Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of laser photocoagulation in eyes with threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), defined as stage 3+, zone 2, with 5 or more contiguous or 8 cumulative clock hours of extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation.
Methods: Indirect ophthalmoscopic retinal examinations were performed on 18 premature infants born between 1991 and 1993 to identify those eyes with threshold ROP. Diode laser was used to treat 31 eyes within 48 hours of diagnosis. Each patient was followed post treatment at weekly intervals until regression was starting to occur. Subsequent follow-up visits were tailored to each patient.
Results: During the 41 to 60 month follow-up (average 49 months, median 46 months), 27 of 31 lasered eyes (87%) demonstrated regression of the extraretinal neovascularization, and 26 (84%) had functional vision. This includes two Stage 4B eyes that were reattached with scleral buckles. Twenty-two eyes (71%) were myopic and four (13%) progressed to stage 5 retinal detachment that could not be repaired. No cataracts occurred in this group of patients.
Conclusions: Although a potentially blinding disorder, threshold ROP is, in many cases, treatable with laser photocoagulation, which may be easier to administer than cryotherapy. Follow-up of patients treated with diode laser demonstrates that functional vision is attainable.