Retinopathy of prematurity in practice. II: long-term results following treatment for threshold disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term outcome of treatment for threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in one UK unit.


METHODS
A total of 35 infants diagnosed with threshold ROP were treated by a single ophthalmologist (DGC) between 1987 and 1998. The parents of the 29 surviving patients were contacted; 21 brought their child for special review of acuity, motility, refraction and fundoscopy (Group 1). Of the eight patients who were unable to attend, six patients (Group 2) had sufficient follow-up detail in their records to be included in the study.


RESULTS
A total of 40 eyes in the 21 patients in Group 1 had been treated; 10 had received cryotherapy (eight bilateral) and 11 had bilateral laser. Mean follow-up was 5 years (range 2-12 years). A total of 23 treated eyes (in 16 patients) had an acuity of 6/12+ (57.5% of treated eyes). Four eyes of three patients had no light perception. Seven eyes in four patients had myopia of more than 3 D. Eight patients had a manifest squint: six esotropia, two exotropia. The retinal status of 36 eyes (90%) showed a favourable outcome. The four blind eyes had stage 5 disease. In Group 2, four eyes of two patients (33%) had 6/12+ acuity recorded; five eyes in three patients had stage 5 disease and no perception of light. In total, a favourable structural outcome was achieved in 81.4% and favourable functional outcome observed in 74.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that the favourable outcomes reported in the CRYO-ROP trial can be achieved in routine practice and maintained after long follow-up.
Gnanaraj
L
L
Department of Ophthamology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Brennan
R
R
Cottrell
D G
DG
D001766:Blindness; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D009216:Myopia; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013285:Strabismus; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity