Surreal illustration of a premature infant surrounded by a retinal vascular network, symbolizing the connection between maternal health and infant vision.

Preeclampsia's Impact: How Maternal Hypertension Affects Premature Babies' Vision

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the link between gestational hypertension and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Understand the risks and what it means for your baby's eye health."

Premature births are on the rise, and with them comes an increased risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a leading cause of childhood blindness. While it's well-known that low birth weight and early gestational age are significant risk factors, recent studies suggest that other perinatal factors, particularly those affecting weight gain after birth, also play a crucial role.

One such factor is maternal gestational hypertension, including conditions like pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. These obstetric complications, affecting approximately 5% of pregnancies, can lead to severe maternal and fetal health issues. Studies show that pre-eclampsia may independently cause growth restriction in infants, as well as impacting levels of angiogenic factors.

This article explores the findings of a detailed study investigating the link between maternal gestational hypertension and the severity of ROP in preterm infants. We'll break down how these maternal conditions might interfere with an infant's retinal vascular development and what it could mean for their vision.

Decoding Maternal Hypertension & ROP Risk: What the Research Reveals

Surreal illustration of a premature infant surrounded by a retinal vascular network, symbolizing the connection between maternal health and infant vision.

A retrospective study, conducted at the University of North Carolina from 1996 to 2007, reviewed data from over 5,000 preterm infants. The study aimed to determine if maternal new-onset gestational hypertension (mHTN) was associated with a greater risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

The research team analyzed various factors, including the presence of mHTN, infant birth weight, gestational age, erythropoietin use, and the zone and stage of ROP at initial and subsequent examinations. Here's a breakdown of the key findings:

Infants with ROP were more likely to have mothers with mHTN and were typically younger and smaller at birth.
At initial examination, infants of mothers with mHTN more frequently exhibited vascularization into the lower zones of the retina.
However, at the examination when ROP was most severe, there was no direct association between mHTN and ROP stage.
After adjusting for gestational age, infants born to mothers with mHTN were more likely to have ROP at the initial examination, but this association disappeared after adjusting for birth weight.

These findings suggest that while mHTN may initially influence retinal vascular development, the severity of ROP at its peak may be more closely tied to factors like birth weight. The use of erythropoietin, a treatment for anemia of prematurity, was not found to be associated with ROP zone or stage in this study.

What Does This Mean for Parents and Future Research?

While this study provides valuable insights, it's crucial to remember that the connection between maternal health and infant outcomes is complex. Conditions like pre-eclampsia introduce various factors that can impact a developing fetus.

Further research is needed to fully understand how maternal antiangiogenic factors, which are elevated in pre-eclampsia, cross the placenta and influence fetal retinal development. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to better preventative strategies and treatments for ROP.

Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of close monitoring and specialized care for preterm infants, especially those born to mothers with gestational hypertension. By staying informed and working closely with healthcare providers, parents can play an active role in safeguarding their child's vision.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1167/iovs.10-5283, Alternate LINK

Title: New-Onset Maternal Gestational Hypertension And Risk Of Retinopathy Of Prematurity

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science

Publisher: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

Authors: Mohamed A. Zayed, Abhineet Uppal, M. Elizabeth Hartnett

Published: 2010-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)?

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious eye condition that affects premature infants. It involves abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, which can lead to vision impairment or blindness. Factors like low birth weight and early gestational age are known risks. Maternal gestational hypertension, including pre-eclampsia, is also linked to ROP. This is a leading cause of childhood blindness.

What is maternal gestational hypertension (mHTN) and why is it important?

Maternal gestational hypertension (mHTN), encompassing conditions like pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome, affects around 5% of pregnancies. It can lead to severe maternal and fetal health issues. These conditions can independently cause growth restriction in infants and also impact levels of angiogenic factors. In the context of ROP, mHTN may influence initial retinal vascular development, and the severity of ROP is closely tied to factors like birth weight.

How does maternal hypertension impact the development of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)?

The research indicates that infants born to mothers with new-onset maternal gestational hypertension (mHTN) are more prone to have Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) at the initial eye examination. The study, however, found that this association diminished after accounting for birth weight. This suggests that while mHTN may impact early retinal vascular development, birth weight plays a more crucial role in the severity of ROP at its peak. Other factors like gestational age are also considered.

What is the role of pre-eclampsia in relation to infant vision and health?

Pre-eclampsia, a form of maternal gestational hypertension, can impact a developing fetus. It can independently cause growth restriction in infants and also influence levels of angiogenic factors. The study reviewed data from over 5,000 preterm infants to determine the link between new-onset maternal gestational hypertension and the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). While infants of mothers with mHTN were more likely to have ROP at initial examination, this association diminished after accounting for birth weight.

Were there any other factors analyzed concerning Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)?

The study found that the use of erythropoietin, a treatment for anemia of prematurity, was not found to be associated with ROP zone or stage. However, the study showed a link between maternal gestational hypertension (mHTN) and the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The connection between maternal health and infant outcomes is complex. Birth weight and gestational age are also significant factors.