Diode laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: anatomical and refractive outcomes.
Laser-treated eyes had favorable anatomical outcomes in most cases.
Diode laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: anatomical and refractive outcomes.
To examine the anatomical and refractive outcomes of infrared diode laser photocoagulation (diode laser photocoagulation) for the treatment of threshold retinopathy of prematurity (retinopathy of prematurity).
The charts of all consecutive premature neonates with retinopathy of prematurity treated by diode laser photocoagulation at our tertiary center from December 1, 1996, to December 31, 2004, were reviewed.
The group included 100 neonates (194 eyes) with a mean birth weight +/- SD of 833.9 +/- 250.3 g and a mean gestational age +/- SD of 26 +/- 1.9 weeks.
Each eye received a mean +/- SD of 1,740 +/- 990 laser applications, and 21% of eyes received an additional 1 to 2 rows posterior to the ridge.
Neonates treated after December 2003 (cutoff date of the Early Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity study) underwent a significantly greater number of laser applications (mean +/- SD, 2,286 +/- 1,087) than did neonates treated earlier.
Refractive data were available for 134 eyes: 55.2% had myopia of -5 diopters (31.3%) or greater (23.9%).
Diode laser photocoagulation is a safe and effective treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. Neonates of lower gestational age and birth weight require earlier and more aggressive laser treatment and may have a higher refractive error.