Zone I retinopathy of prematurity

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neonatology
• Retinal Diseases

Background:

• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in premature infants.
• Zone I ROP, involving the posterior pole, is associated with a higher risk of severe outcomes.
• Plus disease, characterized by vascular abnormalities, indicates aggressive ROP requiring prompt management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical course and treatment outcomes of zone I retinopathy of prematurity with plus disease.
• To evaluate the efficacy of cryotherapy in managing aggressive ROP in the critical zone I of the retina.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 37 patients with retinopathy of prematurity.
• Identification of patients with zone I vascularization and plus disease.
• Comparison of outcomes between treated and untreated eyes.

Main Results:

• Two patients (5.4%) presented with zone I ROP and plus disease in three eyes.
• Two untreated eyes rapidly progressed to total retinal detachment and blindness.
• One eye treated with cryotherapy showed resolution of plus disease but resulted in blindness.

Conclusions:

• Zone I ROP with plus disease is a severe condition with a high risk of blindness.
• While cryotherapy may resolve plus disease, it does not always prevent blindness in zone I ROP.
• Aggressive management and further research are crucial for improving outcomes in these high-risk infants.