Nemours Pediatric Ophthalmologist Invents Disposable Kit for Examining Premature Infants for Eye Disease
Jacksonville, Florida
Monday, February 25, 2008 @ 06:21 PM EST
by: Odette Struys
(904) 232-4186
ostruys@nemours.org
Wolfson Children’s Hospital Was First Hospital in the World to Use New Kits
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 flex 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.”
About Baptist Health
Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system comprised of Baptist Medical Center Downtown and Baptist Heart Hospital; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; and Wolfson Children’s Hospital – Jacksonville’s only children’s hospital. Baptist Health also includes cardiology and cardiovascular surgery services, a comprehensive cancer center, neurosciences (including Primary Stroke Centers at Baptist Downtown and Baptist South), orthopaedic institute, women’s resource center, a full range of psychology and psychiatry services, outpatient facilities, urgent care services and a network of primary care physicians’ offices throughout Northeast Florida. Baptist Health is the official healthcare provider for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For more information, visit www.e-baptisthealth.com.
Jacksonville, FL - 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.
modified: Monday, February 25, 2008 @ 06:22 PM EST
created: Monday, February 25, 2008 @ 06:19 PM EST
About Nemours
Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.
Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.
Nemours employs over 4,200 individuals, including 400 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2006. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.
