ObjectiveTo observe clinical outcomes of laser photocoagulation on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). MethodsClinical data of 64 cases of ROP infants (127 eyes) were studied retrospectively. Fifteen infants (30 eyes) were diagnosed of pre-threshold ROP (type Ⅰ, 23.6%) and 49 cases (97 eyes) of threshold ROP (76.4%). All the eyes underwent photocoagulation through binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (532 nm or 810 nm) within 72 hours after the confirmation ROP. In all the 15 cases (30 eyes) of pre-threshold ROP (type Ⅰ), 6 of them (12 eyes) were photocoagulated by laser of 532 nm, and the other 9 ones (18 eyes) were treated with 810 nm. In 49 threshold ROP infants (97 eyes), 37 cases (73 eyes) and 12 ones (24 eyes) were treated with laser of 532 nm or 810 nm respectively. All the infants were followed up 12-36 months (18.4 months) since photocoagulation to investigate regression of ROP. All the data of ROP infants photocoagulated, such as recovery rate of one-time photocoagulation, repeat rate, unfavorable outcomes, and complications, were analyzed statistically according to the severity of ROP and wave length of laser employed. ResultsIn all the 127 photocoagulation treated eyes, ROP regressed completely in 125 eyes (98.4%), temporal retinal traction remained in 2 eyes (1.6%), and no retinal detachment was found. ROP regressed completely in 118 eyes (92.9%) after one-time photocoagulation, recovered totally in 6 eyes (4.7%) after repeating photocoagulation 2-3 times, and resorted to cryotherapy in 3 eyes (2.4%). Subconjunctiva hemorrhage, found in 12 eyes (9.4%), was the most common complication. During photocoagulation, anesthetic accident occurred in 1 infant (1.6%), and 1 eye developed cataract (0.8%). It was suggested from statistical analysis that there was no significant difference on efficiency or safety between pre-threshold (type Ⅰ) and threshold ROP photocoagulated by laser of 532 nm or 810 nm. However, almost all of the ROP infants need repeat photocoagulation or additional cryotherapy, and patients with unfavorable outcomes or severe complications, occurred in threshold ROP treated with 532 nm laser. ConclusionPhotocoagulation with 532 nm or 810 nm laser is effective for type Ⅰ pre-threshold or threshold ROP.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of combination of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and laser photocoagulation for the treatment of aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP). MethodsMedical records of 70 eyes of 35 premature infants with a primary diagnosis of AP-ROP in our clinic were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. All the lesions were located in posterior zone, with 42 eyes in zone 1 and 28 eyes in zone 2. Forty-six eyes had iris neovascularization, while 19 eyes combined with vitreous hemorrhage. All participants underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab as the primary treatment within 12 hours after diagnosis of AP-ROP. The systemic and ocular adverse effects were observed. The change of retinal vascular tortuosity and dilatation before and after the intravitreal injection of ranibizumab was observed one week after injection. Laser photocoagulation was used as adjuvant therapy if the plus disease persisted more than two weeks or new-onset ridge occurred after injection. The mean time interval between injection and laser therapy was (5.1±2.6) weeks (range, 1-10 weeks). Follow-up ranged from 6 to 18 months, with a mean of (10.3±3.9) months. The anatomical results and complications were evaluated after treatment. The eyes that progressed to stage 4 or 5 during the follow-ups were underwent lens-sparing vitrectomy or lensectomy combined with vitrectomy. ResultsNo major systemic or ocular complications were observed. Preretinal hemorrhages were found in 12 eyes of 8 patients (17.1%), but they were absorbed spontaneously during the follow-ups. All lens remained transparent and no iatrogenic retinal hole was occurred during the follow-ups. After the injection, the regression of iris neovascularization was observed in 46 eyes within one week, vitreous hemorrhage absorbed significantly in 16 eyes (84.2%), and plus disease disappeared completely within one week in 61 eyes (87.1%). 59 eyes (84.3%) demonstrated vascularization toward the peripheral retina after treatment. 32 out of 42 eyes (76.2%) with zone 1 demonstrated vascularization toward to zone 2, while 24 out of 28 eyes (85.7%) with zone 2 demonstrated vascularization toward to the junction of zone 2 and 3. After intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation, 62 of 70 eyes (88.6%) had retinal vascular ridge and plus disease regression. However, 8 eyes of 6 patients (11.4%) showed significant fibrovascular proliferation and progressed to retinal detachment after the combination treatment of intravitreal ranibizumab injection and laser photocoagulation. Four eyes underwent lens-sparing vitrectomy, while the other 4 eyes underwent vitrectomy combined with lensectomy. Five eyes achieved totally retinal reattachment after surgery, while 3 eyes achieved partially retinal reattachment. ConclusionThe combination of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and laser photocoagulation is safe and effective in the treatment of AP-ROP.