title: Vitreous changes after treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hikichi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nomiyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: 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*