Vitreous changes after treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the vitreous findings in patients with cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who underwent retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation during the acute phase of the disease.


METHODS
Vitreous findings were evaluated in 15 patients (29 eyes) with cicatricial ROP by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy.


RESULTS
The ocular examination revealed that all eyes had extensive vitreous liquefaction that affected a large segment of the vitreous. A great deal of fibrillar condensation of the vitreous was present in membrane-like vitreous fibers that traversed the vitreous cavity to the periphery of the degenerating retina. These vitreous changes were most marked in the areas in which retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation had been performed. Despite advanced liquefaction, the posterior cortical vitreous was not separated from the retina in any eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
In eyes with ROP that underwent retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation during the acute phase of the disease, the vitreous was abnormal, which may contribute to vitreoretinal traction that eventually leads to retinal breaks and detachment.
Hikichi
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Hokkaido, Japan.
Nomiyama
G
G
Ikeda
H
H
Yoshida
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*