Efficacy of cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity.

This is a retrospective study of the benefit of transconjunctival cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in 43 eyes of 22 infants (birth weight 716-1675 g) from July 1985 to January 1988. Nine eyes were treated at ROP stage 4A (early), 14 eyes at stage 3 plus disease, and 20 eyes at stage 3. Cryotherapy was applied to the retinal avascular zone. In 13 eyes the ridge of extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation was also treated. Two eyes with peripheral exudative retinal detachment in two quadrants had additional treatment of the area of elevated retina. Reexamination was performed at the age of 26 to 52 months (average 38 months). Regression of the ROP was found in all eyes. Seven eyes showed a lateral traction of the temporal vascular arcades, six of these eyes had a slight macular ectopia. None of the eyes progressed to stage 4B or 5. Visual acuity was 6/60 or better. Twelve children (60%) achieved 6/18 or better and 5 (25%) 6/9 or more. Our data indicate that cryotherapy for ROP grade 3 and early stage 4A prevents the progression to advanced stages. The results also imply a functional benefit of cryotreatment in infants with progressive severe ROP.     

Diode laser photocoagulation to the vascular retina for progressively advancing retinopathy of prematurity.

AIMS--To estimate the effectiveness of diode laser photocoagulation of the retina posterior to the ridge in eyes with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS--Diode laser photocoagulation was applied posterior to the fibrovascular ridge in stage 4a ROP in six eyes of four infants and in advancing stage 3+ in two eyes of one infant. Seven eyes had previously been unsuccessfully treated with diode laser photocoagulation anterior to the ridge. RESULTS--Six eyes of four children had total regression, two eyes of two children had flat maculae with residual peripheral tractional detachment and maintained vision. CONCLUSION--These preliminary results indicate that diode laser photocoagulation posterior to the ridge may be a useful treatment in late stage 3 and stage 4A ROP following failed laser treatment to the avascular retina in threshold stage 3 disease.     

Cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity--a prospective study.

Cryotherapy has been shown to reduce the unfavourable outcome in retinopathy of prematurity with stage 3 threshold disease by 50%. In a prospective study cryotherapy had a favourable outcome in 13 of 24 eyes with stage 3 threshold disease. The visual outcome, refraction, and complications of cryotherapy are discussed.     

Laser photocoagulation for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity

Twenty-two infants with "threshold" stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were entered into a prospective, randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy of transscleral cryotherapy versus laser photocoagulation delivered by the indirect ophthalmoscope. Eighteen infants have been followed for at least 3 months. Fifteen of 16 eyes randomized to laser and 9 of 12 eyes randomized to cryotherapy showed regression. The results suggest that laser therapy is as effective as cryotherapy in the treatment of ROP (P = 0.285).     

A comparison of cryotherapy versus diode laser retinopexy in 100 consecutive infants treated for threshold retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to present a series of patients who were treated for threshold retinopathy of prematurity with either cryotherapy or diode laser. Complications and unfavorable outcomes during the first year after treatment will be compared for the two procedures. METHODS: The clinical courses of a consecutive series of 100 infants (192 eyes) were reviewed. All infants had their threshold status confirmed by a second examiner. Infants were treated with cryotherapy through 1993 and with diode laser thereafter. One hundred two eyes of 54 patients were treated with cryotherapy. Ninety eyes of 46 patients were treated with laser retinopexy. Two of the patients who were treated with laser (4 eyes) did not survive to the 3-month follow-up visit, and their results are not included here. The two groups of infants were comparable in their birth weight, adjusted gestational age at treatment, and severity of disease as determined by zone and sectors of stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity. RESULTS: Unfavorable outcome (total retinal detachment) was seen in 25.4% of eyes treated with cryotherapy (26 of 102), as compared with 15% of eyes treated with laser (13 of 86). Two cataracts were seen in our patients: one patient 22 weeks after cryotherapy, and the other 7 months after diode laser. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was found in the rate of retinal detachments in the two groups (X2 = 3.05; P = .08).     

