Nonresponse and Recurrence of Retinopathy of Prematurity After Intravitreal Ranibizumab Treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical outcome of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) (Lucentis; Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective case series. Premature infants with treatment-requiring ROP who received IVR injections from 2013 to 2015 were included.

RESULTS: Twenty-two eyes of 12 children were included in the study. Complete resolution of ROP after a single IVR was noted in 73% of eyes. Retreatment was needed in 27% of eyes due to nonresponse to IVR (18%) or recurrence of ROP (9%). After that, all treated eyes (100%) demonstrated regressed ROP with attached retina. The median visual acuity was 0.3 LogMAR (range: 0 LogMAR to 0.8 LogMAR) with a mean follow-up of 25.2 months ± 6.8 months.

CONCLUSIONS: IVR is effective and well-tolerated for patients with treatment-requiring ROP. However, nonresponse to IVR or recurrence of ROP after IVR was noted in 27% of treated eyes and required additional treatment. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:1095-1105.].