Optical Coherence Tomography of Fovea Before and after Laser Treatment in Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE: To study the fovea in preterm babies with Type I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) before and after laser treatment using optical coherence tomography (OCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational case-control study including preterm neonates undergoing screening for ROP from May 2009 to July 2011. Group 1 included 30 eyes of 15 neonates with Type I ROP. A 532-nm laser was used for treatment in all cases for Group 1. Group 2 included 14 eyes of 7 preterm neonates without ROP that served as controls. OCT was performed under sedation in the lateral position before and after laser treatment. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean initial central macular thickness (CMT) was comparable in both groups (P = 0.832) and statistically significantly correlated with gestational age (P = 0.015). No adverse effects on the anterior segment or posterior segment were observed. There was no significant difference in CMT before and after laser treatment in Group 1 (P = 0.007). There was one case of cystoid macular edema after laser treatment. CONCLUSION: The macula in preterm babies with Type 1 ROP was comparable to those without ROP. Gestational age was the only predictor of CMT.