Telehealth helps prevent blindness in preemies

Improved technology equips health care providers in remote areas to better diagnose retinopathy of prematurity

By Ariane Le Chevallier July 27, 2017 Portland, Ore.

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Michael Chiang reviews images of the eyes of premature babies who were sent to him via the telemedicine program at OHSU for ROP monitoring and diagnosis. (OHSU)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Dilating eye drops are placed into 4-month-old baby Nathan Brown's eyes before a screening at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, April 5, 2017. Nathan was born at 26-weeks and has retinopathy of prematurity, a common condition in preemies. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Jonathan Brown of Keizer, Oregon and his wife Mackenzie wait for their 4-month-old baby Nathan's ophthalmologist appointment at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, April 5, 2017. Nathan was born at 26-weeks and has retinopathy of prematurity, a common condition in preemies. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Dr. Michael Chiang (left) greets Jonathan (center) and Mackenzie Brown of Keizer, Oregon during an ophthalmologist appointment for their 4-month-old baby Nathan at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, April 5, 2017. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Mackenzie Brown of Keizer, Oregon wakes up 4-month-old baby Nathan before his ophthalmologist appointment at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, April 5, 2017. Nathan was born prematurely at Salem Hospital at 26-weeks, weighing in at 2.4 pounds. He was diagnosed with ROP at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital while there for heart surgery. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Dr. Brock Alonzo, left, holds 4-month-old Nathan Brown as Dr. Michael Chiang examines the baby's eyes during an ophthalmologist appointment at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, in 2017. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Jonathan Brown of Keizer, Oregon kisses the hand of his 4-month-old baby Nathan as they wait for an opthalmologist appointment at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, April 5, 2017. Nathan was born at 26-weeks and has retinopathy of prematurity, a common condition in preemies. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

Jonathan Brown of Keizer, Oregon and his wife Mackenzie comfort their 4-month-old baby Nathan during an ophthalmologist appointment at Casey Eye Institute Elks Children Eye Clinic in Portland, April 5, 2017. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

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