Involution of threshold retinopathy of prematurity after diode laser photocoagulation

Objective To characterize the process of involution of threshold retinopathy of prematurity after transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Neonates with threshold retinopathy who underwent diode laser photocoagulation of the peripheral avascular retina. Methods A retrospective chart review was done of the weekly examination records of infants treated for threshold disease. Features that were studied included the presence of residual stage 3 neovascularization, plus disease, and development of retinal detachment (RD). Main outcome measures Timing of full involution and/or development of an RD. Results Of 262 eyes of 138 infants treated, full involution without RD was seen in 8%, 43%, 64%, 73%, and 86% of eyes at postoperative weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9±3, respectively. Retinal detachments were diagnosed cumulatively in 0%, 1.5%, 4.2%, 6.5%, and 14% of eyes at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9±3, respectively. Conclusions Full involution of laser-treated threshold retinopathy of prematurity required more than 2 weeks in more than half of treated eyes. Most RDs were not detected until ≥3 weeks after treatment.