Refractive Error in Patients with Retinopathy of Prematurity after Laser Photocoagulation or Bevacizumab Monotherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the refractive development of premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after treatment with laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB).

METHODS: The medical records of patients with ROP treated between 2003 and 2012 who underwent yearly follow-ups were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with residual ROP abnormalities were excluded. The cycloplegic refraction at 3 years of age, assessed using an autorefractometer, was recorded.

RESULTS: In total, 54 eyes from 54 patients were enrolled. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1, including 14 eyes of 14 patients treated with laser therapy; group 2, 15 eyes of 15 patients treated with IVB; group 3, 13 eyes of 13 patients with non-type 1 ROP under conservative follow-up, and group 4, 12 eyes of 12 premature patients without ROP. The mean spherical equivalent at 3 years of age was -1.71 ± 1.27 dpt in group 1, -1.53 ± 2.20 dpt in group 2, 0.63 ± 1.37 dpt in group 3, and 0.41 ± 1.95 dpt in group 4. The mean refractive error differed significantly among the 4 groups (p < 0.001). Patients in groups 1 and 2 were more prone to myopia compared with those in groups 3 and 4. Furthermore, patients with type 1 ROP treated by laser photocoagulation (group 1) and those treated by IVB (group 2) had similar refraction (p = 1).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that treatment-demanding ROP eyes are susceptible to more severe myopia with age compared with eyes without ROP or those with spontaneously regressed ROP. In addition, the myopic status between laser and IVB treatment did not differ statistically.