Outcome of 532 nm Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity from a referral center

ABSTRACT

Clinical relevance: Retinopathy of prematurity is a preventable blinding disorder worldwide. Laser photocoagulation is said to be the gold standard care of treatment. However, various factors are known to affect the outcome.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyse the risk factors in patients with laser treatment requiring retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the outcome of 532 nm Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation (LP).

Methods: Patients who underwent LP for ROP at a tertiary referral centre between January 2012 and January 2019 were enrolled. Those who were born and followed-up at the institution of the authors were in Group 1 and those who were born and followed-up elsewhere and referred to the authors for treatment were in Group 2. The clinical features, gestational ages, birth weights, and data regarding the treatment were retrospectively reviewed. The need for pars plana vitrectomy was taken as a poor outcome.

Results: The mean gestational age and birth rate was 26.7 ± 1.9 weeks and 927.2 ± 263.5 grams, respectively, in Group 1 (57 infants, 111 eyes); and 28.5 ± 2.5 weeks and 1174.8 ± 385 grams, respectively, in Group 2 (66 infants, 131eyes) (p < 0.001 for both). The extent of the disease (p < 0.001), the zone of the disease (p = 0.002), and the timing of LP (p < 0.001) were significantly different between groups. In the whole cohort, the zone (p = 0.006) and stage (p < 0.001) of the disease, aggressive posterior disease (p = 0,009), and tunica vasculosa lentis were found to significantly interfere with the outcome.

Conclusion: Eyes with more severe disease undergoing timely treatment and eyes with less severe disease undergoing delayed management had similar prognosis. A favourable outcome was obtained with 532 nm green laser in ROP.

KEYWORDS:

• Birth weight
• gestational age
• laser photocoagulation
• plus disease
• retinopathy of prematurity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.