Neonatal intensive care. Newborn baby sleeping in the NICU (neonate intensive care unit). This baby has been born prematurely and has a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) tube running into its nose (beneath plasters) to prevent respiratory failure. The eye patch may be because the baby has retinopathy of prematurity. This is an eye disease seen in premature babies that can lead to eye problems later in life and blindness in severe cases.