DLPC is a safe and effective treatment for ROP. Neonates of lower gestational age and birth weight require earlier and more aggressive laser treatment and may have a higher refractive error.

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Aim: To compare refraction and keratometry readings between premature and term babies at 40 weeks' postconceptional age (PCA), and the possible effect of birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) on ocular parameters. Methods: 33 preterm babies hospitalised in the neonatal unit between January and March 2002 were matched with 33 term babies born within the same period and hospitalised in the same unit. The preterm group underwent funduscopy at 4-5 weeks after delivery. Ophthalmic examination at 40 weeks' PCA included cycloplegic retinoscopy, funduscopy, and keratometric measurements. Mean and standard deviation of refraction, astigmatic power (plus cylinder), axis of astigmatism, and keratometric reading were calculated and compared between groups and correlated with BW and GA in the premature babies. Results: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 1 or 2 was noted in 88% of the premature babies on the first funduscopy examination, but only in 36% by the corrected age of 40 weeks. Statistically significant between groups differences were found for cycloplegic refraction (p = 0.02 for both eyes) and keratometry (p = 0.001 for both eyes). GA and BW had no impact on the refractive and keratometric findings in the preterm babies. Conclusions: Babies with mild ROP at the corrected age of 40 weeks have mild hypermetropia compared to the moderate hypermetropia found in term babies (a difference of 50%), and they have higher and steeper keratometric values. The greater corneal curvature may contribute to the development of myopia. Ophthalmologists and parents need to be aware of the possibility of visual dysfunction already very early in life even in relatively older premature infants.

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To evaluate the visual outcome and postoperative complications of cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in children with uveitis. Design: A multicenter, retrospective, interventional case series. The setting included 3 medical centers in Israel. The interventions were cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. Aggressive preoperative and postoperative systemic and topical anti-inflammatory treatment was instituted. The main outcome measures included postoperative inflammation, complications, and visual outcome. Results: Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)-associated uveitis were seen and underwent cataract surgery at an earlier age, and had a lower preoperative visual acuity and more severe uveitic complications when first seen, than those with non-JRA-associated uve-itis. Visual acuity improved by 2 or more lines in all patients, and in 13 eyes the final visual acuity was 20/40 or better. Postoperative complications included elevated intraocular pressure, posterior and anterior capsular opacities, and macular dysfunction. Conclusions: Compared with those with non-JRAassociated uveitis, children with JRA-associated uveitis tend to have more severe manifestations of disease when first seen and after surgery, but there is no significant difference in postoperative course or complications. Intraocular lens implantation, including small-incision, foldable, intraocular lenses, is well tolerated, when combined with aggressive medical treatment, for controlling inflammation. We believe that intraocular lens implantation is not contraindicated in those with pediatric uveitis, including uveitis associated with JRA.