Diode laser treatment of posterior retinopathy of prematurity

Aims-To study the efficacy of infrared diode laser for the treatment of pos terior retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods-48 eyes of 25 premature babies (mean birth weight 779 (SD 127.7) g; mean gestational age 25.5 (SD 1.47) weeks) with threshold ROP in zone I an d posterior zone II were treated by the indirect infrared (810 nm) diode la ser. Confluent burns were applied to the avascular retina. In 18 eyes, an a dditional row of laser burns was added posterior to the ridge. Results-Favourable anatomical results were noted in 41 eyes (85.4%). ROP st age 5 developed in two eyes, ROP stage 4A developed in four eyes, and ROP s tage 4B in one eye. Three of the eyes with stage 4A eyes were successfully buckled; the fourth was not operated on and remained demarcated by laser sc ars. No complications were noted. Conclusion-In this series, the diode laser was found to be a safe and effec tive treatment for posterior ROP.