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Current and future trends in treatment of severe retinopathy of prematurity

David K Wallace1, Katherine Y Wu

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. david.wallace@duke.edu

Clinics in Perinatology
|May 31, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Laser therapy is a successful treatment for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Anti-VEGF drugs show promise but require further study for long-term safety and efficacy in ROP treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requires treatment for type 1 disease.
  • The Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) trial confirmed laser therapy's success for severe ROP.
  • Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are emerging as alternative or adjunctive treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current treatment standards for retinopathy of prematurity.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF agents compared to laser therapy.
  • To identify areas for future research in ROP management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data, focusing on the ETROP study.
  • Analysis of recent studies utilizing anti-VEGF drugs (e.g., bevacizumab) for ROP.
  • Assessment of reported visual and anatomic outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Laser treatment for severe ROP demonstrates high rates of visual and anatomic success.
  • Anti-VEGF drugs show promising initial results in ROP treatment.
  • Long-term outcomes and potential systemic side effects of anti-VEGFs are not yet established.

Conclusions:

  • While laser therapy is effective, anti-VEGF drugs offer a new therapeutic avenue for ROP.
  • Further research is essential to ascertain the long-term safety and efficacy of anti-VEGF treatments.
  • Determining the optimal anti-VEGF drug and dosage for ROP management is a critical next step.

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