Treatment of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity with bevacizumab versus laser

PurposeTo compare structural outcomes, visual function, refraction, and frequency of follow-up for infants with type 1 retinopathy of prematurity in zone I or zone II posterior treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) versus laser.MethodsThe medical records of infants treated with IVB or laser photocoagulation at our institution from January 2009 to May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Only infants with a minimum of 6 months’ follow-up were included. Outcome measures were structural outcome, visual acuity, and spherical equivalent (SE) at corrected age of 1 year. The frequency of follow-up visits during 9 months after treatment was evaluated.ResultsA total of 23 eyes of 13 infants were treated with IVB and 22 eyes of 12 infants were treated with laser. There was no statistically significant difference in gestational age or birth weight between groups. None developed unfavorable structural outcome. Mean visual acuity was 0.99 ± 0.38 logMAR for the IVB group and 0.71 ± 0.36 logMAR for the laser group (P = 0.34; 95% CI, −0.52 to 0.19). Mean spherical equivalent was −3.57 ± 6.19 D for the IVB group and −6.39 ± 4.41 D for the laser group (P = 0.33; 95% CI, −7.19 to 2.49). In the IVB group, infants had an average of 16.00 ± 6.00 follow-up visits; in the laser group, 6.00 ± 3.00 (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsBoth treatments resulted in good structural outcome, and no difference in visual acuity or refraction. However, more frequent follow-up was observed in the IVB group.