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The following is a summary of “Topical bromfenac in VEGF-driven maculopathies: topical review and meta-analysis,” published in the August 2024 issue of Ophthalmology by Kulikov et al.
Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help lower the treatment burden and enhance the results of anti-VEGF therapy for retinal issues like neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusions.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study highlighting the benefits of topical bromfenac as an additional treatment alongside intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in managing VEGF-driven maculopathies.
They systematically reviewed Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE to find studies on neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion-related macular edema, myopic choroidal neovascularization, and radiation maculopathy. The focus was on changes in central retinal thickness, visual acuity, and anti-VEGF injection frequency with added topical bromfenac.
The results showed 10 studies were based on bromfenac with anti-VEGF therapy. Another 5 studies analyzed injection numbers, and 5 looked at changes in central retinal thickness. Bromfenac significantly reduced the number of injections needed (P=0.005) with pro re nata regimen while showing similar central retinal thickness outcomes (P=0.07). Only 1 study reported better visual outcomes with combined treatment. Otherwise, no significant differences in visual acuity or adverse effects were reported.
Investigators concluded that topical bromfenac was a safe addition to anti-VEGF therapy, potentially lowering the need for frequent injections without compromising central retinal thickness or visual acuity improvements.
Source: bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-024-03650-z
