Unoperated eyes with persistent fetal vasculature

To present a follow-up on children with persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) when surgery was not performed.

From January 1992 through June 2001, 31 infants (31 eyes) with PFV were evaluated to document the number of eyes operated on versus eyes not operated on to determine whether the latter group remained stationary or became worse.

Seventeen of the 31 eyes underwent surgery. Of the 14 eyes not undergoing surgery, 7 were judged to be inoperable. The remaining 7 eyes were not operated on because the fundus could be visualized through an undilated pupil. Follow-up on 5 of the 7 eyes ranged from 18 months to 9.5 years. None showed progression of the lens opacity or development of retinal detachment. The eyes were amblyopic but functional.

In this limited series of eyes with PFV where the plaque was not large enough to fill the pupil, the eyes followed up were amblyopic, but useful vision was retained and the lens opacity did not enlarge.