Low-dose ranibizumab as primary treatment of posterior type I retinopathy of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the visual and structural outcomes of eyes that received ranibizumab as treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

This was a retrospective case series of infants who received a 0.2 mg (0.02 mL) intravitreal injection of ranibizumab as the primary treatment for type 1 ROP. Outcome measures included regression or recurrence of ROP, complications of treatment, and assessment of visual acuity and refractive error.

RESULTS

Forty-two eyes of 21 infants (13 male) were included. Mean gestational age and birth weight were 24.6 ± 1.3 weeks and 613 ± 91 g, respectively. Mean age at injection was 37.4 ± 2.2 weeks postmenstrual age, and mean follow-up period was 10.1 ± 7 months. Active neovascularization regressed rapidly, and anatomical outcomes were favourable in all eyes. Twelve eyes of 6 infants received supplemental laser photocoagulation at a mean post-menstrual age (PMA) of 72.0 ± 27.3 weeks when vascularization had not advanced beyond zone II. Visual acuity was measurable in 28 of 42 eyes. Mean visual acuity was 0.94 ± 0.36 logMAR. Mean spherical equivalent was +1.00. There were no ocular or systemic complications in these patients and no cicatricial complications were observed with no progression to stage 4 or 5 disease.

CONCLUSIONS

A single intravitreal dose of 0.2 mg (0.02 mL) ranibizumab showed favourable anatomical and functional outcomes in eyes with type 1 ROP.