A randomized clinical trial of feeder vessel photocoagulation of proliferative sickle cell retinopathy. II. Update and analysis of risk factors

Abstract

Follow-up of patients enrolled in a randomized prospective trial of feeder vessel photocoagulation for proliferative sickle cell retinopathy has shown that photocoagulation is effective in preventing vitreous hemorrhage and visual loss from vitreous hemorrhage. In addition, a reduction of visual loss from all causes in photocoagulated eyes approaches statistical significance. Analysis of control eyes shows that there are three independent risk factors for the occurrence of vitreous hemorrhage: (1) the presence of the SC genotype, (2) the presence of vitreous blood at the initial evaluation and, (3) the presence of greater than 60 degrees of perfused neovascularization.