Ridge-Adjacent Laser With Imaging and Dexamethasone for Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity
Öhnell, Hanna Maria LU
; Nobaek, Sandra
LU
; Andréasson, Sten
LU
and Gränse, Lotta
LU
(2026)
In Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
p.1-6
- Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe a less invasive laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity, referred to as ridge-adjacent laser treatment (RALT), and its outcome regarding the need for re-treatment.
METHODS: This was a retrospective observational review of medical records of all infants treated with RALT as a primary intervention for retinopathy of prematurity between June 2016 and June 2021 at a tertiary care center in Sweden. The intervention consisted of RALT with intraoperative wide-field imaging, and most patients also received postoperative dexamethasone eye drops. The primary outcomes measured were the number of laser spots applied, re-treatment rates, and the maximum stage of retinopathy of prematurity observed.
RESULTS:... (More)
PURPOSE: To describe a less invasive laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity, referred to as ridge-adjacent laser treatment (RALT), and its outcome regarding the need for re-treatment.
METHODS: This was a retrospective observational review of medical records of all infants treated with RALT as a primary intervention for retinopathy of prematurity between June 2016 and June 2021 at a tertiary care center in Sweden. The intervention consisted of RALT with intraoperative wide-field imaging, and most patients also received postoperative dexamethasone eye drops. The primary outcomes measured were the number of laser spots applied, re-treatment rates, and the maximum stage of retinopathy of prematurity observed.
RESULTS: Sixty-one eyes of 31 infants were treated with RALT. The median follow-up time was 24 weeks (range: 17 to 45 weeks) after birth. The mean number of laser spots administered was 859 ± 280. Re-treatment was required in 3% of the eyes (6% of the infants). After excluding infants with aggressive retinopathy of prematurity the re-treatment rate for the eyes was 2% (4% of the infants). Seven of the 61 eyes were diagnosed as having aggressive retinopathy of prematurity. In three of these eyes, the retinopathy progressed to a maximum stage greater than 3 following RALT treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity using the RALT technique, in conjunction with intraoperative wide-field imaging and, in most infants, postoperative dexamethasone eye drops, was associated with a low number of laser spots and a low re-treatment rate. All eyes that did not have aggressive retinopathy of prematurity regressed after the RALT treatment. Further longitudinal studies are required to assess the long-term structural and functional outcomes.
(Less)
- author
- Öhnell, Hanna Maria
LU
; Nobaek, Sandra
LU
; Andréasson, Sten
LU
and Gränse, Lotta
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-07-31
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
- pages
- 1 - 6
- publisher
- Slack Incorporated
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42546118
- ISSN
- 0191-3913
- DOI
- 10.3928/01913913-20260601-01
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 40d54988-ac98-4de7-94d3-1f3a499371ef
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-04 09:05:54
- date last changed
- 2026-08-04 09:05:54
@article{40d54988-ac98-4de7-94d3-1f3a499371ef,
abstract = {{<p>PURPOSE: To describe a less invasive laser therapy for retinopathy of prematurity, referred to as ridge-adjacent laser treatment (RALT), and its outcome regarding the need for re-treatment.</p><p>METHODS: This was a retrospective observational review of medical records of all infants treated with RALT as a primary intervention for retinopathy of prematurity between June 2016 and June 2021 at a tertiary care center in Sweden. The intervention consisted of RALT with intraoperative wide-field imaging, and most patients also received postoperative dexamethasone eye drops. The primary outcomes measured were the number of laser spots applied, re-treatment rates, and the maximum stage of retinopathy of prematurity observed.</p><p>RESULTS: Sixty-one eyes of 31 infants were treated with RALT. The median follow-up time was 24 weeks (range: 17 to 45 weeks) after birth. The mean number of laser spots administered was 859 ± 280. Re-treatment was required in 3% of the eyes (6% of the infants). After excluding infants with aggressive retinopathy of prematurity the re-treatment rate for the eyes was 2% (4% of the infants). Seven of the 61 eyes were diagnosed as having aggressive retinopathy of prematurity. In three of these eyes, the retinopathy progressed to a maximum stage greater than 3 following RALT treatment.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity using the RALT technique, in conjunction with intraoperative wide-field imaging and, in most infants, postoperative dexamethasone eye drops, was associated with a low number of laser spots and a low re-treatment rate. All eyes that did not have aggressive retinopathy of prematurity regressed after the RALT treatment. Further longitudinal studies are required to assess the long-term structural and functional outcomes.</p>}},
author = {{Öhnell, Hanna Maria and Nobaek, Sandra and Andréasson, Sten and Gränse, Lotta}},
issn = {{0191-3913}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{07}},
pages = {{1--6}},
publisher = {{Slack Incorporated}},
series = {{Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus}},
title = {{Ridge-Adjacent Laser With Imaging and Dexamethasone for Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/01913913-20260601-01}},
doi = {{10.3928/01913913-20260601-01}},
year = {{2026}},
}