CRYO-ROP HEADQUARTERS--PHASE IV

尽管冷冻治疗作为严重ROP的治疗方法已被证明对早产儿（出生体重低于1251克）的视力保护非常有效，但有理由预计，无论治疗与否，严重ROP的眼睛多年来并发症会越来越多。随着随访持续到学龄，被ROP损伤的眼睛正在发展为新的或更广泛的视网膜脱离、白内障和带状角膜病变——所有这些情况不仅会使已经不好的视力恶化，而且还会引起眼部疼痛。当这些儿童进入青春期时，特别值得关注的是，保留视力的眼睛会持续出现晚期视网膜脱离或进行性光感受器功能衰竭，从而导致视力下降。这项正在进行的研究提供了机会来确定在儿童早期积累的冷冻疗法的益处是否会持续到青春期。为了确定这一点，将在15岁时进行检查，包括对治疗和未治疗的严重ROP眼睛的结构和功能进行客观掩盖评估。将比较治疗和未治疗的眼睛的许多后遗症和并发症的发生率，如晚期视网膜脱离、黄斑变性和视力衰竭。

Although cryotherapy as a treatment for severe ROP has been proven significantly effective in preserving vision among children who were born prematurely with birth weights below 1251 grams, there is reason to expect mounting complications over the years in eyes that had severe ROP, whether treated or untreated. As follow-up has continued into school age, eyes damaged by ROP are developing new or more extensive retinal detachment, cataracts, and band keratopathy-all conditions that not only can worsen already poor vision, but also can cause ocular pain. As these children enter adolescence, there is particular concern that eyes with preserved vision will sustain late retinal detachments or progressive photoreceptor failure, and consequent decline of visual acuity. This ongoing study affords the opportunity to ascertain whether the benefits of cryotherapy that accrued during early childhood will be sustained in adolescence. To determine this, an examination will be conducted at age 15 that will include objective masked assessment of both structure and function in treated and untreated eyes with severe ROP. An incidence comparison will be made between treated and untreated eyes for many sequelae and complications, such as late retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and vision failure.