prematurity

Almost 1 of every 10 infants born in the United States are premature, or preemies. A premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks.

Important growth and development happen throughout pregnancy - especially in the final months and weeks. Because they are born too early, preemies weigh much less than full-term babies. They may have health problems because their organs did not have enough time to develop. Problems that a baby born too early may have include:

• Breathing problems
• Feeding difficulties
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delay
• Vision problems
• Hearing problems

Preemies need special medical care in a neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. They stay there until their organ systems can work on their own.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Retinal disorders are conditions that affect the retina, the thin light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The retina senses light and sends signals to your brain so you can see.

Retinal disorders can cause blurred or distorted vision. Some can lead to vision loss or blindness.

The causes of retinal disorders vary. Aging is a common factor, but other things can raise your risk, such as if you:

• Smoke
• Have obesity
• Have health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
• Have had an eye injury or trauma
• Have a family history of retinal disorders

Some common retinal disorders include:

• Macular degeneration. Occurs when the macula (the center of the retina that helps you see fine details) breaks down. There are two types: wet and dry macular degeneration.
• Diabetic retinopathy. Occurs when diabetes damages small blood vessels in the retina, causing them to swell or leak.
• Retinal detachment. Occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye. This is a medical emergency.
• Retinal tears. A hole or break in the retina caused when the gel-like substance inside your eye (the vitreous) pulls away.
• Retinoblastoma. A rare cancer of the retina that most often affects young children.
• Macular pucker. Scar tissue that forms on the macula and distorts vision.
• Macular hole. A small opening in the macula, often related to aging or injury. It can blur or distort central vision.
• Eye floaters. Small specks, cobwebs, or threads that drift across your vision. These are more common with aging.
• Retina pigmentosa. A group of inherited disorders (passed down through families) that slowly damage the retina and cause loss of night and side (peripheral) vision.

Symptoms can vary, but most retinal disorders affect your vision. Common symptoms include:

• Blurred or distorted vision
• Loss of central or side (peripheral) vision
• Flashes of light
• Seeing floating specks or cobwebs
• Trouble seeing at night
• Sudden vision loss (in severe cases)

Seek medical care right away if you notice flashes of light, sudden vision changes, or a sudden increase in eye floaters. These can be signs of a serious retinal problem.

Eye care providers check for retinal disorders with a dilated eye exam. Eye drops are used to widen your pupils so your provider can look at the retina for signs of damage.

They may also do other tests, such as:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) to take detailed pictures of the inside of your eye.
• Fluorescein angiography to check the blood vessels in your retina.
• Visual field tests to measure your side (peripheral) vision.

Some retinal disorders can be treated to slow or stop vision loss, and sometimes to restore vision. Treatment depends on the cause and severity. It may include:

• Laser therapy
• Medicine or eye injections
• Surgery
• Lifestyle management to control health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure

Not all retinal disorders can be prevented. Some are related to aging or genetics. But you can protect your eyes by:

• Wearing safety goggles or sunglasses
• Getting regular eye exams
• Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
  • Quitting smoking (or not starting)
  • Managing diabetes and blood pressure

NIH: National Eye Institute

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that causes your breathing to stop or get very shallow. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They may occur 30 times or more an hour.

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. It causes your airway to collapse or become blocked during sleep. Normal breathing starts again with a snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

You are more at risk for sleep apnea if you are overweight, male, or have a family history or small airways. Children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids may also get it.

Doctors diagnose sleep apnea based on medical and family histories, a physical exam, and sleep study results.

When your sleep is interrupted throughout the night, you can be drowsy during the day. People with sleep apnea are at higher risk for car crashes, work-related accidents, and other medical problems. If you have it, it is important to get treatment. Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and breathing devices can treat sleep apnea in many people.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute