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Ocular growth pattern in cryotherapy- and laser-treated infants with prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity
Raj Vardhan Azad1, Pasumala Lakshminarayana, Harsh Kumar
1Vitreo-Retina Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Treatments for prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants, including cryotherapy and laser, arrested eye growth. These interventions did not affect scleral rigidity, ensuring eye structural integrity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Eye Care
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Early intervention for prethreshold ROP is crucial to prevent severe visual outcomes.
- The long-term ocular growth and structural integrity following treatment for prethreshold ROP require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ocular growth patterns in infants treated for prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using cryotherapy or laser.
- To assess the impact of these treatments on scleral rigidity.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving four groups of infants: no ROP, spontaneously regressed ROP, cryotherapy-treated prethreshold ROP, and diode laser-treated prethreshold ROP.
- Measurements included axial length, anterior chamber depth, and scleral rigidity at 36, 40, and 52 weeks postconceptional age.
Main Results:
- Eyes treated with cryotherapy or laser for prethreshold ROP showed significantly shorter axial lengths and shallower anterior chamber depths compared to controls.
- Scleral rigidity remained unaltered in all ROP groups, including those treated with cryotherapy or laser.
Conclusions:
- Ocular growth is arrested in eyes with prethreshold ROP, even after cryotherapy or laser treatment.
- Cryotherapy and laser treatments for prethreshold ROP do not compromise the structural integrity of the sclera.
Purpose:
To study the ocular growth pattern in cryotherapy- and laser-treated prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its effect on scleral rigidity.
Methods:
In a prospective study, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and scleral rigidity were assessed in 12 eyes with no ROP, 12 eyes with spontaneously regressed ROP, 12 eyes with cryotherapy-treated prethreshold ROP, and 14 eyes with diode laser-treated prethreshold ROP at 36 weeks, 40 weeks, and 52 weeks postconceptional age.
Results:
Cryotherapy- and laser-treated ROP eyes at prethreshold stage exhibited shorter axial lengths and shallower anterior chamber depth compared to eyes with no ROP or spontaneously regressed ROP. Scleral rigidity was not altered in ROP eyes including those that underwent cryotherapy or laser treatment.
Conclusions:
Growth of eyes with ROP is arrested including those treated with cryotherapy or laser at prethreshold stage. Cryotherapy or laser treatment has no weakening effect on the scleral coat.
