Long-term vision results measured with teller acuity cards and a new light perception/projection scale after management of late stages of retinopathy of prematurity

Objectives: To report visual acuity (VA) measured by Teller Acuity Cards (TACs) and a new Light Perception/ Projection (LPP) Scale in infants with regressed or treated stage 3, 4, or 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and to compare VA in eyes that under-went successful vitreoretinal surgery for stage 5 ROP with eyes with persistent retinal detachment. Methods: Nineteen infants (35 eyes) under-went VA testing using TACs and the LPP scale. The correlation between the methods was determined. Comparisons in VA scores were made in eyes by stage of ROP at the first examination and retinal status at the end of follow-up and between eyes with successful surgical reattachment and persistent retinal detachment. Results: Scores obtained with the LPP scale and TACs were highly correlated (Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient, 0.92 P<.001). Visual acuity was better in eyes with retinal attachment at the end of follow-up than in eyes with retinal detachment whether the ROP stage at first examination was 4A (n = 6), 4B (n = 16), or 5 (n=6). In eyes that progressed to stage 5 ROP and had successful surgical retinal reattachment (n = 16), both methods of measurement yielded better visual function than in eyes with persistent retinal detachment. The LPP scale provided scores for eyes without quantifiable grating acuity determined with TAC. Conclusions: The LPP scale scores were correlated with TAC scores in infants with stages 3, 4, and 5 ROP. Surgical retinal reattachment in stage 5 ROP resulted in better visual function. The LPP scale may be useful in measuring low vision in infants without quantifiable grating acuity and with later stages of ROP.