SCLERAL BUCKLING FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the anatomic effective ness of scleral buckling on eyes with stages 4A, 4B, and 5 retinopathy of prematurity.Methods: Seventy eyes of 44 infants had scleral buckli ng performed by one surgeon and were followed for at least 6 months. A ll except one child had previous bilateral peripheral ablation (cryo/l aser). Results: Twelve (70%) of 17 stage 4A eyes, 29 (67%) of 43 stage 4B eyes, and 4 (40%) of 10 stage 5 eyes had complete retinal reattach ment or dry folds attached at their last follow-up visit. All eyes ref erred as stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity that reattached had a rheg matogenous component. Conclusion: Scleral buckling appears to play a r ole in reducing progression from stage 4 to stage 5 retinopathy of pre maturity.