Managing of retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary center

INTRODUCTION: Retinopathy of prematurity is a complication of prematurity whose risk factors are well known. Its prognosis remains fearsome and its treatment is difficult. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four children were managed (108 eyes analyzed) for retinopathy of prematurity in the Ophthalmology Ward of Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital between 1996 and 2002. A retrospective review of those cases was performed to describe their clinical features, their treatment and their outcome. RESULTS: Mean gestational age was 26.75 weeks after the mother's last period (24-32.5 weeks) and mean birth weight was 842 g (530-2260 g). Stage zero occurred in ten eyes, stage 1 in two eyes, stage 2 in seven eyes, stage 3 in 42 eyes, stage 4 in ten eyes, stage 5 in 24 eyes, and after-effects stage in 13 eyes. Initial treatment (combined treatments possible) was abstention in 45 eyes, cryotherapy in 16 eyes, laser photocoagulation in 43 eyes, surgical treatment of 13 eyes (scleral buckling or vitrectomy). Cryotherapy was effective in 71.5% of cases, photocoagulation was effective in 77%, and scleral buckling was effective in 25%. Vitrectomy failed in the five eyes treated. Outcome was complicated by legal blindness in 33 eyes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The cases of retinopathy of prematurity that we manage are often severe, stage 3 or above, which explains the outcome of the patients. The 7-year experience reported herein shows how difficult it is to manage this condition, though the need for its detection, diagnosis criteria, and therapeutical indications are well known. Because younger and smaller premature newborns are successfully managed by pediatricians, retinopathy of prematurity is far from having vanished and its morbidity is considerable.     

Diode laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity: structural and functional outcome.

AIMS--The anatomical and functional outcome of 13 babies with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with binocular indirect ophthalmoscope diode laser photocoagulation was assessed. METHODS--Thirteen babies (25 eyes) at median postmenstrual age (PMA) 25.5 weeks and median birth weight 725 g were treated with binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO) diode laser photocoagulation when threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was detected at median PMA 35 weeks. Retinopathy was more severe in the nasal retina in 15 eyes. The median severity of retinopathy was 6 clock hours grade 3 disease. All babies were treated under general anaesthetic with no significant ocular or systemic complications during treatment. The median number of burns was 1200. RESULTS--Resolution of active retinopathy occurred 1-2 weeks following treatment in all but one baby. All eyes had favourable anatomical and functional outcome as defined by the Cryo-ROP study group at a median age of 19.5 months of follow up. CONCLUSION--BIO diode laser treatment is as effective as cryotherapy with less morbidity.     

Prospective randomized evaluation of diode-laser and cryotherapy in prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE: To study the efficacy of indirect diode laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy in prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: Thirty-six eyes of 18 premature infants less than 34 weeks gestational age and/or less than 1600 g birth weight with prethreshold ROP were prospectively randomized to treatment with either indirect laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy. Prethreshold ROP was defined as any stage of ROP in zone I with plus disease; or stage 3 with three or more contiguous clock hours or five or more total clock hours of involvement of retina in zone II with plus disease but less than threshold disease. Regression of the ROP was assessed for a minimum period of 6 months. RESULTS: Regression of ROP occurred in all 36 eyes (100%) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Excellent results are achieved if ROP is treated at the prethreshold stage with both indirect laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy. Although laser has definite advantages, cryotherapy can be considered as an alternative modality of treatment in developing countries due to economic reasons.     

Diode laser for retinopathy of prematurity--early outcome.

Diode laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity was successful in 81% of 21 eyes with 'threshold' (zone 2, stage 3+) disease. This compares favourably with cryotherapy and argon laser photocoagulation. The retinal outcome and technique are discussed.     

Cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity to prevent retrolental fibroplasia

This report analyses the results of cryotherapy in 22 eyes with severe retinopathy of prematurity (acute retrolental fibroplasia) and compares the results with data from other sources on untreated eyes. The evolution of the indications for and methods of treatment, the results of treatment, and related features are discussed. The need for a common terminology and classification of the disease is emphasized.     

Diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity: a histopathologic study

Laser photocoagulation has largely supplanted cryotherapy as an effective treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. This case describes the ocular histopathologic findings of a pair of eyes in a severely premature male infant treated with diode laser photocoagulation for bilateral stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) for 360 degrees in zone 1 with severe plus disease. The right eye responded to treatment; the left eye developed persistent vitreous hemorrhage and total retinal detachment. The histopathologic examination of laser burns in the right eye disclosed segmental areas of chorioretinal scarring with retinal atrophy and gliosis, loss of RPE and extensive atrophy of the choroid and its vasculature, which involved both the choriocapillaris and larger vessels. The left eye had iris neovascularization, a chronic organized vitreous hemorrhage and a totally detached retina. The histopathologic findings in an eye of a premature infant with threshold ROP treated with diode laser photocoagulation resembled those reported after transsceral cryotherapy. Diode laser photocoagulation may produce less severe chorioretinal damage.     

