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Cohort studyOphthalmology · 2026

Anti-VEGF versus Laser Photocoagulation Surgery for Primary Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

S Grace Prakalapakorn, Rupal H Trivedi, Kara M Cavuoto … Melinda Y Chang

OphthalmologyCohort study

Most studies found no neurodevelopmental difference between anti-VEGF and laser for retinopathy of prematurity

Anti-VEGF versus Laser Photocoagulation Surgery for Primary Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

S Grace Prakalapakorn … Melinda Y Chang

Ophthalmology · 2026

Purpose

To review the evidence on neurodevelopmental outcomes after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared with laser photocoagulation surgery (LPC) for primary treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (retinopathy of prematurity).

Methods

The panel methodologist assigned ratings to the articles according to the level of evidence.

n = 13 studies

77%

Results

77%

studies finding no clear difference in later brain and thinking development between the two treatments

n = 13 studies

More results

The studies included infants who were treated and followed over a 17-year period from 2006 through 2022 in 39 countries.

The most common neurodevelopmental test used was the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, used in 13 studies (50%).

More results

The age at assessment ranged from 0 months corrected age to 12 years, where most studies (n = 14 [54%]) included testing of infants younger than 24 months of age.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Although no level I evidence was available, systematically reviewed studies with level II and III evidence showed no evidence that neurodevelopmental outcomes differed among infants who received anti-VEGF compared with LPC for primary treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

A limitation to this assessment was that no study was powered for neurodevelopmental outcomes or to detect small differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Post

Anti-VEGF versus Laser Photocoagulation Surgery for Primary Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Most studies found no neurodevelopmental difference between anti-VEGF and laser for retinopathy of prematurity

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