Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Anti-VEGF Resistance Through Advanced Vascular Morphology Assessment in Choroidal Neovascularization
Published on: August 11, 2023
Visual field after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity
Shumpei Obata1, Riko Matsumoto2, Maki Iwasa2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan. obata326@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
Insights
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for retinopathy of prematurity resulted in significantly wider visual fields and less myopia compared to laser treatment. This suggests anti-VEGF therapy may offer superior visual outcomes for premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Medical Treatments
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious condition affecting premature infants.
- Current treatments for ROP include laser photocoagulation and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.
- The long-term visual field outcomes of these treatments are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the visual field outcomes between anti-VEGF therapy and laser treatment in infants with ROP.
- To evaluate differences in visual acuity and refractive error between the two treatment groups.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study design was employed.
- Infants diagnosed with ROP and treated with either anti-VEGF or laser therapy were included.
- Visual fields were assessed using Goldmann perimetry, and visual acuity and spherical equivalent refraction were also compared.
Main Results:
- Eyes treated with anti-VEGF therapy demonstrated significantly wider total, upper, nasal, and temporal visual fields compared to laser treatment.
- Visual acuity tended to be better in the anti-VEGF group, although not statistically significant (P=0.06).
- Eyes receiving anti-VEGF therapy showed significantly less myopia (lower negative spherical equivalent refraction) than those treated with laser therapy (P=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Anti-VEGF therapy appears to be associated with improved visual field function in ROP patients.
- The findings suggest that anti-VEGF therapy may lead to better visual acuity and reduced myopia compared to laser treatment.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these visual field benefits and long-term visual outcomes.
Purpose:
To evaluate the visual field after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.
Method:
Retrospective cohort study. Infants with retinopathy of prematurity treated by anti-VEGF therapy or laser treatment were included in the study. Degrees of visual field in eight directions examined by Goldmann perimeter (intensity, 1000 apostilb; size, V4e = 64 mm2) were compared between the anti-VEGF therapy and laser treatment groups. The visual acuity (VA) and spherical equivalent refraction were also compared between the two groups.
Results:
Nine eyes with anti-VEGF therapy and 12 eyes with laser treatment were enrolled in the analysis. The total, upper, nasal upper, nasal, nasal lower, temporal lower, and temporal upper visual fields were significantly wider in the eyes with anti-VEGF therapy than in those with laser treatment (496 vs 416, P = .002; 53 vs 45, P = .008; 56 vs 43, P = .003; 58 vs 39, P < .001; 55 vs 44, P = .01; 72 vs 65, P = .01; and 62 vs 56, P = .03, respectively). The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA tended to be better in the eyes with anti-VEGF therapy than in those with laser treatment (0.01 vs 0.15, P = .06). Eyes with anti-VEGF therapy had significantly lower myopia than those with laser treatment (spherical equivalent refraction: -0.72 vs -5.7, P = .001).
Conclusion:
Anti-VEGF therapy may provide a wider visual field, better VA, and less myopia compared with laser treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment