The outcome data of the Multicenter Trial of Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity1 at 3½-year follow-up reported herein are encouraging and important for all ophthalmologists involved in the treatment of at-risk infants. At a time when the phrase "randomized, prospective, multicenter trial" has practically become a shibboleth in the grantsmanship arena, it is gratifying to see the wealth of information that can be obtained from a rigorously conducted trial. Although some have advocated cryotherapy for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity,2 this multicenter trial provides us with details not available elsewhere. The investigators and committees of this study should be congratulated for their attention to detail in performing this trial.
See also pp 339 and 345.
Where are we now in our understanding of retinopathy of prematurity and its treatment?
It is now clearly proven that cryotherapy is effective in treating some, but not all, "at-risk infants" as