Progression and timing of treatment of zone I retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE: To clarify the progression of zone I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and elucidate the most suitable time and method of treatment. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Forty-six eyes of 23 zone I ROP infants were studied at a single institution. Birth weight ranged from 448 to 954 g, and gestational age ranged from 22 to 26 weeks. Fundus examination was started at 29 or 30 weeks postmenstrual age and was performed once or more per week. The first treatment was performed using laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy when zone I ROP progressed to the following criteria. Treatment criteria A included 35 eyes of 18 cases of zone I any stage ROP with plus disease (Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity [ETROP] type 1), criteria B included five eyes of three cases of zone I stage 3 ROP with or without plus disease (ETROP type 1), criteria C included six eyes of four cases of stage 1 or stage 2 ROP without plus disease; the demarcation lines belonged, in large part, within the zone I area. RESULTS: Hazy media such as corneal opacity, miotic pupil, tunica vasculosa lentis, and hazy vitreous persisted until approximately 32 weeks postmenstrual age. The mean period between stage 1 and stage 3 mild was one week, that between stage 1 and stage 3 moderate was 1.7 weeks, and that between stage 1 and stage 3 severe was 1.3 weeks. The period between stage 1 and the first treatment was zero to 20 days, and 60.9% of all the cases were treated within 10 days after stage 1. Six of 46 eyes had unfavorable outcomes. Surgical results of our treatment were comparable or better than those of other reports. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate treatment was required when zone I ROP was diagnosed behind persistent hazy media.     

Effect of partial cryoablation on retinopathy of prematurity.

Cryotherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for retinopathy of prematurity stage 3. It is said to reduce the unfavourable outcome of the disease by 50%. The accepted method of therapy includes ablation of the whole avascular retina from the ridge to the ora serrata. This is achieved by two to three rows of cryoapplications. When 360 degrees cryo treatment is performed, it requires 52 cryo applications. We present our method of cryotherapy which involves only one row of cryoapplications in the avascular retina anterior to the fibrovascular ridge. An average of 25-30 cryoapplications was required for a 360 degrees treatment. The anatomical results in 23 babies are presented. Complete regression of active retinopathy was found in all.     

Trends in the management of stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: The clinical outcome of 66 consecutive infants with stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is reported. METHODS: Thirty four infants (64 eyes) were treated with cryotherapy and 32 infants (59 eyes) underwent laser photocoagulation. RESULTS: Infants with anterior-mid zone II ROP had a high rate of disease regression whether treated by cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation. Infants with posterior zone II or zone I ROP had a 40% success rate with cryotherapy, and 87.5% when treated with laser photocoagulation. CONCLUSION: Evolving experience and changing management policies in infants with posterior ROP has led to improved results.     

Late visual field changes following cryotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity stage 3.

AIMS--The correlation between cryoscars and visual field defects following cryoablation was studied. METHODS--A Humphrey 120 full field screening test was performed in 10 children (15 eyes) who were treated by cryotherapy between 10 and 14 years previously for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 3. RESULTS--In eight eyes treated by cryoablation through 360 degrees in zone I or II, a moderate circumferential peripheral visual field constriction was found. In seven other eyes, cryotreated up to 180 degrees only in the temporal retina (zone III), a nasal field constriction was noted. There was no evidence of late development of retinal tears or retinal detachment. The correlation between the primary cryoapplications, late chorioretinal cryoscars, and the visual field changes was evaluated. CONCLUSION--Late chorioretinal scars following cryotherapy for ROP stage 3 are associated with visual field defects, but as these defects are at the periphery of the visual field they do not cause any subjective derangements 10-14 years after treatment.     

Diode laser photocoagulation to the ridge and avascular retina in threshold retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE: To report results applying diode laser photocoagulation to both the peripheral avascular retina and the ridge in stage 3+ threshold retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective review of 82 consecutive eyes in 43 preterm infants with threshold disease who had both the peripheral avascular retina and the ridge treated with diode laser photocoagulation. With a minimum follow-up of 3 months, these eyes were evaluated for intraoperative and postoperative complications and long-term anatomic results. RESULTS: A favorable anatomic outcome occurred in 79 eyes (96%). There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative intraocular hemorrhage occurred in eight eyes (10%) and resolved without sequelae. Supplemental laser was required in only two eyes (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser photocoagulation to the ridge and peripheral avascular retina in threshold retinopathy of prematurity is associated with a favorable anatomic outcome. The risk of postoperative intraocular hemorrhage and the need for supplemental laser photocoagulation is low.     

The prognostic significance of shape of demarcation line and ridge in clinical course of active phase of retinopathy of prematurity

PURPOSE: We planed out a comparison of clinic significance between eyes with acute ROP with "bays" and ROP without "bays". Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a main reason of blindness in premature babies. There are no studies about shape of demarcation line and ridge in acute retinopathy of prematurity and its influence for clinical significance of ROP. In 11.42% of eyes with acute ROP we observed irregularities of demarcation line and ridge, which we called "bays". MATERIAL AND METHODS: We observed 140 premature babies (280 eyes) with acute ROP. In 32 eyes (11.42%) we stated "bays". We compared progression to stage ROP3c between group I (eyes with acute ROP and "bays") and group II (eyes with ROP without "bays). RESULTS: In 87.5% eyes with "bays" we observed progression to stage 3 c retinopathy of prematurity. In group without "bays" progression to stage 3c was observed only in 33.47%. CONCLUSIONS: We suppose, that presence of "bays" of demarcation line and ridge brings about worse prognosis at the course of acute retinopathy of prematurity.     

Management of retinopathy of prematurity

Seventeen patients with symmetrical stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and plus disease as described in the International Classification of ROP had one eye randomized to cryotherapy and the other to control. Seventy-seven percent of the patients were under 1000 grams at birth and females outnumbered males by a 2 to 1 ratio. The average chronologic age at which cryotherapy was performed was three months. Twelve of seventeen treated eyes (71%) showed resolution of the ROP and 10 of 17 untreated eyes (59%) became significantly worse. However, only five patients had improvement in the treated eye and progression in the untreated eye, a number too small to provide statistical significance. Six eyes with Stage IV ROP were operated by encircling scleral buckling techniques because of total retinal detachment secondary to peripheral traction and cicatrization arising from the ridge. In five patients the unoperated eye had already developed a retrolental membrane, and in one patient bilateral detachments were present. Five of the six operated retinas were reattached.     

Retinopathy of prematurity in infants less than 29 weeks' gestation at birth

From January 1986 to December 1991 we examined the eyes of 206 infants born at Westmead Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit who were less than 29 weeks' gestation at birth to determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity. Eighty-five infants (41.3%) had no retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in either eye, 82 infants had stages 1 or 2 ROP (39.8%), 29 had stage 3 ROP (14.1%) and 11 had stage 4 ROP (5.3%). Of these, cryotherapy was performed in 18; six now have bilateral retinal detachment and are blind The more severe stages of ROP were significantly associated with an increase in the number of days of oxygen supplementation, an increase in the number of days of mechanical ventilation and the presence of patent ductus arteriosus. Infants receiving steroids for mechanical ventilator dependence had a significantly greater chance of requiring cryotherapy (11 or 22 receiving steroids versus seven of 43 without steroids; P < 0.01).     

Treated threshold stage 3 versus spontaneously regressed subthreshold stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity: a study of motility, refractive, and anatomical outcomes at 6 months and 36 months

AIM: To compare the visual acuity (VA), spherical equivalent refractive error, motility, and anatomical outcomes in children with treated regressed threshold stage 3 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and those with spontaneously regressed subthreshold stage 3 ROP. METHOD: 6 month and 3 year data collected from infants examined between 1989 and 1999 with regressed stage 3 ROP, with or without treatment were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: 85 infants were included in this study. 40 eyes received cryotherapy, 81 eyes laser photocoagulation, and 34 eyes had spontaneously regressed subthreshold stage 3 ROP. Grating acuity score > or =2 cycles/degree (c/d) at 6 months was predictive of optotype acuity > or =6/9 in 69% of eyes and a score <2 c/d at 6 months was predictive of acuity < 6/9 in 88% of eyes. Eyes with subthreshold stage 3 ROP were twice as likely to have VA of 6/9 or better at 36 months than the treated eyes. The mean spherical equivalent refractive error at 36 months was -6.5 dioptres (D) (-21.5D to +1.38D) in cryotherapy treated eyes, -2.4D (-13D to +4D) in the laser group, and -0.22D (-9D to +2.25D) in the subthreshold group. Eyes within the treated groups were more myopic than the eyes within the spontaneously regressed group (p = 0.005). At 36 months, 42 out of the 85 infants (that is, 49%) had strabismus (44% in the cryotherapy group, 26% in the laser group, and 25% in the subthreshold group). There was a statistically significant association between the presence of strabismus and anisometropia (p = 0.016) and strabismus and intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (p = 0.005). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of strabismus between mild and moderate and severe grade IVH (p = 0.01). Eight out of 40 eyes in the cryotherapy group and six out of the 81 eyes in the laser group developed macular ectopia. None of the eyes in the spontaneously regressed group had macular dragging. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the grating acuity at 6 months was a good predictor of the 3 year optotype acuity in all groups. Eyes with spontaneously regressed subthreshold stage 3 ROP were associated with better vision at 3 years of age and a lesser degree of myopia compared to the treated groups. Strabismus developed predominantly in the treated groups and was frequently associated with neurological damage and/or anisometropia. The spontaneously regressed subthreshold stage 3 group had a better anatomical outcome compared to the groups in which the retinopathy regressed following treatment.