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Sequelae of arrested mild retinopathy of prematurity
Insights
Infants with resolved retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) showed few long-term vision issues compared to peers without ROP. Mild anisometropia was more common in the resolved ROP group, but overall outcomes were similar at one year.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant concern in premature infants.
- Understanding the long-term visual outcomes of resolved ROP is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare visual outcomes in infants with resolved low-grade ROP versus those who never developed ROP.
- To identify any residual effects of treated ROP at one year of age.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective comparison of two groups of infants: 26 with resolved low-grade ROP and 38 premature infants without ROP.
- Ophthalmological examinations at one year of physiologic age, assessing refractive errors, strabismus, and amblyopia.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in refractive errors, strabismus, or amblyopia between the groups.
- A higher incidence and severity of mild to moderate anisometropia were noted in the resolved ROP group.
- Infants with complete ROP resolution showed minimal residual effects.
Conclusions:
- Total resolution of low-grade ROP in infancy generally leads to favorable visual outcomes at one year.
- Mild anisometropia may be a residual finding in some infants following ROP resolution.
- Absence of cicatricial changes at one year suggests a very good prognosis for resolved ROP.
Abstract:
Twenty-six infants with totally resolved low-grade retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were compared with a similar group of 38 premature infants in whom no retinopathy had ever developed in the nursery. At the examination performed at a physiologic age of 1 year, the two groups were almost indistinguishable with respect to their refractive errors, strabismus, and amblyopia. The incidence and severity of mild to moderate anisometropia was increased in the resolved ROP group. It appears that there is a group of infants in whom absolute resolution occurs, with few residua of active ROP. This is especially true when there are no anatomical retinal findings consistent with low-grade cicatricial retrolental fibroplasia at 1 year of age.