Vitreous changes after treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE To investigate the vitreous findings in patients with cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who underwent retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation during the acute phase of the disease. METHODS Vitreous findings were evaluated in 15 patients (29 eyes) with cicatricial ROP by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS The ocular examination revealed that all eyes had extensive vitreous liquefaction that affected a large segment of the vitreous. A great deal of fibrillar condensation of the vitreous was present in membrane-like vitreous fibers that traversed the vitreous cavity to the periphery of the degenerating retina. These vitreous changes were most marked in the areas in which retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation had been performed. Despite advanced liquefaction, the posterior cortical vitreous was not separated from the retina in any eyes. CONCLUSION In eyes with ROP that underwent retinal cryopexy and/or photocoagulation during the acute phase of the disease, the vitreous was abnormal, which may contribute to vitreoretinal traction that eventually leads to retinal breaks and detachment.