Preemies eyes not being properly protected during phototherapy used to treat jaundice in the NICU
while at the Women and Children's Center at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama

I do not know what kind of lights the baby was under or who manufactured them.  I have no photos of the lights, just the baby under the lights.  All I know is that they were blue lights.

On every website I can find it is stated that the eyes must be protected while receiving phototherapy.

Here are two photos my son sent me when he went to the hospital to visit the baby after he was first placed under the lights.  He was approx. 2 days old.  (I'm not sure of the exact date and time he was placed under the lights).  How long he was like this, we don't know.  He was most likely not even checked on since his last feeding which had been approx. 3 hours before.

The other photos were taken by me when I went to visit because I didn't really have any photos of him, but I took the blue out of the photos.

The 3 photos below show nearly how he looked every time I went to see him,  if the mask was not off completely then the lower part was up near his eyebrows and his eyes were totally exposed.

I had fixed his eye mask numerous times, as well as my husband, son, and daughter in law and we all expressed our concern to the nurse on duty at the time and each time we were told that it wouldn't cause any harm.  We obviously had too much trust in these people.  I just wish I had brought my camera each time (but I didn't because all my pictures were blue and I didn't really want pictures like that) and after speaking with the nurses numerous times I thought/hoped/prayed they'd keep a better eye on the baby.

The hospital has a SPEAK UP policy and I definitely voiced my concerns to his nurses on duty at the time, but it was obviously falling on deaf ears, as I expressed concern to each and every nurse I came into contact with when he was under the lights, but was continually told that basically, the lights wouldn't do any harm or damage.  Did they know this for a fact?  Then why the use of the eye masks at all?

By the time I started reading online about the possible damaging effects to a baby's eyes and I was fuming and actually almost on my way to talk to the Hospital Administrator my son told me that he was off the lights for good and I felt by then that it was too late to do/say anything else.

I absolutely do believe in phototherapy treatment, but I also believe there should be mandatory protection and precautionary measures taken during treatment.

You can click on the image for a larger view, then hit your back button to get back to this page. 

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As you can see from the photos below, the eye mask is protecting his eyes because he's on his side, but look at how big it is in the back. When he was placed on his back that's how much too big it was in the front and it just slid right off, as in the photos above.  It's the same mask.  That mask was used for nearly, or over 24 hours, maybe except for feedings, I don't know, for all I know since he was being tube fed the lights may not have been turned of at all even during those times.

 

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The day after, after my son expressed concern over the 1st mask, they then put this one on.  When I first went to see him at 10:00 a.m. the mask was on because he'd just got done getting tube fed, changed, etc. and was ready to sleep.  But as you can see it would not take much for it to come up enough to allow his eyes to be exposed and it was NOT on properly when my husband and I went there the next day.  He was on his back and the mask was up near his eyebrows so we fixed it (again).  When my son and daughter in law came later that day it was off of his eyes as well.  How many times had it come up that day and the day before?  We don't know, but this mask was used for 2 solid days before it was taken off for 24 hours (because his bili levels came down) and then this same mask was used again when he had to go back under the lights for a couple more days when his bili levels rose again.

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On the very last day that he was under the lights they seemed to have finally gotten it right.  They found a mask that seemed to fit him correctly even when he was on his back.  The style looked much different to me than the other two.  I just don't understand why that one wasn't put on him from the beginning.  I don't know if they put on a different mask, or just finally adjusted one of them properly, but it looked as if that's how it should have been on him all along, unfortunately for him though, the better fitting one was on for only on for a couple of hours but the improperly fitted ones were on for days.

My Grandson was in the NICU where they specialize in preemie care and was over 3 1/2 lbs. yet they could not find a mask to fit him properly.   What about the babies much smaller than him?

How about a mask like the ones below, which could be cut to size and would stay on infants of any size?

The Quick-Stick Bili-Mask has no straps, is held in place by gentle adhesive, and is easy to apply. This popular new Bili-Mask is faster and easier to put on. Two small Velcro tabs with adhesive backing are applied to the baby's temples. Then the mask is simply placed over the eyes and fastened to the Velcro tabs by touch. The mask can be removed and replaced as often as desired without removing the tabs from the baby's skin. The special hypo-allergenic adhesive on the tabs is gentle enough to protect the baby's sensitive skin and yet will hold the tabs securely in place when properly applied. For complete eye protection, the pad itself is laminated of three layers of material. The two outer layers of soft, absorbent fabric go against the baby's eyes. A third layer, in the middle, consists of a black, light-blocking foam. The mask is large enough to completely cover the eyes and conform to the face. The Quick-Stick Bili-Mask comes in two sizes. Sterile - ready to use.

 

 

The Easy-On Bili-Mask has two straps and has elastic for easier fit and light-tight eye protection. This type of Bili-Mask provides the convenience of a two strap design and still features full adjustment, stability and reliable eye protection. One strap encircles the head laterally, and the other strap goes across the top of the head. Both straps have sections of elastic so they can be adjusted to fit the head snugly yet gently. The straps fasten by touch to the Velcro surface on the front of the mask. Protection against bright phototherapy lights is provided by a large pad of soft, absorbent material next to the baby's eyes, which is covered with a layer of opaque black Velcro. The Easy-On Bili-Mask is available in two sizes. Sterile - ready to use.

 

 

52430 Quick-Stick Bili-Mask and 52420 Easy-On Bili-Mask

• Furnished Sterile - to protect baby
• Absorbent, Non-allergenic Materials
• Proper Fit Avoids Light Leaks
• No Loose Particles
• Multiple Layers to Block Light

 

This is a brand new, state of the art, high tech facility, but yet they do not even have proper fitting eye masks.  That's just ludicrous.

I am still very ticked off, even though he's off the lights and has been off since March 6th or 7th, I wrote a letter and am sending it to anyone who will read it and possibly be able to give me some kind of answers.  I emailed a copy of the letter to the hospital that the baby is at., but wasn't sure where it would end up and who would receive it.  But I redid the letter just a bit and took someone's advice and emailed the Administrative Office of that hospital because even though it may be too late for my Grandson, maybe I can help other babies.  I just wish I had done it much sooner, but I had been too busy trying to find some definitive answers online while the nurses at the hospital were pooh poohing me.

Unfortunately though, there are no definitive answers, because a study like that just cannot and should not ever be done.

I emailed a similar copy to Natus.com, the makers of the neoBLUE phototherapy light, as well.  You can see their response on my letters page.  I also sent a copy to the March of Dimes and the National Eye Institute on March 18, 2008 and many, many others on March 17th.  Some of the replies I have received tell me to speak with the neonatologist  but most have said that it would be wise of me to bring it up with the Hospital Administration.

If you are interested in the letter I emailed to the hospital Administration Office you can click HERE to read it.

Or if you would like to read any updates you can click HERE.

Note:  I did get to speak with one of the Neonatologists on Friday, March 21, 2008, his answer to me is under updates.

I also received an email from a Pediatric Web Site in answer to my question.  That is also under the updates section.

I have had a several emails from people/organizations telling me that since my Grandson was so close to 32 weeks gestation that his retinas should be okay, I certainly hope so.  Although the Dr. never did reassure us that because of his gestational age that he would be okay, he just kept insisting that the lights have never caused any harm to any babies, period.

I do realize that the NICU also deals with many emergency and life threatening issues, and since eye mask protection isn't a life threatening issue it cannot be at the top of the list, but shouldn't it at least be ON the list for the times when they're not too busy?  When they get through dealing with all of the important issues can't they at least make some time to check and make sure that these babies have proper eye protection?

The bottom line is and my main question now is: