OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a near confluent pattern of indirect laser photocoagulation in reducing the rate of progression and re-treatment of threshold retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: This study examined a noncomparative interventional case series. We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who underwent peripheral laser ablation by 1 surgeon for threshold retinopathy of prematurity from 1997 to 2002. A total of 58 eyes from 31 patients were treated, and 44 eyes of 23 patients were included in the study. Ten eyes of 5 infants had zone 1 disease, and 34 eyes of 18 infants had zone 2 disease. Laser spots were placed in a near confluent pattern in the peripheral avascular retina between the ridge of extraretinal proliferation and the ora serrata. The mean +/- SD number of laser spots was 2534 +/- 455 for zone 1 (range, 2100-3378) and 1850 +/- 487 for zone 2 (range, 1030-2689). RESULTS: In 7 eyes of 4 infants with zone 1 disease, the retinopathy regressed and did not require any further treatment. Three eyes of 2 infants, however, progressed after laser treatment and required vitrectomy surgery. Progression was defined as the development of stage 4 or 5 disease. None of the patients with zone 2 disease had progression of retinopathy, and none of them needed more than 1 treatment. Patients tolerated the procedure well, and there were no complications at the time of the procedure or at follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: A near confluent pattern of laser photocoagulation may reduce the rate of progression of threshold retinopathy of prematurity in zone 2 (0%). The near confluent pattern of treatment may also reduce the re-treatment rate of the disease (0%). Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a near confluent pattern of indirect laser photocoagulation in reducing the rate of progression and re-treatment of threshold retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: This study examined a noncomparative interventional case series. We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who underwent peripheral laser ablation by 1 surgeon for threshold retinopathy of prematurity from 1997 to 2002. A total of 58 eyes from 31 patients were treated, and 44 eyes of 23 patients were included in the study. Ten eyes of 5 infants had zone 1 disease, and 34 eyes of 18 infants had zone 2 disease. Laser spots were placed in a near confluent pattern in the peripheral avascular retina between the ridge of extraretinal proliferation and the ora serrata. The mean +/- SD number of laser spots was 2534 +/- 455 for zone 1 (range, 2100-3378) and 1850 +/- 487 for zone 2 (range, 1030-2689). RESULTS: In 7 eyes of 4 infants with zone 1 disease, the retinopathy regressed and did not require any further treatment. Three eyes of 2 infants, however, progressed after laser treatment and required vitrectomy surgery. Progression was defined as the development of stage 4 or 5 disease. None of the patients with zone 2 disease had progression of retinopathy, and none of them needed more than 1 treatment. Patients tolerated the procedure well, and there were no complications at the time of the procedure or at follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: A near confluent pattern of laser photocoagulation may reduce the rate of progression of threshold retinopathy of prematurity in zone 2 (0%). The near confluent pattern of treatment may also reduce the re-treatment rate of the disease (0%). Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Authors: Samuel K Houston; Charles C Wykoff; Audina M Berrocal; Ditte J Hess; Timothy G Murray Journal: Lasers Med Sci Date: 2011-12-02 Impact factor: 3.161
Authors: Laura Pertl; Gernot Steinwender; Christoph Mayer; Silke Hausberger; Eva-Maria Pöschl; Werner Wackernagel; Andreas Wedrich; Yosuf El-Shabrawi; Anton Haas Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-17 Impact factor: 3.240