[Trans-scleral diode laser coagulation for therapy of acute retinopathia praematurorum]

Lens opacities were noted in single cases after transpupillar laser photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using the laser indirect ophthalmoscope. The diode laser with its wavelength in the near infrared (810 nm) makes lens sparing transscleral retinal coagulation possible.

In a controlled clinical study 60 eyes of 30 very low birth weight infants (gestational age 23-31 weeks, mean 26.6 +/- 1.8 weeks; birth weight 510-1200 g, 856 +/- 170 g) with threshold ROP were treated with diode laser photocoagulation. One eye of each infant was coagulated transsclerally while the fellow eye had transpapillary coagulation using the laser indirect ophthalmoscope. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 38 months (19 +/- 11 months).

In 29 (97%) out of 30 eyes treated transsclerally and in 30 (100%) out of 30 eyes treated transpapillary the outcome was a flat, attached retina. Three eyes had a second laser treatment and 2 eyes had additional retinal detachment surgery. One eye (3%) with zone I disease failed after transscleral laser treatment and additional retinal detachment surgery with partially detached retina (stage 4 B) No adverse side effects as a result of laser treatment were noted except for a small amount of retinal/preretinal bleeding in the ridge and a vitreous bleeding. There were no adverse side effects (e.g., bleeding, cataract formation) in the anterior segments of the eyes.

Transscleral diode laser coagulation for treatment of threshold ROP proved to be as effective as transpapillary diode laser photocoagulation. Only minor side effects were noticed. Transscleral diode laser photocoagulation is an advantageous treatment method in eyes with preexisting risk of cataract formation in transpapillary laser treatment.