Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To report the structural and refractive outcome after laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients who had undergone photocoagulation for ROP between 1997 and 2002 at our clinic were examined. A total of thirty–seven eyes received either transscleral or transpupillary laser treatment. Data consisted of grade of ROP pre–and postoperatively, birth–weight, perioperative and postoperative complications and refraction. Based on indirect ophthalmoscopy, independent observers graded the extent of ROP and determined the postoperative refraction by retinoscopy. Results:97.3 % of all eyes responded to laser treatment with regression of ROP. Only one eye out of thirty–seven progressed to stage 4B despite photocoagulation and therefore an encircling procedure was performed. After further progression the eye had to have a vitrectomy. Perioperative complications included hemorrhages in 21.6%that resorbed spontaneously and cataract formation in one eye (2.7%). Postoperative refractive errors at a mean age of 25±16 months were evaluated. The mean spherical equivalent was +1.0±3.5D. Only 13.6% of the refracted eyes were myopic. Conclusions:Photocoagulation for ROP in our patients resulted in regression of threshold ROP. In addition, the analyses of the refractive outcomes demonstrated a predominance of hypermetropia in our patients. Whether laser therapy is beneficial in avoiding myopic shift in preterm infants must be evaluated by a prospective study.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • laser • refraction