Prospective Analysis of Functional Outcomes in Children with Cicatricial Retinopathy of Prematurity After Vitreoretinal Surgery During the Active Phase of the Disease

Purpose: tо conduct a prospective analysis of functional outcomes in children with cicatricial retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after vitreoretinal surgery performed during the active phase of the disease from 2012 to 2024.

Methods. In 2025–2026, a prospective analysis of the clinical and functional status of 200 children (200 eyes) with cicatricial ROP from various regions of the Russian Federation was performed. All patients underwent surgical treatment during the active phase of the disease between 2012 and 2024. In the cicatricial phase of ROP (at ages 1 to 13 years), all children underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including visometry, autorefractometry, biometry, tonometry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), B-mode ultrasound, and electrophysiological studies.

Results. High functional outcomes (BCVA ≥ 0.3) were achieved only in surgeries for stages 3 and 4a, accounting for 31.9 % of all eyes with assessed visual acuity. For stages 4b, 5, and aggressive posterior ROP, the proportion of eyes with BCVA below 0.2 reached 68 %. Astigmatism was detected in 97.6 % of cases, and myopia in 72.6 %. OCT findings revealed foveal pit flattening (38.2 %), foveal hypoplasia (36.2 %), and retinal nerve fiber layer thinning (95.4 %). Clinically significant ocular hypertension was registered in 10.6 % of cases.

Conclusion. Even with anatomical success of vitreoretinal surgery for active ROP, functional outcomes remain limited, especially for initial stages 4b, 5, and aggressive posterior ROP. The obtained data can serve as a basis for optimizing the timing of surgical intervention, developing rehabilitation programs, and predicting long-term outcomes in children with ROP.

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