Effect of early vitreous surgery for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity detected by fundus fluorescein angiography.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of early vitrectomy for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) using fundus fluorescein angiography.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven eyes of 7 patients with APROP that underwent early vitreous surgery.

METHODS

All eyes underwent vitrectomy with lensectomy that removed the vitreous gel around the fibrovascular proliferative tissue, but not the proliferative tissue when fibrovascular proliferation and retinal detachment occurred despite retinal photocoagulation. Fundus fluorescein angiography was performed before and after the early vitreous surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dye leakage from the fibrovascular tissue, dilation and tortuosity of the retinal vasculature, and shunt vessels were evaluated by fundus fluorescein angiography. The status of the retinal reattachment was assessed postoperatively.

RESULTS

Nine eyes had severe dye leakage from the fibrovascular tissue and 2 eyes had moderate leakage seen by preoperative fluorescein angiography. Severe dilation and tortuosity of the retinal vessels were detected in 10 eyes and shunt vessels in 7 eyes. Six to 12 days after successful surgery, the retina reattached and dilation and tortuosity of the retinal vessels decreased substantially. Dye leakage diminished markedly in all eyes, resolved completely in 7 eyes, and was still apparent slightly in 4. At the final examination, fibrovascular proliferation and retinal detachment did not progress in any eyes; however, 2 eyes had a dragged or folded retina. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 19 months (mean, 9.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Early vitrectomy that removes vitreous gel from around the proliferative tissue promptly reduces vascular activity and may limit progression of retinal detachment in APROP.