Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare total retinal blood flow (TRBF) rates before and after retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treatment with laser photocoagulation using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen eyes from 8 premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit receiving laser photocoagulation treatment for ROP. METHODS: Total retinal blood flow was measured using LSCI longitudinally before and after laser treatment. Subject characteristics and clinical ROP features were included in regression analysis using generalized estimating equations to account for 2 eyes per subject and longitudinal measures over time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was peak TRBF. RESULTS: Prior to ROP treatment with laser photocoagulation, subjects had a peak TRBF of 8.8 ± 2.1 a.u. compared to 7.3 ± 1.4 a.u. after treatment (mean difference = 1.5 a.u., P = 0.04). Quadrant-specific blood flow analysis found that the nasal quadrant demonstrated the most significant blood flow reduction after laser treatment (P = 0.02), followed by the superior quadrant (P = 0.03). The inferior (P = 0.3) and temporal (P = 0.4) quadrants did not have significant blood flow reduction. Peak TRBF decreased over time after laser treatment, but the decrease was not significant (β = -0.3 a.u./week, P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: We observed lower TRBF after ROP treatment with laser photocoagulation. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.