Long-term visual outcomes in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity

This retrospective study evaluated long-term visual outcomes in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and correlations between visual acuity (VA) and clinical variables, including fundus findings. We reviewed the medical records of 57 consecutive patients diagnosed with ROP. We analyzed the correlations between best-corrected VA and anatomical fundus findings, such as macular dragging and retinal vascular tortuosity, after ROP regression. The correlations between VA and clinical variables such as gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and refractive errors (hyperopia and myopia in spherical equivalent [SE], astigmatism, and anisometropia) were also evaluated. Of 110 eyes, 33.6% had macular dragging; the presence of macular dragging and poor VA were significantly correlated (p = 0.002). Patients with larger macula-to-disc distance/disc diameter ratios had significantly poorer VA (p = 0.036). However, no significant correlation was observed between the VA and vascular tortuosity. Patients with smaller GA and BW had poorer visual outcomes (both, p = 0.007). The larger SE in absolute values, myopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia were significantly associated with poorer visual outcomes as well (all, p < 0.001). In children with regressed ROP, macular dragging, small GA and BW, large SE in absolute values, myopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia may be predictors of poor visual outcomes at early ages.