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Vitreous changes after treatment of retinopathy of prematurity
T Hikichi1, G Nomiyama, H Ikeda
1Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Hokkaido, Japan.
Purpose:
To investigate the vitreous findings in patients with cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who underwent retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation during the acute phase of the disease.
Methods:
Vitreous findings were evaluated in 15 patients (29 eyes) with cicatricial ROP by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy.
Results:
The ocular examination revealed that all eyes had extensive vitreous liquefaction that affected a large segment of the vitreous. A great deal of fibrillar condensation of the vitreous was present in membrane-like vitreous fibers that traversed the vitreous cavity to the periphery of the degenerating retina. These vitreous changes were most marked in the areas in which retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation had been performed. Despite advanced liquefaction, the posterior cortical vitreous was not separated from the retina in any eyes.
Conclusion:
In eyes with ROP that underwent retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation during the acute phase of the disease, the vitreous was abnormal, which may contribute to vitreoretinal traction that eventually leads to retinal breaks and detachment.