The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of retinal detachment after laser photocoagulation therapy in anterior zone I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We performed a retrospective analysis of records of 30 eyes (16 patients) with threshold anterior zone I ROP that were treated with diode laser photocoagulation. We investigated the incidence and time of retinal detachment, birth weight, gestational age, systemic problem, vitreous hemorrhage, the interval between

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... nosis of first ROP and threshold ROP, and the number of laser burns. We performed statistical analysis of the risk factors. The total incidence rate of retinal detachment was 43.3% (13 eyes), and the mean time was 2.85±2.88 (range: 1∼12) weeks after laser photocoagulation. There were no significant differences in birth weight, gestational age, systemic problem, the interval between diagnosis of first ROP and threshold ROP, or the number of laser burns between the retinal detachment group and no retinal detachment group. The incidences of vitreous hemorrhage in the retinal detachment group and no retinal detachment group were 46.2% (6 eyes) and 5.9% (1 eye), respectively (p=0.04). The results suggest that vitreous hemorrhage is a risk factor for retinal detachment in threshold anterior zone I ROP after laser photocoagulation therapy. Vitreous hemorrhage should be regarded as a sign of poor prognosis and it is necessary to follow up carefully.