Outcome of eyes developing retinal detachment during the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity study

Michael X Repka1, Betty Tung, William V Good

  • 1Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287-9028, USA. mrepka@jhmi.edu

Insights

Retinal detachment (RD) in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can be treated with surgery or observation. Macular attachment was achieved in about one-third of eyes, with some cases showing favorable visual acuity, particularly in stage 4A ROP.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Retinal Surgery

Background:

  • Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness.
  • Retinal detachment (RD) is a severe complication of ROP.
  • The Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) study investigated treatments for ROP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term structural and visual outcomes of RD in infants with ROP.
  • To assess outcomes at age 6 years following treatment for RD in the ETROP cohort.
  • To analyze the efficacy of different treatment modalities for ROP-related RD.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized study of infants with high-risk prethreshold ROP.
  • Infants who developed RD by 6 months corrected age were treated with observation or vitreoretinal surgery.
  • Structural and visual outcomes were assessed at age 6 years.

Main Results:

  • Of 401 patients, 63 (89 eyes) developed RD. Follow-up at age 6 years was available for 70 eyes.
  • Macular attachment was achieved in 34% of eyes after vitrectomy with or without scleral buckle, 67% after scleral buckle only, and 18% with observation.
  • Favorable visual acuity (>20/200) was achieved in 9% of eyes, with 5 cases of stage 4A RD.

Conclusions:

  • Macular attachment can be achieved in approximately one-third of eyes with ROP-related RD.
  • Favorable visual acuity is possible in some eyes, particularly those with stage 4A RD.
  • Long-term structural and visual outcomes vary based on RD stage and treatment modality.
Abstract