Refractive outcomes following the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity in the anti-VEGF era: a literature review

A growing body of evidence indicates that antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is effective in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We conducted a comprehensive literature review on refractive outcomes of anti-VEGF treatments compared to laser treatment or a combination of laser therapy and anti-VEGF injections. Of the 9 studies analyzed, the final mean refractive error was myopic in 3 studies (37%) with IVB monotherapy, 7 studies (87.5%) with laser photocoagulation, and 1 study (50%) with combined therapy. In comparing IVB with laser monotherapy, 6 of 7 studies (86%) reported that final refractive error was significantly more myopic (>1 D) after laser treatment. No study was graded as high quality, and only a single article provided moderate quality of evidence.