AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of oral propranolol for treatment of vision function-threaten infantile ocular hemangioma.

METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. A total of 54 infants with huge ocular hemangioma were treated with oral propranolol. The changes of tumor appearance, tumor size evaluated by color ultrasound or MRI were examined before treatment, 1mo, 3mo, 6mo and 1a after treatment. In addition, the astigmatism degree of hemangioma eyes were measured with cycloplegic refraction before treatment and at the stage of drug withdrawal, the local and general adverse reactions were recorded during the treatment.

RESULTS: One week after treatment, all of the cases had different degrees of tumor color or texture changes gradually. 1mo, 3mo and 6mo after treatment, the effective rates were 88%, 96% and 98%, the cure rates were 25%, 35% and 67% respectively. The patients with ocular dysfunction such as ptosis, ocular motility disorder or exophthalmos became better gradually during the treatment, and were fully recovered finally as the hemangioma shrinking. At the stage of drug withdrawal, the M(P₂₅, P₇₅)of the hemangioma average volume were 150.00(0.00, 378.00)mm³ which decreased from 3254.00(2016.00, 7600.00)mm³ before treatment; and the M(P₂₅, P₇₅)of astigmatism values were 0.75(0.50, 1.44)D compared with 2.25(1.00, 3.50)D measured pre-treatment. The difference of hemangioma volume and astigmatism values before and after treatment was statistically significant(P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: With the detailed assessment of the general condition of patients, oral propranolol of recommended dosage for treatment of vision function-threaten infantile ocular hemangioma was a safe and effective regimen.