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Cryotherapy and laser treatment for acute retinopathy of prematurity: refractive outcomes, a longitudinal study
Insights
Laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity in infants results in less myopia compared to cryotherapy. This finding is significant for infant visual development and performance.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Visual Science
Background:
- Infants with threshold retinopathy of prematurity face a higher risk of refractive errors.
- Clinical observations suggested laser treatment reduced myopia more than cryotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare refractive errors in infants treated with laser therapy versus cryotherapy for threshold retinopathy of prematurity.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study tracked refractive error at 3 and 12 months.
- 19 infants received cryotherapy, and 15 received laser treatment.
Main Results:
- At 3 months, median spherical equivalent refractive error was -3.25D (cryotherapy) vs. +0.25D (laser).
- At 12 months, median spherical equivalent refractive error was -5.25D (cryotherapy) vs. -0.50D (laser).
- Statistically significant differences in refractive error were observed between therapies at both time points (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Laser therapy is linked to reduced myopia in the first year of life.
- This reduction has clinical implications for infant visual performance and development.
Background:
Infants who require treatment for threshold retinopathy of prematurity are at increased risk of developing refractive errors. Following the introduction of laser treatment for threshold disease, the clinical impression was that the degree of myopia was reduced compared with cryotherapy.
Methods:
A longitudinal study was carried out of refractive error at 3 and 12 months in 19 patients undergoing cryotherapy and 15 patients undergoing laser treatment.
Results:
At 3 months the median spherical equivalent refractive error in the right eye was -3.25 dioptres after cryotherapy and +0.25 dioptres after laser therapy (similar results left eye). The median spherical equivalent refractive error in the right eye at 12 months was -5.25 dioptres following cryotherapy and -0.50 dioptres after laser (similar results left eye). There was a statistically significant difference in median spherical refractive error between the therapies at 3 months and 12 months (p < 0.05 Wilcoxon rank sum) in both eyes.
Conclusion:
Laser therapy is associated with lower degrees of myopia during the first year of life, which is clinically significant in terms of visual performance and development.
