[Ocular outcomes in 3-year-old premature infants with retinopathy treated with cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation].

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare functional and structural outcomes in 3-year-old premature children treated in acute phase of retinopathy of prematurity with diode laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 106 premature children aged 3 years, treated for retinopathy of prematurity, by transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation (group II) or cryotherapy (group I). Functional (visual acuity using Snellen charts or preferential looking test - Teller acuity Card) and structural (anterior segment slit lamp and indirect Fison fundus examination) outcome and cycloplegic refraction using 1% Tropicamide were examined in all children. RESULTS: Favorable functional results occurred in 81.9% of eyes in patients after cryotherapy and in 83.9% of eyes in patients after diode laser photocoagulation. Structural outcome was favorable in 90.1% of eyes treated with cryotherapy and in 95.3% of eyes treated with diode laser photocoagulation. CONCLUSION: Diode laser photocoagulation appliance in retinopathy of prematurity treatment allows to obtain better functional and structural outcomes than cryotherapy.