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness for children, early detection and treatment can prevent ROP progression and improve the visual prognosis. ROP prevention system, including advocacy, screening, diagnosis/treatment and follow-up, is the key to reducing the rate of blindness in children. The proposed tertiary ROP prevention network includes primary health centers in county-level, secondary health centers in municipal-level and tertiary health centers in provincial-level or national-level. The idea is to explore the greatest benefits in the ROP prevention process from the existing allocation of medical resources, but also to avoid wasting at the current stage of social development. We tested this idea in Shaanxi Province recently. The preliminary practice results indicated that ROP tertiary prevention network can increase the ROP screening coverage, promote the prevention and treatment of ROP. However this work is still in its infancy. We need to expand its scope and strength the advocacy efforts to find a way to prevent and treat ROP in China.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of laser photocoagulation and intravitreal ranibizumab treatment of retinopathy of premature(ROP). MethodsThis study included 49 ROP infants (96 eyes), including type 1 pre-threshold ROP (7 infants, 14 eyes), threshold ROP (38 infants, 44 eyes) and aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP, 4 infants, 8 eyes). According to the treatments received, all patients were divided into laser photocoagulation (LP) group (40 infants, 78 eyes) and intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) treatment group (9 infants, 18 eyes). Generally, zoneⅡand stage 3 ROP with clear refractive media received laser photocoagulation, zoneⅠROP and AP-ROP, or eyes with unclear refractive media or infants with poor general condition received IVR. The infant gestational age, birth weight, corrected gestational age at first treatment and the cure rate of the first treatment were analyzed between the two groups, and between three disease types (type 1 pre-threshold, threshold and AP-ROP). ResultsThe gestational age and birth weight was no difference between the LP group and IVR group (t=0.827, 1.911; P > 0.05). The corrected gestational age at first treatment of LP group was significantly smaller than that in the IVR group (t=3.041, P < 0.05). In the LP group, 75 of 78 eyes (96.15%) was cured by the first treatment, 3 of 78 eyes (3.85%) progressed to stage 4A after the first treatment and was controlled by vitrectomy. In the IVR group, 8 of 18 eyes (44.44%) was cured by the first treatment, 10 of 18 eyes (55.56%) progressed to next stage after the first treatment and was controlled by additional laser photocoagulation or repeated IVR. The gestational age and birth weight was no difference between type 1 pre-threshold, threshold and AP-ROP infants (t=2.071, 0.664; P > 0.05). The corrected gestational age at first treatment of type 1 pre-threshold infants was the same of the threshold lesion infants (t=2.054, P > 0.05). The corrected gestational age at first treatment of AP-ROP infants was significantly smaller than that of type 1 pre-threshold and threshold lesion infants (t=3.250, P < 0.05). The cure rate was statistically significant (χ2=24.787, P < 0.05) between there three ROP lesions. ConclusionIVR treatment is suitable for zoneⅠlesions, AP-ROP and Plus lesions, while laser photocoagulation is appropriate for zoneⅡlesions with fibrosis and less vascular proliferation.
Objective To observe visual field outcome and refractive status of patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated by laser photocoagulation. Method The data of 39 ROP patients (73 eyes) who received laser photocoagulation were retrospectively analyzed and compared with 13 normal control subjects (25 eyes) whose age and sex were matched with ROP group. There were 24 males (45 eyes) and 15 females (28 eyes) in ROP group, with an average age of (7.0±1.28) years. The first laser treatment was carried out at postnatal age (PA) of (38.74±3.82) weeks, the birth weight (BW) of (1402.33±369.61) g and the number of laser burns was (517.86±277.40). The control group included 7 females (13 eyes) and 6 males (12 eyes), with an average age of (7.17±0.96) years. The age (t=0.691) and gender (χ2=1.425) were comparable between the two groups (P=0.491, 0.233). The data of patients and controls were retrospectively analyzed including best corrected visual acuity, refractive examination, automated perimetry test. The differences of the mean deviation (MD) of visual field and the spherical equivalent (SE) between these two groups were comparatively observed. ROP patients were divided into no VF loss group (MD≤2 dB) and VF loss group (MD＞2 dB), mild VF loss group (MD≤6 dB) and moderate VF loss group (MD＞6 dB) according to the results of automated perimetry test, the differences of gestational age (GA), PA, BW, number of laser burns and SE between these groups were comparatively observed. Results The MD in ROP group and control group were 4.87±5.12 dB and 1.27±3.34 dB, respectively; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=–4.01,P＜0.001). The subgroup analysis showed that BW, number of laser burns, and SE were significantly different between no VF loss group and VF loss group (t=2.074, –1.996, –2.162;P=0.042, 0.026, 0.034); while the GA was not significantly different between these two groups (t=1.973,P=0.052). The difference of PA was not statistical significant different between mild VF loss group and moderate VF loss group (t=2.03,P=0.051) and SE was significantly different between the above two groups (t=3.283,P=0.002). For refractive outcomes, the BW and ROP stage correlated with SE significantly (r=–0.304, –0.387;P=0.015, 0.002). The mean BCVA in ROP group was 0.84±0.23, and 59 eyes (91.2%) with BCVA better than 0.5. Conclusion Laser treatment for ROP tends to have less effect on long term refractive status and VF loss, with good visual outcome.