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New research · Ophthalmology
Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia · 2d
Meta-analysisArquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia · 2026

Combined anti-VEGF and intravitreal dexamethasone treatment versus anti-VEGF alone for persistent diabetic macular edema: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dillan Cunha Amaral, Tiago Nelson de Oliveira Rassi, William Binotti … Ricardo Noguera Louzada
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OphthalmologyMeta-analysis

Adding dexamethasone to anti-VEGF was associated with greater reduction in retinal swelling

Combined anti-VEGF and intravitreal dexamethasone treatment versus anti-VEGF alone for persistent diabetic macular edema: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dillan Cunha Amaral … Ricardo Noguera Louzada
Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia · 2026
Purpose

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety profiles of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy with dexamethasone vs anti-vascular endothelial growth factor alone in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema.

Methods

Our data were prospectively registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023482385).

n = 315 eyes
Results
-68.21
combined therapy meant much thinner retinal swelling on scans
n = 315 eyes
More results

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for studies that compared treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and dexamethasone to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor alone in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema.

More results

The primary outcomes were changes in best corrected visual acuity, changes in central macular thickness, and the incidence of serious adverse events.

Of these 154 (48.88%) received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor alone, while 161 (51.12%) underwent combined therapy.

“
Conclusion

However, its effects on final visual acuity outcomes were no better than those resulting from anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy alone.

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