what disease are all newborns being protected from when they are given eye drops at birth
Vitamin K (section coming soon!) Newborn eye prophylaxis refers to the practice of eye drops or ointment containing an antibiotic medication being placed in a newbornâs eyes after birth. This is required by law to protect the baby from an unknown Gonorrhea or Chlamydia infection in the motherâs body. The primary signs of an eye infection (conjunctivitis) in a newborn are redness and swelling of the lids and sclera of the eye. Erythromycin ointment is the antibiotic most commonly used and we do carry this ointment if you choose to have your baby receive this preventative treatment immediately after the birth.