Refractive errors after cryotherapy in retinopathy of prematurity

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neonatology
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
• Cryocoagulation has been a traditional treatment for ROP, but its long-term effects on refractive development are crucial to understand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the refractive outcomes in premature infants treated for acute retinopathy of prematurity using cryocoagulation.
• To assess the influence of cryocoagulation on refractive errors and anisometropia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective follow-up study of 14 premature infants (birth weight 900-1,630 g) treated with cryocoagulation between 1976 and 1984.
• Refractive power was determined for 20 eyes up to 2-7 years of age.
• Comparison of refractive errors between treated and untreated eyes in cases where only one eye received cryotherapy.

Main Results:

• The average refractive power was -1.5 +/- 4.1 diopters.
• 60.0% of eyes were hyperopic (+1.3 +/- 0.4 dptr), and 40.0% were myopic (-5.7 +/- 3.6 dptr).
• Eyes treated multiple times for severe ROP showed pronounced myopia (>7.0 dptr).
• Cryocoagulation in one eye did not significantly affect refractive errors compared to the untreated eye (average anisometropia +0.4 +/- 0.4 dptr).

Conclusions:

• Cryocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity is associated with a high incidence of refractive errors, particularly myopia in severe cases.
• While cryocoagulation itself may not cause significant anisometropia, the treatment can lead to substantial refractive deviations in the long term.