Ophthalmologists quickly performed surgery to try to save her sight. But it was already too late. By the time she got home, Katie was irreparably blind. But what tears at you is that you just don't know how it could happen. In most cases, the disease is self-correcting before an lasting damage occurs, though some children develop eye problems as a result.
Babies born at least three months prematurely are particularly vulnerable.
In severe cases, the leaking blood vessels can cause swelling and scarring of the retina. Without firm anchoring, the retina may then detach from the back of the eye, resulting in blindness. An estimated 600 babies in the U.S. lose their sight to the disease each year. Others suffer some loss of vision. Parents like Margaret Watson are convinced they are.