Table 4.
Relative strengths and limitations of identified studies.
| Study | Strengths | Limitations | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghasemi Falavarjani et al. | Prospective. | Small number of eyes, used various types of VEGF inhibitors, included 2 different etiologies for macular edema, short duration of treatment, used built-in machine VD measurements, and did not exclude patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. | [32] |
| Sorour et al. | Relatively large number of eyes and used both 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 scans. | Retrospective, short follow-up period, variable anti-VEGF agent used, variable injection interval, used built-in machine VD measurements, did not exclude patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. | [33] |
| Hsieh et al. | Relatively large number of eyes, used a custom developed software, used one anti-VEGF agent, included one eye of each patient, assessed multiple outcome measures. | Retrospective, used only 3 × 3 scans and did not use automated image alignment. | [34] |
| Conti et al. | Used one anti-VEGF agent, had a long duration of follow-up, assessed two treatment protocols. | Retrospective, small number of eyes, used only 6 × 6 scans, used built-in machine VD measurements, did not exclude patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. | [35] |
| Michalska and Heinke | Used one anti-VEGF agent, included one eye of each patient. | Retrospective, small number of eyes, used only 3 × 3 scans, used variable number of injections, used built-in machine VD measurements. | [36] |
| Zhu et al. | Prospective, divided patients into ischemic and nonischemic groups, included one eye of each patient, used one anti-VEGF agent. | Used only 6 × 6 scans, did not use automated image alignment, used built-in machine VD measurements. | [37] |
| Mirshani et al. | Prospective, used one anti-VEGF agent, assessed multiple outcome measures. | Small number of eyes, short follow-up period, used only 3 × 3 scans, included both eyes of some patients, did not exclude patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. | [38] |
| Couturier et al. | Prospective. | Small number of eyes, included both eyes of some patients, used only 3 × 3 scans, used 2 anti-VEGF agents, used built-in machine VD measurements. | [39] |
| Elnahry et al. (the IMPACT study) | Prospective, registered, relatively large number of eyes, automated image alignment, used a custom developed software, used both 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 scans, used one anti-VEGF agent, patients were treatment-naïve, assessed multiple outcome measures. | Included both eyes of some patients and short follow-up period. | [40] |
| Pereira et al. | Prospective, relatively long follow-up period, used a single anti-VEGF agent, used microperimetry and fluorescein angiography. | Small number of eyes, assessed FAZ only, not all eyes were treatment naïve. | [41] |
| Elnahry et al. | Prospective, fellow eye used as control, long duration of follow-up, treatment naïve patient. | Small number of eyes, used built-in machine VD measurements. | [12] |
| Barash et al. | Only study to assess effect on VD immediately after the injection. | Retrospective, small number of eyes, short duration of follow-up, variable etiologies included, used built-in machine VD measurements, used 2 anti-VEGF agents. | [42] |
| Statler et al. | Prospective, long follow-up period, used a single anti-VEGF agent. | Small number of eyes, used only 3 × 3 scans, used built-in machine VD measurements, did not exclude patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. | [43] |
| Golshani et al. (SWAP-TWO study) | Prospective, long follow-up period, used a single anti-VEGF agent. | Small number of eyes, used only 3 × 3 scans, used built-in machine VD measurements, did not exclude patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. | [44] |
| Busch et al. | Used a single anti-VEGF agent, included one eye of each patient, patients were treatment naive. | Retrospective, small number of eyes, used only 3 × 3 scans, variable follow-up period, used built-in machine VD measurements. | [45] |
| Dastiridou et al. | Prospective, used a single anti-VEGF agent, included one eye of each patient. | Small number of eyes, relatively short follow-up period, used built-in machine VD measurements and assessed SCP VD only. | [46] |
FAZ: foveal avascular zone; SCP: superficial capillary plexus; VD: vascular density; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.