Diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity

Recent studies have suggested that laser photocoagulation may be a favorable alternative to cryotherapy in the treatment of progressive extraretinal neovascularization in retinopathy of prematurity. Preliminary results of 10 eyes from 5 patients with so called "threshold" retinopathy of prematurity treated with indirect diode laser are reported. All 5 patients were less than 30 weeks gestational age. Laser therapy was performed on the avascular retina in both eyes. Nine eyes had one session of treatment with regression of neovascularization within 6 weeks. All eyes had good anatomical results in the posterior pole at the end of follow-up. One eye had 2 treatment sessions; neovascularization regressed after the second treatment. Mild disc dragging was noted. This report recommends the use of diode laser photocoagulation in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.