Final answer:
The ophthalmic medication commonly used for newborns to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum is erythromycin eye ointment. It has effectively replaced silver nitrate ointment, which was traditionally used, to decrease the incidence of neonatal eye infections that can lead to serious complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, which is the inflammation of the conjunctiva in newborns often caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmitted during childbirth, two prophylactic agents were commonly used in the past: silver nitrate and erythromycin eye ointment. Silver nitrate drops were once the standard treatment for this condition but its usage has declined due to the availability of antibiotics which are more effective and have fewer side effects.
Currently, erythromycin eye ointment is commonly used for newborns to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum. This antibiotic treatment helps in preventing neonatal conjunctivitis, which can have serious complications if untreated. It can lead to corneal ulceration or perforation causing vision loss or permanent blindness. Due to these risks, hospitals are required by law to treat all infants with prophylactic eye treatment soon after birth. In addition to erythromycin, other antibacterial creams or drops are also utilized, particularly those that are effective against both Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, the common causative agents of this type of conjunctivitis.