Primary treatment with bevacizumab for type 1 ROP yields good visual outcomes
Infants with type 1 retinopathy of prematurity treated with primary bevacizumab often display normal visual acuity after 4 years of age, according to a speaker at the virtual American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting.
“The results of this study constitute preliminary evidence that visual outcomes in IVB-treated ROP patients after 4 years of age are likely excellent, and vascular abnormalities on fluorescein are not incompatible with good vision,” Sarah Hilkert Rodriguez, MD, said.
A retrospective chart review examining infants treated with bevacizumab for type 1 ROP found that 39 eyes, or 85% of patients who completed visual acuity follow-up after 4 years of age, had normal vision. Normal vision constituted scores equal to or better than 20/40. The median logMAR visual acuity was 0.18.
“Neither baseline ROP severity nor vascular abnormalities on FA were predictive of logMAR visual acuity,” Rodriguez said.
Median age at follow-up was 6 years. Patients were excluded if developmental delays affected their ability to participate in the Snellen chart evaluation for visual acuity.
Vascular abnormalities — peripheral and macular — were seen on fluorescein angiography in nearly all patients, but visual acuity was “excellent,” Rodriguez said.
Due to the small sample size and single-center nature of the study, the authors said the results are not generalizable.
“ROP is a life-long disease, and long-term follow-up is always important,” Rodriguez said.
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Rodriguez SH. Late visual outcomes in infants treated with primary bevacizumab for type 1 ROP. Presented at: American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting; Nov. 13-15, 2020 (virtual meeting).
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