Visual field after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual field after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

Method: Retrospective cohort study. Infants with retinopathy of prematurity treated by anti-VEGF therapy or laser treatment were included in the study. Degrees of visual field in eight directions examined by Goldmann perimeter (intensity, 1000 apostilb; size, V4e = 64 mm) were compared between the anti-VEGF therapy and laser treatment groups. The visual acuity (VA) and spherical equivalent refraction were also compared between the two groups.

Results: Nine eyes with anti-VEGF therapy and 12 eyes with laser treatment were enrolled in the analysis. The total, upper, nasal upper, nasal, nasal lower, temporal lower, and temporal upper visual fields were significantly wider in the eyes with anti-VEGF therapy than in those with laser treatment (496 vs 416, P = .002; 53 vs 45, P = .008; 56 vs 43, P = .003; 58 vs 39, P < .001; 55 vs 44, P = .01; 72 vs 65, P = .01; and 62 vs 56, P = .03, respectively). The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA tended to be better in the eyes with anti-VEGF therapy than in those with laser treatment (0.01 vs 0.15, P = .06). Eyes with anti-VEGF therapy had significantly lower myopia than those with laser treatment (spherical equivalent refraction: -0.72 vs -5.7, P = .001).

Conclusion: Anti-VEGF therapy may provide a wider visual field, better VA, and less myopia compared with laser treatment.