Involution of threshold retinopathy of prematurity after diode laser photocoagulation.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the process of involution of threshold retinopathy of prematurity after transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Neonates with threshold retinopathy who underwent diode laser photocoagulation of the peripheral avascular retina.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was done of the weekly examination records of infants treated for threshold disease. Features that were studied included the presence of residual stage 3 neovascularization, plus disease, and development of retinal detachment (RD).


METHODS
Timing of full involution and/or development of an RD.


RESULTS
Of 262 eyes of 138 infants treated, full involution without RD was seen in 8%, 43%, 64%, 73%, and 86% of eyes at postoperative weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9+/-3, respectively. Retinal detachments were diagnosed cumulatively in 0%, 1.5%, 4.2%, 6.5%, and 14% of eyes at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9+/-3, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Full involution of laser-treated threshold retinopathy of prematurity required more than 2 weeks in more than half of treated eyes. Most RDs were not detected until > or =3 weeks after treatment.
Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. dcoats@bcm.tmc.edu
David K
DK
Coats
Aaron M
AM
Miller
Kathryn M
KM
Brady McCreery
Eric R
ER
Holz
Evelyn A
EA
Paysse
D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000503:physiopathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors