Evaluating the Efficacy of Anti-VEGF versus Laser Therapy in Zone 1 & Zone 2 Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Doi: 10.36351/pjo.v42i3.2302

Abstract

Database searches were conducted across PubMed, Science Direct, CENTRAL, and Scopus, up to December 6th, 2024, to evaluate efficacy of Anti-VEGF Versus Laser Therapy in Zone 1 & Zone 2 Retinopathy of Prematurity. Anti-VEGF treatment showed significant superiority in initial regression for zone 1 ROP (OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.55, 5.61; p = 0.001), however, in zone 2 ROP, there were no significant differences. (OR: 1.15 95%: 0.59, 2.24, p = 0.67). Zone 1 ROP treated with laser photocoagulation demonstrated increased odds of recurrence after initial treatment(OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.25, 4.00; p=0.007), compared to lower odds of recurrence in those treated with anti-VEGF in zone 2 ROP (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.94; p=0.01). There was no significant difference in favourable outcomes (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.33, 1.02; p=0.06and OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.21, 1.40; p=0.21) in both zones.