P15.3: Birth injury to eye
The child is subjected to great pressure during a vaginal birth. This pressure is necessary for the child to be born through the pelvis and the vagina. The pressure, along with the narrow birth canal, can cause injuries to the child’s eye. But injuries can also occur with a Caesarean or when a forceps or vacuum cup are used.
The child’s eye can suffer various injuries. It may also be, for example, that the great pressure during the birth causes small blood vessels in the eye to burst. Bleeding will then be visible beneath the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva covers the inside of the eyelids and the eyeball. An eye injury can also cause damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve begins at the back of the eye. It sends visual images on to the brain. Damage to the child’s optic nerve can impair vision.
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