Kabiel first to be treated with fatty acids in Umeå - can reduce risk of eye disease

The recommendation came this summer and hospitals with neonatal care have started the treatment at slightly different times. In Umeå, they started giving the drops from 1 October.

- It is unique in the world that we now have a national recommendation, says pediatrician Magnus Domellöf, who was involved in developing the recommendation.

Can halve the risk

It involves daily drops of two polyunsaturated fatty acids: the omega-3 fatty acid DHA and the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid. The oils are produced from algae.

- We have gone through the available studies and the picture is quite convincing. The combination can halve the risk of the serious eye disease retinopathy of prematurity, ROP, says Magnus Domellöf.

A quarter can be affected

In Sweden, around 300 babies a year are born before the 28th week of pregnancy. These are the babies to whom the new recommendation applies. Just over 20 percent of these children are at risk of getting the severe form of ROP.

- The vessels in the retina have not fully grown when you are born prematurely. When the eye grows, the vessels can grow incorrectly, and in the worst case, grow into the vitreous, says the doctor.

Fatty acids are important for children's brain and vision development, and breast milk is usually not enough at first.

In about two years, healthcare is expected to be able to compare how many children got the severe eye disease before and after the new drops were introduced.