Reduced Incidental Light Exposure: Effect on the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Low Birth Weight Infants

Abstract

In a recent study, it was reported that incidental lighting within the newborn intensive care unit setting may play a role in the development of retinopathy of prematurity. Consequently, the routine clinical management in the intensive care nursery at Yale-New Haven Hospital was modified to include shielding each premature infant's isolette, thereby decreasing the intensity of the nursery lights on an infant's eyes from a median light level of 55 foot-candles to 15 foot-candles. The effect of this reduction of light level on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in 161 premature infants was prospectively investigated. This group was then compared with a historic control group of 129 premature infants with similar characteristics who had been exposed to standard nursery lighting. There was no difference in the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity between the two groups.