Table 2

Meta-analysis results of the number of anti-VEGF injections, serious and non-serious ocular adverse events

Comparison	No. of RCTs (no. of patients)	Risk ratio (95% CI)	P value	I² (%)	P value for heterogeneity
The number of anti-VEGF injections
Anti-VEGF monotherapy vs PDT combination therapy	2 (74)31 32	1.30 (1.24 to 1.37)	0.0001	32	0.23
Anti-VEGF retreatment criteria: VA stabilisation vs disease activity	2 (587)21 22	0.83 (0.42 to 1.25)	0.0001	0	0.38
The number of serious ocular adverse events
Anti-VEGF therapy vs sham	1 (121)28	2.46 (0.13 to 46.36)	0.55	–	–
Anti-VEGF therapy vs PDT	4 (525)21 22 29 30	0.81 (0.11 to 6.10)	0.84	0	0.62
Anti-VEGF retreatment criteria: VA stabilisation vs disease activity	2 (587)21 22	1.06 (0.15 to 7.45)	0.96	0	0.96
The number of non-serious ocular adverse events
Anti-VEGF therapy vs sham	1 (121)28	0.57 (0.28 to 1.18)	0.13	–	–
Anti-VEGF therapy vs PDT	4 (525)21 22 29 30	1.02 (0.77 to 1.36)	0.88	0	0.90
Anti-VEGF monotherapy vs PDT combination therapy	2 (74)31 32	1.57 (0.77 to 3.22)	0.22	–	–
Anti-VEGF retreatment criteria: VA stabilisation vs disease activity	2 (587)21 22	1.04 (0.83 to 1.31)	0.72	0	0.41

anti-VEGF, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; PDT, photodynamic therapy; RCT, randomised controlled trial; VA, visual acuity.