J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2003 Jan;44(1):107-114.

Clinical Characteristic and Prognosis of Asymmetric Retinopathy of Prematurity

• Kim C
• Kim SJ
• Yu YS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of asymmetric retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: We performed retrospective chart review and identified 47 patients with asymmetric ROP. Asymmetric ROP was defined as the acute ROP with definite difference between the two eyes in one of the parameters; stage, zone, plus sign or extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation (EFP) extent. The clinical characteristics and refractive error, fundus status, and visual prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Unilateral ROP cases were nine out of the 47 (19.1%) asymmetric ROP cases. There were more patients with small difference between the two eyes in acute ROP stage than the patients with large difference, and the larger gestational age and birthweight were related to the larger difference in acute ROP stage. Treatment was necessary in 63.8% of the severe eyes and 23.4% of the mild eyes. The refractive status was not different between the two eyes at 6-month and 3-year of age, however, there were more myopia (more than 3 diopter) in the severe eyes at 3-year of age. The anatomically unfavorable outcome was found in 4 eyes and poor fixation in 3 eyes, which were found only in the severe eyes. The best corrected visual acuity at final visit was poorer in the severe eyes than in the mild eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Among the asymmetric ROP cases, the severe eyes needed more treatment and had poorer visual prognosis than the mild eyes. Unilateral ROP could be found in some cases.

Keyword

Asymmetric ROP; Asymmetry; Retinopathy of prematurity; Unilateral ROP

MeSH Terms

Gestational Age
Humans
Myopia
Prognosis*
Refractive Errors
Retinopathy of Prematurity*
Retrospective Studies
Visual Acuity