Related Experiment Videos
Diode laser treatment of posterior retinopathy of prematurity
R Axer-Siegel1, M Snir, D Cotlear
1Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel. seegs@netvision@net.il
Insights
Infrared diode laser treatment for posterior retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants showed favorable anatomical outcomes in most cases. This laser therapy proved to be a safe and effective option for managing posterior ROP.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Posterior ROP, particularly in zone I and posterior zone II, presents a treatment challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of infrared diode laser treatment for posterior retinopathy of prematurity.
- To assess anatomical outcomes following diode laser photocoagulation in premature infants with ROP.
Main Methods:
- Infrared (810 nm) diode laser photocoagulation was applied to the avascular retina in 48 eyes of 25 premature infants with threshold ROP.
- Confluent laser burns were administered, with an additional row placed posterior to the ridge in 18 eyes.
Main Results:
- Favorable anatomical results were achieved in 85.4% (41 out of 48) of the treated eyes.
- Advanced stages of ROP (stage 5, 4A, 4B) occurred in a small percentage of eyes, with some successfully managed surgically.
- No immediate complications were reported during or after the diode laser treatment.
Conclusions:
- The infrared diode laser is a safe and effective treatment modality for posterior retinopathy of prematurity.
- Diode laser photocoagulation offers a promising therapeutic option for ROP in premature infants, achieving good anatomical success rates.
Aims:
To study the efficacy of infrared diode laser for the treatment of posterior retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods:
48 eyes of 25 premature babies (mean birth weight 779 (SD 127.7) g; mean gestational age 25.5 (SD 1.47) weeks) with threshold ROP in zone I and posterior zone II were treated by the indirect infrared (810 nm) diode laser. Confluent burns were applied to the avascular retina. In 18 eyes, an additional row of laser burns was added posterior to the ridge.
Results:
Favourable anatomical results were noted in 41 eyes (85.4%). ROP stage 5 developed in two eyes, ROP stage 4A developed in four eyes, and ROP stage 4B in one eye. Three of the eyes with stage 4A eyes were successfully buckled; the fourth was not operated on and remained demarcated by laser scars. No complications were noted.
Conclusion:
In this series, the diode laser was found to be a safe and effective treatment for posterior ROP.