Threshold retinopathy of prematurity. Transition from cryopexy to laser treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The authors studied the effectiveness of laserpexy versus cryopexy for treatment of acute retinopathy of prematurity.


METHODS
Seventy-six eyes in 41 patients were treated for acute retinopathy of prematurity from January 1991 to April 1994.


RESULTS
Fifty-six eyes in 30 patients had zone 2 disease. Of these 30 patients, 11 received laser treatment and 20 received cryopexy treatment; there was at least one anatomically successful eye in each patient. Twenty eyes in ten patients had zone 1 disease. Seven patients had bilateral laser treatment. Three patients had bilateral cryopexy. In seven eyes with zone 1 disease, five were treated successfully with laser. None of the three eyes with zone 1 disease treated with cryopexy were successful.


CONCLUSIONS
Laserpexy and cryopexy are of equal efficacy in treating zone 2 disease. There is a tendency that suggests that laserpexy is more effective than cryopexy in treating zone 1 disease. Diode and argon lasers are of equal efficacy in treating zone 1 disease.
Hammer
M E
ME
Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA.
Pusateri
T J
TJ
Hess
J B
JB
Sosa
R
R
Stromquist
C
C
D000208:Acute Disease; D003452:Cryosurgery; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome