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Visual outcomes after laser photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy of prematurity
B P Connolly1, J A McNamara, C D Regillo
1Wills Eye Hospital, Retina Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. drbpconn@yahoo.com
Objective:
To determine the long-term visual acuity after diode laser photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy of prematurity.
Design:
Retrospective, noncomparative case series.
Intervention:
Photocoagulation of the peripheral avascular retina with a diode laser indirect ophthalmoscope.
Main Outcome Measures:
The principal outcome evaluated was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The most recent refractions for these eyes were also collected for analysis.
Participants:
Thirty-five infants with threshold retinopathy of prematurity treated with laser photocoagulation from 1991 to 1996.
Results:
After bilateral laser treatment, 14 (56%) of 25 patients who were capable of accurate visual acuity testing had 20/50 or better BCVA in at least 1 eye with 11 (44%) of 25 patients having at least 20/50 BCVA in both eyes. After unilateral treatment, four (40%) of ten had 20/50 or better BCVA in the treated eye while five (50%) of ten laser-treated eyes had a BCVA at least equal to the untreated fellow eye. Compared to eyes with 4 or more diopters (D) of myopia, those with less than 4 D of myopia were 6.4 times more likely to achieve 20/50 or better BCVA (95% confidence interval, 1.7-22.7). The average age at follow-up was 3.7 years.
Conclusions:
After laser photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy of prematurity, 29 (48%) of 60 eyes had 20/50 or better visual acuity. Eyes with 4 or more D of myopia were significantly less likely to achieve 20/50 or better visual acuity than eyes with less than 4 D of myopia.
