J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2006 Dec;47(12):1960-1965.

Transscleral Diode Laser Photocoagulation for Retinopathy of Prematurity: Five Years' Experience

• Park JW
• Cho HJ
• Cho YW

Abstract

PURPOSES: We analysed the five-year outcomes and associated complications of transscleral diode laser photocoagulation (TSDLP), used to treat acute proliferative retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this therapy.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of the records of 163 eyes of 82 infants with acute ROP, who were treated with TSDLP by a single surgeon. Follow-up periods ranged from 15 to 278 weeks.
RESULTS
The outcome was favorable in 158 eyes (96.9%) and unfavorable in 5 eyes (3.1%) of the 163 eyes that were treated. Vitreous hemorrhage was found to be an indicator of poor prognosis. Of the complications noted, symblepharon was observed in three eyes, hyphema was observed in four eyes, and a complicated cataract was observed in one eye.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that TSDLP is a safe and effective in the treatment of ROP. Vitreous hemorrhage should be regarded as a sign of poor prognosis.

Keyword

Transscleral diode laser photocoagulation; Vitreous hemorrhage; Retinopathy of prematurity

MeSH Terms

Cataract
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hyphema
Infant
Lasers, Semiconductor*
Light Coagulation*
Prognosis
Retinopathy of Prematurity*
Retrospective Studies
Vitreous Hemorrhage