Combined use of argon laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

The purpose of the paper is to describe results of combined use of argon laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy in the treatment of stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity in a non-controlled clinical series of 6 premature children with a birth weight of 545-1610 g (mean 914 g) and a gestational age of 24-31 weeks. Both treatment modalities were performed in the same session, and in 5 cases both eyes were treated. Inactivation of the proliferative process was obtained with one treatment session in 3 cases, with two treatment sessions in 3 cases. No serious late sequelae of retinopathy of prematurity developed in any of the eyes, one eye has an ectopic macula and esotropia, and one child has high myopia (-8.0 D) and exotropia. Laser treatment is less irritating and the scars are less pronounced compared with cryocoagulation, but in some cases treatment of the most anterior retina with laser is difficult. Combination of the two treatment modalities may in these cases give the best result.