Albania Begins Injection Treatment to Prevent Blindness in Premature Babies

For the first time, Albania has begun using injections to prevent vision loss in babies born prematurely. According to ophthalmologists, not all babies need this intervention. Premature infants who develop eye problems and could benefit from the treatment are accurately identified through cooperation between doctors at maternity hospitals and specialists from the ophthalmology service at QSUT.

QSUNT ophthalmologist Alketa Tandili explained that intravitreal injections counteract neovascularization, which occurs in some babies born prematurely. The at-risk group includes babies born before the 32nd week of pregnancy, weighing less than 1,500 grams, who have received oxygen therapy for an extended period, have experienced severe anemia, or have been treated with blood transfusions.

The critical window for intervention is the fifth or sixth week after birth. Even a single injection can prevent blindness, while a second injection may be needed only in rare cases.

Every year, 12 cases of premature babies with vision problems are identified in Albania. Doctors say that when the condition is detected in the first days of life, babies make a 100% recovery, preventing blindness. This type of injection has been used in Europe and the United States since 2019.