What to do about retinal hemorrhage found during newborn retinal screening
Oct 10, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xie Zixing
Introduction
Retinal hemorrhage detected during neonatal fundus screening may be managed with no treatment, oxygen therapy, or physical interventions for symptom relief. No treatment is considered when hemorrhage results from prolonged labor or vacuum-assisted delivery. For preterm infants, incomplete retinal vascularization may occur; therefore, oxygen therapy is recommended. When retinopathy is the underlying cause, physical treatments such as laser therapy or cryotherapy are employed to alleviate retinal lesions and improve symptoms.
Retinal hemorrhage detected during newborn retinal screening should be managed according to the specific underlying cause, with approaches ranging from no treatment to oxygen therapy or physical interventions to alleviate symptoms.
1. No treatment
If labor is prolonged or vacuum extraction is used during delivery, it may lead to retinal hemorrhage in newborns. Additionally, if a newborn has coagulation disorders or fragile blood vessel walls after birth, significant external pressure may result in retinal hemorrhage observed during screening. In such cases, usually no treatment is required. As the infant grows older, the retinal bleeding typically resolves gradually and is absorbed spontaneously.
2. Oxygen therapy
In premature infants, the retina may not have completed vascularization, which can lead to retinal hemorrhage identified during screening. In such cases, oxygen therapy is recommended to help alleviate symptoms of retinal bleeding.
3. Physical therapy
If retinal hemorrhage is caused by retinopathy, physical treatments under medical supervision are necessary, such as laser therapy or cryotherapy, to manage the retinal condition and improve symptoms.
