INFRARED EYE INJURY NOT DUE TO RADIANT WARMER USE IN PREMATURE NEONATES

Objective.-Exposure to far-wavelength infrared radiation (lambda>2000 nm) may cause corneal opacity, miosis, and delayed cataracts (onset >3 0 days). Near-wavelength infrared exposure (lambda<1000 nm) may focus on the retina, causing burns; however, early eye examinations in neona tes nursed under radiant warmers have failed to reveal acute injuries. Our purpose is to report long-term ophthalmologic outcome in infants treated under radiant warmers from birth. Participants and Methods.-We report findings from eye examinations in infants followed up to a med ian age of 2 years, 9 months (range, 1 to 75 months), for (1) 33 infan ts nursed exclusively under radiant warmers for up to 5 days postnatal ly (mean [+/-SD] birth weight, 1.1 6+/-0.24 kg; mean gestation, 30+/-2 weeks) and (2) 14 convection-warmed incubator-nursed infants (1.26+/- 0.22 kg, 31+/-2 weeks), who were slightly more mature. Main Result.-A trend toward retinopathy of prematurity was noted as occurring more fr equently in the radiant warmer-nursed infant population, and one infan t in that group was blind. However, no macular burns and no permanent corneal, lens, or other anterior segment injuries were observed. Concl usion.-Preliminary findings do not support permanent eye damage attrib utable to near- or far-wavelength infrared injury in neonates nursed u nder radiant warmers.