Postnatal retinal vascularization in former preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To study the postnatally vascularized retina in former preterm infants in whom retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stages 2 to 4a developed and spontaneously regressed.

METHODS

Matched fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms of the temporal peripheral retinas of 133 eyes (72 patients) were obtained after 2 years of age (mean, 7.7 years; range, 2-16.2 years) and were quantified by two masked observers with respect to the following parameters: (1) macular ectopia (in disc diameters); (2) vessel traction (in 30 degrees sectors); (3) radial length of postnatally vascularized retina (in disc diameters); and (4) capillary scaffolding of postnatally vascularized retina (as a density). These cicatricial outcomes were then compared with their active worst ROP stage.

RESULTS

Of the 133 retinal montages, the following active worst ROP stages had been documented: 30 with stage 2, 42 with stage 3 mild, 32 with stage 3 moderate, 20 with stage 3 severe, and 9 with stage 4a. As active worst ROP stage increased, macular ectopia and vessel traction increased, and radial length and capillary scaffolding of postnatal retinal vascularization decreased. Retinal holes were documented frequently in eyes with high myopia.

CONCLUSIONS

The peripheral retina in former preterm infants warrants close scrutiny for possible late rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Prolonged retinal traction (by remnant shunt and extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation) between stable, posterior, prenatally vascularized retina, and unstable, postnatally vascularized retina may lead to the development of retinal holes characteristically located in the fragile, anterior, undifferentiated, nonvascularized retina.