[Long term follow-up on retinopathy of prematurity treated with photocoagulation--influence of photocoagulation on the eyeball].

The ocular findings in 127 eyes of 69 cases (average 11.6 +/- 3.7 years old) with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and treated with xenon photocoagulation between 1970 to 1983 were studied. Chorioretinal changes observed after the photocoagulation therapy revealed that photocoagulation spots gradually transformed from round to long oval forms in the sagittal direction. The photocoagulated lesions became extremely atrophic and larger after several years. In addition, band-shaped retinochoroidal atrophies were found adjacent to photocoagulation spots in 10 eyes (7.9%). Furthermore, vascular anastomoses between retinal and choroidal vessels were demonstrated at scars after treatment by fluorescein angiography. Anastomoses between retinal arteries and choroidal vessels were found in 18 eyes among 71 eyes (25.4%), and anastomoses between retinal veins and choroidal vessels were present in 50 eyes among the 71 eyes (70.4%). These changes may be the result of xenon photocoagulation on the developing premature retina and choroid. However, visual acuities were 0.7 or better in 111 eyes (87.4%). Refractions at the aged six years old were between - 3 to +2.75 diopters in the 94 eyes (83.9%) among the 112 eyes.