic intervention and follow-up. The initial screening time is from 24 hours to less than one week after birth, which mainly includes external eye examination, response to light stimulation, red light reflex, and dilated fundus examination, etc. Those who pass the initial screening will be examined at 42 days after birth. Those who pass the initial screening are re-examined on the 42nd day of life and then enter the normal child care process. Newborns who do not pass the initial screening and are diagnosed with an eye disease are provided with early and effective intervention and treatment. Eye screening is more important than hearing screening and plantar blood collection (to screen for phenylketonuria and thyroid function). “The earlier a child’s eye disease is detected and treated, the better the outcome.” Because eye conditions are insidious, it is difficult for ordinary parents to observe the abnormalities, many children with congenital eye diseases, the emergence of obvious symptoms before going to the hospital, when it is too late, some children suffering from malignant tumors of the eye, not only to lose their eyesight, and may even lose their lives.