Ophthalmology

Investigators observed differences in choroidal and inner neural layers among patients previously infected with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls.

A systematic review and meta-analysis provides insight into the potential for increased risk of noninfectious uveitis among people with vitamin D deficiency.

Gene therapy with mRNA is more cost-efficient, has a better safety profile, and is more reproducible than the viral vector, AAV, currently used for gene therapy to improve inherited retinal diseases.

The review emphasized the importance of therapies that provide sustained visual outcomes, given the increasing incidence of nAMD among aging adults.

Real-world data shows extended intervals with both brolucizumab alone or alternating anti-VEGF treatment regimens after 12 and 18 months in nAMD eyes.

Each month, our editorial staff compiles a recap of the top news in ophthalmology. Our November 2023 month-in-review features a trio of FDA news, important updates to the GA pipeline, and insight into disparities in eye care.

We kick off our annual recap series with some reflections from our expert advisory board, on topics ranging from AI and cell therapies, to semaglutide and RSV vaccines.

By 2040, the number of blindness and vision loss cases are estimated to increase by roughly 50% across Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South America, a new study found.

Of 1023 color fundus photograph images, the 5 optometrists in the study were able to accuracy diagnosis 226 images with AMD.

Standard-Field Fundus Camera performs well in detecting proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, but performs poorly detecting non-proliferative sickle cell retinopathy, a new study found.

After years 1, 3, and 5, patients with diabetic retinopathy patients had increased odds of depression and suicide, patients with glaucoma had increased odds for all mental health conditions with higher odds for suicide or suicide ideation, and patients with AMD had increased odds for depression.

Only the states California, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Pennsylvania require physicians to report medically impaired drivers, and 66% of states reported there was instructions on reporting available on DMV websites.

Household primary language was associated with vision screening, with children from non-English households exhibiting lower rates of pediatric vision screening.

Sent on November 13, 2023, the FDA letter warns Amazon on the introduction of unapproved new eye drop products into interstate commerce on their website.

Presented at AAO 2023, Kendra Klein-Mascia, MD, discussed her team’s study, comparing faricimab with aflibercept. The study found 2 injections of faricimab gets rid of 75% of retina fluid by week 8, but for aflibercept, erasing the same amount of fluid takes 3 injections until week 12.

At the end of year 2, 80% of patients on faricimab reached > q12 week dosing, and 63% achieved q16 dosing.

Presented at AAO 2023, a study analyzed which race was associated more with having a glaucoma-associated diagnosis, as well as races’ knowledge, attitude, and beliefs about eye care.

Durga S. Borkar, MD, MMCi, presented her study at AAO 2023 which found trial eligibility discriminates against race/ethnicity.

In the PULSAR study, White and Asian participants had similar best corrected visual acuity improvements in the 2 mg aflibercept group.

Presented at AAO 2023, Russell Van Gelder, MD, PhD, discussed Abacus study and how KIO-301 targets low vision and end stage retinitis pigmentosa with visual acuity of light perception.

Two studies presented at AAO demonstrate that low dose atropine is associated with slowing myopia progression, but another study finds that this is not true. Thus, there are mixed results on this relationship.

On the floor at AAO 2023, host Veeral Sheth, MD, discusses UBX1325 for patients with diabetic macular edema, based on the 48-week results from the phase 2 BEHOLD study.

Aflibercept 8 mg treatment did well with maintaining patients, according to a presentation focusing on the PULSAR study.

ARCHER study demonstrated that the antibody ANX007 was time and dose dependent, robust, and not dependent on lesion growth.

Without treatment, lesions > 500 µm away from the fovea will take anywhere from 3.07 years to 12.9 years to reach it. With pegcetacoplan treatment, the lesion will reach the fovea anywhere between 3.56 years – 15 years for monthly treatment and 3.47-14.6 years for treatment every other month.

Despite recommendations to consult with ophthalmologists prior to initiating semaglutide, the cardiometabolic drug was not found to be linked to worsened DR outcomes.

New AAO 2023 data suggests drugs like dapagliflozin and empagliflozin may provide greater protection against glaucoma than GLP-1 agonists or DDP-4 inhibitors.

New data from the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute showed patients not responding to anti-VEGF inhibitors could improve clinical and regimen parameters with short-term faricimab.

ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Bing Chat struggle with recommending practicing nearby ophthalmologists and disproportionate against females.

In the study from AAO 2023, patients with neovascular AMD who are on aflibercept injection treatment continued their treatments >12 weeks or 16 weeks.