Retinopatía de la prematuridad: actualización en el tratamiento

Abstract

Premature neonatal retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in newborns, and it is characterized by abnormal and incomplete angiogenesis of the retinal vessels mainly due to immaturity. Objective: To describe new treatments. Methodology: A documentary-style review of 27 articles was conducted in PubMed and SCOPUS databases from 2017 to 2022. Results: Laser photocoagulation remains the gold standard for surgery in premature retinopathy; however, due to its adverse effects, this treatment and pharmacological therapy with anti-VEGF agents have been compared and found to have better long-term results and fewer adverse effects. Regarding investigational therapies, topical propranolol has been essential in preventing the disease. It helps to reduce the disease progression of the disease to more severe stages. Indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing ROP, but fluorescein angiography proved to be more effective in identifying lesions. Conclusions: The gold standard treatment for the ROP is laser photocoagulation. Anti-VEGF agents are easier to administer and cause less structural damage than photocoagulation. Nevertheless, the correct dose is still under investigation, and beta-blockers are useful in preventing disease progression.