OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of bedside treatment by laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

METHODSThe clinical data of 30 cases of ROP who underwent peripheral laser ablation on bedside in the NICU from March to August 2009 were studied retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 59 eyes from 30 patients received the laser therapy, with a total cure rate of 95%. According to the International Classification of ROP, 26 eyes of 13 infants had zone 1 disease, and 33 eyes of 17 infants had zone 2 disease. The birth gestational age and birth weight as well as corrected gestational age and corrected weight at operation in the zone 1 disease group were significantly lower than those in the zone 2 disease group. The number of laser spots in the zone 1 disease group was significantly higher than that in the zone 2 disease group. The cure rate in the zone 2 disease group (100%) was significantly higher than that in the zone 1 disease group (88%).

CONCLUSIONSLaser retinal photocoagulation on bedside in the NICU is effective for both zone 1 and zone 2 ROP. As compared with the infants with zone 2 disease, the infants with zone 1 disease may have a poor outcome.