Intravitreal Conbercept with Grid/Focal Photocoagulation for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the main cause of blindness in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). This meta-analysis compared the effectiveness and safety of macular grid/focal photocoagulation with and without conbercept in the treatment of DME. Studies were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP Information Resource Integration Service Platform from their earliest records to June 2021. Twelve articles involving 2600 patients with DME were included. Results showed that patients receiving conbercept with macular grid/focal photocoagulation had a statistically significant reduction in central macular thickness (CMT) over macular grid/focal photocoagulation alone at 1 month and 3 months post procedure. Compared with the control group, the combination therapy group had a significantly increased level of effectiveness and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) compared with the control group. The combination therapy group significantly increased the level of effectiveness and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) compared with the control group. Conbercept with macular grid/focal photocoagulation was more effective than macular grid/focal photocoagulation alone in terms of functional outcomes for DME treatment.