Nemours Pediatric Ophthalmologist Invents Kit for Examining Newborns
Jacksonville, Florida, February 25, 2008 -- Wolfson Children's Hospital was the first hospital in the world to use a new disposable pediatric ophthalmic device for examining premature babies for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The Moria ROP Examination Kit allows for a new safer approach to examining premature babies for ROP. The device was invented by pediatric ophthalmologist Robert Hered, MD, chief of Ophthalmology, Nemours Children's Clinic Jacksonville. Dr. Hered used the device for the first time to examine a newborn patient on January 10, 2008, in Wolfson's Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
Retinopathy of prematurity is a serious disease of the retina, a potentially blinding condition found in premature infants. If diagnosed early by ophthalmology exams in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the condition can be treated with laser to prevent retinal detachment and blindness.
For years, pediatric ophthalmologists have used surgical instruments to help perform eye examinations on premature babies for ROP, reusing them after sterilization. Not every NICU consistently sterilizes the instruments between each exam, however. Therefore, there is a risk of infection from inadequate instrument sterilization. In premature infants, their incompletely developed immune systems make them particularly vulnerable. For these babies, infection can lead to pneumonia and in the most serious cases can be fatal.
"Dr. Hered came up with the idea to make a disposable set of instruments for these eye examinations, like we use disposable instruments in surgery," says Lee Hunter, MD, Dr. Hered's partner at Nemours and chief of staff for Wolfson Children's Hospital.
"First, he did a survey of NICUs all over the country as to whether they sterilized the eye equipment before and in between exams of premature infants, and if they would prefer a disposable kit. The majority said they would use a disposable kit every time preferentially rather than have to sterilize instruments between patients."
The new sterile, disposable kits -- manufactured by French medical device manufacturer, Moria S.A. -- are comprised of an eyelid speculum to keep the newborn's eyes open during an examination and a scleral depressor, an ophthalmic instrument for controlling eye position. Compared to conventional devices, the disposable speculum is lighter and smaller, and has flexible characteristics more appropriate for neonates. Contoured to follow the shape of a premature infant's face, the speculum does not impair visualization during the exam, does not cause the infant's eyelids to turn outward, and is easier to remove.
"We use the kits on premature newborns in Wolfson Children's Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit," says Dr. Hunter. "We do weekly exams on premature babies under 1,500 grams in weight and at risk for developing ROP. The more premature and lighter the baby is, the more he or she is at risk for this disease. We perform 10-20 exams a week at Wolfson's NICU."
