Study compares anti-VEGF therapy and panretinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy treatment

Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy slightly outperforms panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in preventing vision loss in diabetic retinopathy, the difference is small and may not be clinically significant, according to a study.

The study included 14 trials, with a focus on proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Results showed that anti-VEGF therapy slightly outperformed PRP in preventing vision loss, measured by best-corrected visual acuity, with a small but statistically significant difference over up to 2 years. Anti-VEGF was also more effective at preventing complications like macular oedema and vitreous haemorrhage. However, the clinical significance of the vision preservation benefit was modest. No substantial differences were found between the 3 anti-VEGF drugs tested.

The analysis suggests that while anti-VEGF may offer advantages for preventing complications, further long-term observational studies are necessary to assess its benefits over extended periods.

Reference
Simmonds M, Llewellyn A, Walker R, et al. Anti-VEGF drugs compared with laser photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Technol Assess. 2024;1-71. doi: 10.3310/PCGV5709. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39673354.