The Tata Trusts-supported L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) is helping save the sight of newborns in the rural hinterland through timely care and intervention.
The first few weeks after her child's birth were an anxious time for K Rajamma and her family. Born prematurely, the infant required prolonged
medical attention and oxygen support at the Special Newborn Care Unit of the Government General Hospital (GGH) at Paderu, Alluri Sitharama
Raju district in Andhra Pradesh. As the family focused on recovery, a more serious concern emerged.
Doctors diagnosed aggressive Retinopathy of Prematurity, the first such case identified at the hospital. The disease had already progressed in both eyes, with abnormal blood vessel growth affecting the most sensitive part of the retina, indicating an urgent need for treatment. The attending doctor recommended an anti-VEGF injection (Avastin) as the appropriate course of action.
Retinopathy of Prematurity, if not detected early, can lead to irreversible vision loss. Yet in many remote regions, limited access to specialised screening and treatment often delays timely diagnosis, forcing families to travel long distances for care.
At this stage, the newborn remained critically dependent on oxygen support for about 30 days with continuous monitoring at GGH, making referral to another facility medically unsafe. During hospital screening, specialists identified the severity of the eye involvement and the need for immediate intervention to prevent further damage and preserve vision.
Doctors diagnosed aggressive Retinopathy of Prematurity, the first such case identified at the hospital. The disease had already progressed in both eyes, with abnormal blood vessel growth affecting the most sensitive part of the retina, indicating an urgent need for treatment. The attending doctor recommended an anti-VEGF injection (Avastin) as the appropriate course of action.
Retinopathy of Prematurity, if not detected early, can lead to irreversible vision loss. Yet in many remote regions, limited access to specialised screening and treatment often delays timely diagnosis, forcing families to travel long distances for care.
At this stage, the newborn remained critically dependent on oxygen support for about 30 days with continuous monitoring at GGH, making referral to another facility medically unsafe. During hospital screening, specialists identified the severity of the eye involvement and the need for immediate intervention to prevent further damage and preserve vision.
Responding without delay, the LVPEI team travelled to Paderu the very next day and carried out the procedure on-site. It marked a milestone for the district, as both screening and treatment for such a case were undertaken at the hospital for the first time.
In the weeks that followed, regular follow-ups showed steady improvement, with doctors confirming that the progression of the disease had been halted
and the child's vision safeguarded.
For Rajamma and her family, timely access to specialised care changed their child's future, turning a moment of risk into one of relief. But for many others in similar situations, such timely care is now becoming more accessible.
For Rajamma and her family, timely access to specialised care changed their child's future, turning a moment of risk into one of relief. But for many others in similar situations, such timely care is now becoming more accessible.
The Tata Trusts' support to LVPEI is enabling a targeted intervention across tribal districts of
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The programme is strengthening early detection systems by
training frontline health workers to identify preventable blindness in newborns and ensuring
timely referral and treatment.
