Anatomical and Refractive Results of Diode Laser Photocoagulation in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Introduction & Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of blindness in premature newborns. It accounts for 4% of childhood blindness in developed countries and up to 40% in developing countries. The aim of this study is to report the refractive and anatomical outcome of patients who had undergone laser photocoagulate on for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In this cross sectional study, a total of forty eyes of twenty patients who had undergone transscleral diode laser photocoagulation for ROP between 2004-2008 were studied for the following measures: grade of ROP pre- and postoperatively, birth weight, gestational age, perioperative and postoperative complications, and current refraction. Mean birth weight of patients was 923±271 gr and mean gestational age was 27.3±2.6 wk. All eyes had threshold ROP and responded to laser treatment with regression of ROP. Perioperative complications included hemorrhages in 15% that resorbed spontaneously. The mean age of patients at the time of examination for this study was 4.13±1.30 yr and their anatomical status of retina was normal. Strabismus (more than 20 prism diopter) was found in 10% of patients. The spherical equivalent of refraction at the time of examination was -2.31±3.38 diopter. Photocoagulation for ROP in our patients resulted in regression of threshold ROP. In addition, the analyses of refractive outcome demonstrated a predominance of myopia and astigmatism.