Purpose To determine the relative effectiveness, major complications, and refractive errors associated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) versus panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) to treat Type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Subjects Consecutive infants with Type 1 ROP who received either IVB or PRP between January 2008 and December 2012 and had at least six months of follow-up. Design Retrospective case series. Methods The data from infants treated with either IVB or PRP for Type 1 ROP between January 2008 and December 2012 were recorded from two medical centers in Atlanta, Georgia. Main Outcome Measures Recurrence rate, complication rate, refractive error. Results A total of 54 eyes (28 patients) with Type 1 ROP were evaluated: 22 eyes (11 patients) received IVB, and 32 eyes (17 patients) received PRP. Among the 22 eyes treated with IVB, 16 eyes had Zone I ROP and 6 eyes had posterior Zone II ROP. The number of Zone I and Zone II ROP eyes treated with PRP were 5 and 27 eyes, respectively. Mean gestational age, birth weight, postmenstrual age at the initial treatment, and follow-up period for the infants receiving IVB were 24.2 weeks, 668.1 grams, 35.1 weeks, and 21.7 weeks, respectively, and for the infants receiving PRP were 24.8, 701.4 grams, 36.1 weeks, and 34.5 weeks, respectively. ROP recurred in 3/22 (14%) IVB-treated eyes and in 1/32 (3%) PRP-treated eyes. None of IVB-treated eyes progressed to retinal detachment or developed macular ectopia. Only one eye went on to retinal detachment and five eyes developed macular ectopia in PRP-treated eyes. Mean spherical equivalent and postgestational age at the last refraction for IVB-treated eyes were −2.4 D and 22.4 months, respectively, and for PRP-treated eyes were −5.3 D and 37.1 months, respectively. Mean spherical equivalent for Zone I ROP eyes treated with IVB and PRP were −3.7 D and −10.1 D, respectively, and for Zone II ROP eyes were 0.6 D and −4.7 D, respectively. Conclusions Both IVB and PRP are effective treatment options for Type 1 ROP with low complication rates. Zone I ROP was associated with high minus refractive errors in eyes treated with either IVB or PRP.

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Current level II and III evidence indicates that intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy is as effective as laser photocoagulation for achieving regression of acute ROP. Although there are distinct ocular advantages to anti-VEGF pharmacotherapy for some cases (such as eyes with zone I disease or aggressive posterior ROP), the disadvantages are that the ROP recurrence rate is higher, and vigilant and extended follow-up is needed because retinal vascularization is usually incomplete. After intravitreal injection, bevacizumab can be detected in serum within 1 day, and serum VEGF levels are suppressed for at least 8 to 12 weeks. The effects of lowering systemic VEGF levels on the developing organ systems of premature infants are unknown, and there are limited long-term data on potential systemic and neurodevelopmental effects after anti-VEGF use for ROP treatment. Anti-VEGF agents should be used judiciously and with awareness of the known and unknown or potential side effects.