Retinopathy of Prematurity Treatment Trends from 2003 to 2020 in the United States

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in children in the United States, despite treatment. 1 Ludwig C.A. Chen T.A. Hernandez-Boussard T. et al. The epidemiology of retinopathy of prematurity in the United States. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017; 48: 553-562 Crossref PubMed Scopus (70) Google Scholar , 2 Prakalapakorn S.G. Greenberg L. Edwards E.M. Ehret D.E.Y. Trends in retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment: 2008-2018. Pediatrics. 2021; 147: 1-8 Crossref Scopus (8) Google Scholar , 3 Zhang M.H. Blair M.P. Ham S.A. Rodriguez S.H. Two-year outcomes comparing anti-VEGF injections to laser for ROP using a commercial claims database. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020; 51: 486-493 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar Laser and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are the primary treatment for ROP. 4 Lepore D. Quinn G.E. Molle F. et al. Intravitreal bevacizumab versus laser treatment in type 1 retinopathy of prematurity: report on fluorescein angiographic findings. Ophthalmology. 2014; 121: 2212-2219 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (142) Google Scholar , 5 Good W.V. Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. Final results of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ETROP) randomized trial. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2004; 102 (; discussion 48-50): 233-248 PubMed Google Scholar , 6 Stahl A. Lepore D. Fielder A. et al. Ranibizumab versus laser therapy for the treatment of very low birthweight infants with retinopathy of prematurity (RAINBOW): an open-label randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2019; 394: 1551-1559 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (141) Google Scholar , 7 Mintz-Hittner H.A. Kennedy K.A. Chuang A.Z. BEAT-ROP Cooperative GroupEfficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity. N Engl J Med. 2011; 364: 603-615 Crossref PubMed Scopus (987) Google Scholar We evaluated the use of laser and anti-VEGF and associated adverse outcomes from 2003 to 2020.