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[Course of retinopathy in premature infants treated by cryopexy]
Insights
Cryopexy offers a valuable treatment for advanced retinopathy of prematurity in infants. Prompt application to the avascular retina, potentially with scleral indentation, shows a favorable outcome with minimal risk.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatal Medicine
Context:
- Advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) poses a significant risk to infant vision.
- Intravitreous new vessels are a hallmark of advanced ROP.
- Previous treatment options carried substantial risks.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryopexy for advanced retinopathy of prematurity.
- To determine the optimal application of cryopexy in relation to the avascular zone and vitreous traction.
Summary:
- Cryopexy was applied to 180-360 degrees of the avascular retina in 14 eyes of 7 premature infants with advanced ROP.
- All eyes presented with intravitreous new vessels prior to treatment.
- One eye received supplementary scleral indentation; only one eye experienced an unfavorable outcome (retrolental fibroplasia and vision loss).
Impact:
- Cryopexy, when promptly applied to the avascular zone and supplemented with scleral indentation for vitreous traction, is a valuable treatment for advanced ROP.
- This approach presents fewer risks compared to the natural progression of the disease.
- Cryopexy demonstrates potential for preserving visual acuity in high-risk infants.
Abstract:
Beneficial effect of cryopexy on 180 degrees to 360 degrees of avascular retina was demonstrated in 7 prematurely born infants (14 eyes) affected with advanced retinopathy of prematurity. Intravitreous new vessels were present in all eyes before treatment. The treatment of one eye was supplemented with scleral indentation. Only one of the treated eyes went on unfavourably with retrolental fibroplasia and consecutive loss of visual acuity. We believe that cryopexy, when administered promptly, when limited to the avascular zone, and when supplemented with scleral indentation in cases with important vitreous traction, is a valuable treatment with fewer risks than unchecked evolution for advanced cases of retinopathy of prematurity.