title: Prospective randomized evaluation of diode-laser and cryotherapy in prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of indirect diode laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy in prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six eyes of 18 premature infants less than 34 weeks gestational age and/or less than 1600 g birth weight with prethreshold ROP were prospectively randomized to treatment with either indirect laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy. Prethreshold ROP was defined as any stage of ROP in zone I with plus disease; or stage 3 with three or more contiguous clock hours or five or more total clock hours of involvement of retina in zone II with plus disease but less than threshold disease. Regression of the ROP was assessed for a minimum period of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression of ROP occurred in all 36 eyes (100%) in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excellent results are achieved if ROP is treated at the prethreshold stage with both indirect laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy. Although laser has definite advantages, cryotherapy can be considered as an alternative modality of treatment in developing countries due to economic reasons.
authors.affiliation: Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. rajvardhanazad@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Raj Vardhan
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.forename: Laxminarayana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasumala
authors.forename: Harsh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Vinod Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Parijat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity