CRYO-ROP HEADQUARTERS--PHASE IV

尽管冷冻疗法作为严重ROP的治疗方法已被证明在保护出生体重低于1251克的早产儿的视力方面显着有效，但有理由预期多年来患有严重ROP的眼睛会出现越来越多的并发症，无论是否接受治疗。随着随访持续到学龄期，因ROP受损的眼睛正在发展新的或更广泛的视网膜脱离、白内障和带状角膜病-所有这些情况不仅会使已经很差的视力恶化，而且会导致眼部疼痛。 随着这些儿童进入青春期，特别值得关注的是，视力保留的眼睛将持续晚期视网膜脱离或进行性感光细胞衰竭，以及随之而来的视力下降。这项正在进行的研究提供了一个机会，以确定冷冻疗法的好处，在幼儿期积累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重度ROP眼睛的结构和功能进行客观盲法评估。 将对治疗眼和未治疗眼的许多后遗症和并发症（如晚期视网膜脱离、黄斑变性和视力衰竭）的发生率进行比较。

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.