Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The isolated-check visual evoked potential (ic-VEP) is an advanced electrophysiological technique that selectively evaluates the magnocellular pathway, enabling precise assessment of optic nerve damage and currently serving as a diagnostic tool for glaucoma. This meta-analysis ev...

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Main Authors: Yongran Li, Yanling Lu, Tulong Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Ophthalmology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04221-6
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author Yongran Li
Yanling Lu
Tulong Lin
author_facet Yongran Li
Yanling Lu
Tulong Lin
author_sort Yongran Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The isolated-check visual evoked potential (ic-VEP) is an advanced electrophysiological technique that selectively evaluates the magnocellular pathway, enabling precise assessment of optic nerve damage and currently serving as a diagnostic tool for glaucoma. This meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic performance of ic-VEP in glaucoma detection. Methods The study protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (Registration ID: CRD42025633065) prior to data extraction. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid Medline, and Cochrane databases was conducted from inception to January 1, 2025. Studies evaluating ic-VEP for glaucoma diagnosis were included, with confirmed cases defined by standard automated perimetry (SAP). Eligible studies underwent methodological quality was appraised using the QUADAS-2 tool and Review Manager 5.3. Meta-analysis was conducted using Meta-Disc 1.4 and Stata 13.0 based on the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model to derive pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC). Publication bias was assessed using Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test and trim-and-fill analysis. Heterogeneity was quantified via the I2 statistic, with meta-regression identifying potential sources of variability. Results Ten studies comprising 434 patients with glaucoma and 321 healthy controls met the inclusion criteria. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for glaucoma diagnosis were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.71–0.82) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.80–0.98), with an AUC 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83–0.89). The DOR was 44.96 (95% CI: 15.25–132.51) and the lambda value was 3.70 (95% CI: 2.73–4.66). Both Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test (p = 0.30) and trim-and-fill analysis (imputed studies = 4) demonstrated no substantial publication bias. Meta-regression identified type of device (Neucodia vs. EvokeDx) and type of glaucoma (early POAG vs. others) as contributors to heterogeneity. Conclusions Despite limited included studies and sample sizes, ic-VEP exhibits high diagnostic accuracy for glaucoma, offering advantages such as objectivity, non-invasiveness, and operational simplicity. These findings support its integration into clinical workflows for glaucoma screening and diagnosis.
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spelling doaj-art-e6a3b1d711b94142aec005d7b9de1dc42025-08-20T04:01:53ZengBMCBMC Ophthalmology1471-24152025-07-0125111310.1186/s12886-025-04221-6Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysisYongran Li0Yanling Lu1Tulong Lin2Center of Ophthalmic, Heyou HospitalShunde Aier Eye HospitalCenter of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Torch Development Zone People’s HospitalAbstract Background The isolated-check visual evoked potential (ic-VEP) is an advanced electrophysiological technique that selectively evaluates the magnocellular pathway, enabling precise assessment of optic nerve damage and currently serving as a diagnostic tool for glaucoma. This meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic performance of ic-VEP in glaucoma detection. Methods The study protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (Registration ID: CRD42025633065) prior to data extraction. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid Medline, and Cochrane databases was conducted from inception to January 1, 2025. Studies evaluating ic-VEP for glaucoma diagnosis were included, with confirmed cases defined by standard automated perimetry (SAP). Eligible studies underwent methodological quality was appraised using the QUADAS-2 tool and Review Manager 5.3. Meta-analysis was conducted using Meta-Disc 1.4 and Stata 13.0 based on the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model to derive pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC). Publication bias was assessed using Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test and trim-and-fill analysis. Heterogeneity was quantified via the I2 statistic, with meta-regression identifying potential sources of variability. Results Ten studies comprising 434 patients with glaucoma and 321 healthy controls met the inclusion criteria. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for glaucoma diagnosis were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.71–0.82) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.80–0.98), with an AUC 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83–0.89). The DOR was 44.96 (95% CI: 15.25–132.51) and the lambda value was 3.70 (95% CI: 2.73–4.66). Both Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test (p = 0.30) and trim-and-fill analysis (imputed studies = 4) demonstrated no substantial publication bias. Meta-regression identified type of device (Neucodia vs. EvokeDx) and type of glaucoma (early POAG vs. others) as contributors to heterogeneity. Conclusions Despite limited included studies and sample sizes, ic-VEP exhibits high diagnostic accuracy for glaucoma, offering advantages such as objectivity, non-invasiveness, and operational simplicity. These findings support its integration into clinical workflows for glaucoma screening and diagnosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04221-6GlaucomaVisual evoked potentialIsolated-check visual evoked potentialDiagnosisMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Yongran Li
Yanling Lu
Tulong Lin
Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Ophthalmology
Glaucoma
Visual evoked potential
Isolated-check visual evoked potential
Diagnosis
Meta-analysis
title Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Diagnostic accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort diagnostic accuracy of isolated check visual evoked potentials for glaucoma a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Glaucoma
Visual evoked potential
Isolated-check visual evoked potential
Diagnosis
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04221-6
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AT yanlinglu diagnosticaccuracyofisolatedcheckvisualevokedpotentialsforglaucomaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT tulonglin diagnosticaccuracyofisolatedcheckvisualevokedpotentialsforglaucomaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis