Refractive Status in Children with Laser-Treated Retinopathy of Prematurity: Our Experience in Bulgaria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: With the establishment of laser photocoagulation as a standard treatment modality for prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a dramatic reduction of cases with ROP blindness and severe visual impairment have been reported. In the same time, high refractive errors, a common complication in ROP cases and especially in ROP treated infants, have become the main cause of visual and often severe visual impairment.
 AIM: The purpose of our study was to analyse the long-term refractive status in children at 3.5 years after laser-treatment for type 1 prethreshold ROP.
 PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, one centre study of refractive status of 18 children with laser-treated type 1 prethreshold ROP was conducted. The refraction after cycloplegia with 1% cyclopentolate was measured at a mean age of 3.56 years (SD ± 0.34). Hyperopia was subdivided into two groups – low hyperopia (SE < +5.0 D) and high hyperopia (SE ≥ +5.0 D). Myopia was classified as myopia (SE ≥ –0.25D) and high myopia (SE ≥ -5.0 D). Astigmatism was divided into low astigmatism (plus CD ≥ +1.0 D) and high astigmatism (plus CD ≥ +2.0 D).
 RESULTS: Thirty-three eyes of 18 children were recruited in the study. Three eyes were excluded because of unfavourable anatomical results. The mean gestational age at birth was 27.3 weeks (24-31 weeks, SD ± 1.78), and the mean birth weight – 928.9 g (550-1500 g, SD ± 252.8). The mean spherical equivalent for the whole group was -1.82 D and ranged from -9.00 D to +4.50 D (SD ± 3.48). Hyperopia was observed in 12 (36.4%) eyes. Myopic refraction had 21 (63.6%) eyes. Astigmatism was detected in 18 (54.5%) eyes. Anisometropia had 3 (16.7%) children. Six children (33.4%) had strabismus (4 esotropia; 2 exotropia).
 CONCLUSION: High per cent of treated infants for vision-threatening ROP have visual significant refractive errors and strabismus that can cause serious visual impairment if not treated properly and on time.

Ophthalmic Status of Newborn Children at Risk – Preliminary Results

“…който през 2019 г. публикува резултатите си от анализ на рефракционния статус при 18 деца с проведена лазертерапия по повод ROP [15]. Според различни литературни данни не само установената ретинопатия има отношение към развитието на рефракционни аномалии, но и видът на приложената терапия, като през 2020 г. са публикувани данни и за зависимостта от големината на обработената с лазер зона -по-голяма обработена зона е в пряка асоциация с по-висока миопизация и анизометропия [16].…”