Number of laser shots applied affects myopic status in retinopathy of prematurity

Axial length (AL), corneal refraction (CR), and crystalline lens power (CLP) are related to the degree of myopia in laser-treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) eyes, according to a study, which also found the number of laser shots applied also affects myopic status.

The study included 17 infants with ROP who received laser treatment. The researchers performed retinoscopic refraction testing to calculate spherical equivalent (SE) and analyzed the relationship between SE and variables such as the number of laser shots applied. The study also included an age-matched control group without ROP for comparison of ocular structural parameters.

In the group with ROP, SE was significantly more myopic than the control group, but there was no statistical difference in AL between the groups.

In the ROP group, SE exhibited a correlation with AL, CR, and CLP. Among these 3 factors, a significant correlation (P = 0.003) was found between CLP and the number of laser shots applied, whereas no correlations were observed between the number of laser shots and AL or CR (P = 0.15 and 0.10, respectively). A similar trend was observed in the analysis of the interocular difference between the right and left eyes of each child.

Reference
Asano S, Inoue T, Kure K, et al. Investigating the factors affecting myopia in retinopathy of prematurity after laser treatment. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2023;9(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s40942-023-00456-x. PMID: 37046346; PMCID: PMC10091611.