Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and safety of diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) when delivered in a pulsed mode versus a near continuous mode. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of consecutive patients who underwent diode laser photocoagulation for threshold ROP. We divided the eyes according to the mode of laser delivery into those treated with pulsed mode delivery and those treated with near continuous mode delivery. The following postoperative factors were analyzed in both treatment groups: (1) vitreous haze (2) laser–related complications, and (3) retinal status. Six months after laser treatment, patients were evaluated for visual behavior, strabismus/amblyopia, and refractive error. Results: Two hundred and sixty–six eyes (138 patients) were included. One hundred and forty–one eyes (53%) had pulsed mode laser treatment while 125 (47%) were treated with near continuous mode laser. There wer no significant differences between the two groups regarding percentage of eyes with more posterior disease (Zone 1 and Zone 2p) (p=0.11), postoperative vitreous haze (p= 0.6.), direct laser–related complications (p= 0.38), retinal detachment (p=0.90), development of strabismus (p= 0.73) or amblyopia (p=0.69), or refractive error (p= 0.27 for the right eye and p= 0.26 for the left eye). Conclusions: No differences in functional outcome, structural outcome or laser–related complications were found in eyes treated with continuous mode diode laser photocoagulation when compared to pulsed mode laser.
Keywords: retinopathy of prematurity • laser