Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42221127›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2026

Refractive outcomes following anti-VEGF, vitrectomy, cryotherapy, and laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yu-Te Huang, I-Ming Wang, I-Jong Wang, Yi-Ching Shao, Ning-Yi Hsia, Hui-Ju Lin

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Complications of cataract surgery in eyes with retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yu-Te Huang *Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
I-Ming Wang *Department of Medical Research, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
I-Jong WangDepartment of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yi-Ching ShaoGraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Ning-Yi HsiaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Eye Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hui-Ju LinDepartment of Ophthalmology, Eye Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) survivors commonly develop myopia, yet refractive sequelae may differ substantially by treatment. We compared long term refractive outcomes after anti-VEGF, laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy, and vitrectomy. Methods: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception to July 2025. We also screened records from a curated EndNote library. The primary outcomes were mean spherical equivalent (SE) and the prevalence of high myopia (SE ≤ -5.0 D). Pooled estimates were calculated using a DerSimonian and Laird random effects model. Prespecified subgroup analyses compared treatment zone (Zone I vs. Zone II or III) and monotherapy vs. combination therapy. Results: Eighty-six studies, including 10,269 eyes were analyzed. Anti-VEGF had the least myopic pooled mean SE (-1.9 D) compared with laser (-3.8 D), cryotherapy (-5.8 D), and vitrectomy (-6.3 D). High myopia prevalence was 21.3% after anti-VEGF versus 42.6% after laser, and 55.4% to 58.6% after vitrectomy or cryotherapy. Compared with laser, anti-VEGF reduced the risk of high myopia (RR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.25-0.61). Heterogeneity was moderate to high (I Conclusion: Among major ROP treatments, anti-VEGF was associated with the most favorable refractive outcomes, while cryotherapy and vitrectomy showed the highest myopic burden. These findings support incorporating long term refractive consequences and zone-specific risk into treatment selection and follow up planning.

Indexed as

anti-VEGFcryotherapylaser photocoagulationretinopathy of prematurityspherical equivalentvitrectomy

Identifiers

PMID42221127
PMCPMC13219334

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.