Two-year results of laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity at a single neonatal intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: To present the 2-year results of all patients receiving laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at a single institution over a 9.5-year period. To establish the frequency of threshold ROP.

METHODS

Consecutive case series. All patients who had laser treatment for ROP at The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, between January 1992 and July 2001 were prospectively recorded in a database. Their medical charts were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline birthweight, gestational age at birth, timing of treatment, and ROP severity at treatment were recorded. The main outcome measures were visual acuity (significantly reduced or not), anatomic outcome and refractive error at 2 years of age (corrected for the degree of prematurity).

RESULTS

A total of 107 eyes of 57 babies were treated with laser photocoagulation. Four children did not survive for follow-up, and 2-year follow-up data were available for 38 children (67%, 71 treated eyes). Average duration of follow-up was 26 months. Two-year visual acuity was significantly reduced in 12/71 (17%) treated eyes, and 3/38 children (8%) had significantly reduced vision in both eyes. An anatomical outcome of macular fold or worse was observed in 8/71 eyes (11%). Mean 2-year spherical equivalent refractive outcome was only minimally myopic (-0.6 D).

CONCLUSION

Visual, anatomic and refractive outcomes after laser treatment for ROP were favourable, confirming that laser photocoagulation is an effective treatment for severe ROP.