Meta-Analyses of Two Treatment Regimens for Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Background and Objectives: To pool available data on the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and number of injections as reported by treat and extend (T&E) and pro re nata (PRN) regimens for retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Materials and Methods: After PubMed was queried, separate random effect models were fitted to the data extracted and the Wald test was used to compare the estimates of the two independent meta-analyses. Results: Fourteen T&E and 29 PRN studies were included in two independent meta-analyses. No significant difference was observed in BCVA (+14.74 [+11.52, +17.96] in T&E vs +15.90 [+14.24, + 17.56] in PRN, P = 0.530) or CRT improvements (−259.56 [−189.02, −330.09] in T&E vs −256.58 [−226.57, −286.48] in PRN, P = 0.939). More injections over 12 months were observed in T&E regimens (7.48 [6.32, 8.65] vs 5.13 [4.20, 6.06] in PRN, P = 0.002). Conclusion: Although more injections may be required, T&E achieves similar functional and anatomic benefits as compared to PRN regimens. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:244–250.]