Steroid Treatment in Macular Edema: A Bibliometric Study and Visualization Analysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Macular edema (ME) treatment is a significant research area in ophthalmology.
• Steroid therapy is a key focus for managing ME.
• Publication trends show increasing research interest over three decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the research landscape and trends in steroid treatment for macular edema.
• To identify key publications, authors, countries, and keywords in this field.
• To provide an overview of research progress and future directions.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software.
• Evaluation of publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (1988-2021).
• Visualization of research networks and trends.

Main Results:

• A total of 3,252 publications were analyzed from 83 countries.
• Research output increased significantly, particularly in the last two decades.
• Top contributing countries include the United States, Germany, and Italy.
• Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) was the most popular keyword, with macular edema, diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) being common topics.
• Investigative Ophthalmology Visual Science and Ophthalmology were leading journals.

Conclusions:

• Steroid implants are a viable option for specific macular edema cases, including those unresponsive to anti-VEGF therapy.
• While anti-VEGF is first-line for DME and RVO-related ME, steroids offer an alternative.
• Combined anti-VEGF and steroid therapy represents a crucial area for future research.