Visual outcomes after laser photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term visual acuity after diode laser photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy of prematurity.


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative case series.


METHODS
Photocoagulation of the peripheral avascular retina with a diode laser indirect ophthalmoscope.


METHODS
The principal outcome evaluated was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The most recent refractions for these eyes were also collected for analysis.


METHODS
Thirty-five infants with threshold retinopathy of prematurity treated with laser photocoagulation from 1991 to 1996.


RESULTS
After bilateral laser treatment, 14 (56%) of 25 patients who were capable of accurate visual acuity testing had 20/50 or better BCVA in at least 1 eye with 11 (44%) of 25 patients having at least 20/50 BCVA in both eyes. After unilateral treatment, four (40%) of ten had 20/50 or better BCVA in the treated eye while five (50%) of ten laser-treated eyes had a BCVA at least equal to the untreated fellow eye. Compared to eyes with 4 or more diopters (D) of myopia, those with less than 4 D of myopia were 6.4 times more likely to achieve 20/50 or better BCVA (95% confidence interval, 1.7-22.7). The average age at follow-up was 3.7 years.


CONCLUSIONS
After laser photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy of prematurity, 29 (48%) of 60 eyes had 20/50 or better visual acuity. Eyes with 4 or more D of myopia were significantly less likely to achieve 20/50 or better visual acuity than eyes with less than 4 D of myopia.
Connolly
B P
BP
Wills Eye Hospital, Retina Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. drbpconn@yahoo.com
McNamara
J A
JA
Regillo
C D
CD
Tasman
W
W
Sharma
S
S
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*