Short-Term Outcomes of Trabeculectomy With or Without Anti-VEGF in Patients With Neovascular Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of trabeculectomy alone or combined with intravitreal injections of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effects of trabeculectomy alone or combined with intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. We searched four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science) up to January 2023 and extracted data on three surgical outcomes: postoperative intraocular pressure, success rate and complications. We used a random-effects model to calculate pooled relative risk (RR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed publication bias using Begg and Egger tests. RESULTS: We included seven studies with 353 eyes. Compared to trabeculectomy alone, trabeculectomy with anti-VEGF had a lower risk of postoperative complications (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41–0.89) and higher success rate (RR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02–1.40). The intraocular pressure reduction was significantly greater in the trabeculectomy with anti-VEGF augmentation group than the trabeculectomy group from 1 week (SMD, −1.36; 95% CI, −2.76 to 0.04) to 6 months (SMD, −0.79; 95% CI, −1.50 to −0.07) after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: According to current evidence, adding intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents to trabeculectomy may improve the short time outcomes of patients with neovascular glaucoma.