A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of adding radiotherapy to standard anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The researchers compared participants receiving radiotherapy combined with anti-VEGF injections against those receiving anti-VEGF monotherapy. The study followed participants for up to 24 months to track vision changes and treatment needs.
The analysis found that adding radiotherapy was associated with a higher risk of losing more than 15 vision letters at both 12 and 24 months. Specifically, the risk of significant vision loss was 2.36 times higher at 12 months and 2.39 times higher at 24 months for those receiving the combined treatment. Additionally, best-corrected visual acuity showed a slight difference between the groups, though the direction was not specified.
While the combined approach did result in fewer injections of ranibizumab, the increased risk of vision loss is a significant concern. The study did not report specific adverse events or tolerability issues. Readers should note that this was a meta-analysis of existing data, and absolute numbers for outcomes were not reported. The evidence suggests that adding radiotherapy may not be beneficial for preserving vision in this condition.