Hospital news: New technology helps detect cataracts in newborns

The research and development department at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has recently opened an innovative new study to help diagnose cataracts in newborn babies.

It’s aim is to assess whether digital imaging using ‘Neocam’ a handheld, non-contact camera, is a more accurate method of detecting cataracts in newborns than the current technique using an ophthalmoscope (a medical eye torch).

About 1 in 3,000 babies are affected by cloudiness of  the eye’s lens (cataract). Since a baby’s first months are a critical time for vision and brain development, early surgery is needed to prevent permanent visual impairment. For this reason, cataract is the most common cause of preventable child blindness worldwide.

Nina Vanner, paediatric research nurse at Poole Hospital, said: “We’re really pleased to be one of a handful of maternity units across the country selected to take on this trial.”

“All babies born in the UK are screened for cataract twice. Despite this, late diagnosis of cataract continues to be a problem, causing avoidable visual impairment in some affected children.”

“The Neocam takes a picture of babies’ eyes using both infrared and green light. Previous small-scale studies have shown that this photoscreening technique can make childhood cataract detection easier.”

“The DIvO ((Digital Imaging versus Ophthalmoscopy) study allows us to more accurately assess any issues of vision that a newborn may have, which will in turn enable faster diagnosis, referral, and surgery if required.”

“The study will be open at UHD for a year and we’re hoping to assess 1,200 babies within that time, which is a brilliant contribtion to the research trial and great news for our local community.”

View online here: New technology detects cataracts in newborns (uhd.nhs.uk)