The Effect of Laser Photocoagulation on Intraocular Pressure in Premature Infants With Retinopathy of Prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of diode laser treatment on intraocular pressure (IOP) of premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).


METHODS
The premature infants who underwent retinal laser photocoagulation therapy for ROP, and gestational age-matched, birth weight-matched, and sex-matched premature infants with ROP which recovered spontaneously without any treatment were enrolled into the study. Anterior segment examination and longitudinal IOP and central corneal thickness measurements were performed 5 times as follows: 1 day before the laser treatment (T0), and 24 hours (T1), 1 week (T2), 1 month (T3), and 3 months (T4) after the laser treatment. Premature infants who experienced any complication related to the laser treatment were excluded from the study.


RESULTS
Laser treated 67 premature infants and 70 premature infants in control group met inclusion criteria. Significant linear decreases in IOP and central corneal thickness values were measured throughout the study period for both groups (both, P<0.001). These changes were similar in 2 groups. There was a statistically insignificantly (P=0.999) and transient increase in the mean IOP value in the laser-treated group 24 hours after laser treatment. None of the patients in the laser-treated group experienced a shallow anterior chamber or a remarkable IOP elevation.


CONCLUSIONS
Diode laser treatment for ROP was safe, and did not raise the IOP of premature infants.
*Department of Ophthalmology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Training and Research Hospital †Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Damla
D
Erginturk Acar
Ugur
U
Acar
Zuhal Ozen
ZO
Tunay
Ozdemir
O
Ozdemir
D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular