[Refractive errors after laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity]

ABSTRACT

Retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] adversely affects normal ocular vascularization in premature infants. It can be mild with no visual consequences, or may become aggressive with new vessel formation and even progress to retinal detachment and blindness. Modern treatment can prevent blindness due to neovascularization but uncorrected refractive errors may lead to amblyopia. In this retrospective case series, we evaluated data of 796 premature infants [gestational age 25 to 34 weeks and birth weight 600 to 1800 grams] who were at risk of ROP. Patients with progressive ROP underwent laser therapy and were followed for at least one year to detect any degree of refractive errors. ROP was observed in 134 infants [16.8%], of whom 70 patients [52.6%] cured spontaneously while 56 patients [111 eyes, 41.4%] with progressive disease underwent laser therapy. Overall 47 patients [92 eyes] were followed for at least one year. Out of 92 eyes, 45 eyes [49.4%] developed myopia, 33 eyes [36.2%] had mild hyperopia, 10 eyes [10.8%] showed higher degrees of hyperopia, and 3 eyes were emmetropic. An important challenge in ROP after laser therapy is some follow up to prevent amblyopia due to refractive errors especially myopia