Retina

Trending topics and milestone stories from our year in ophthalmology.

Look back on some of the top stories on Modern Retina from 2024 as we gear up for an incredible 2025.

A Helsinki University Hospital study found diabetes, glycemic control, or insulin therapy did not significantly affect anatomical or functional outcomes after epiretinal membrane surgery.

Enhancing durability and reducing treatment burden.

Investigators conducted a retrospective clinical audit to determine why patients do not adhere to the guidelines among about 9,000 patients in a practice.

The report details the results of preclinical discovery, engineering and characterization studies evaluating the safety, retinal cell transduction, transgene expression and clinical activity of proprietary evolved intravitreal vector R100 and 4D-150.

QUASAR is a global, double-masked, active-controlled phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of EYLEA HD, compared to EYLEA, in patients with RVO, including those with central, branch and hemiretinal vein occlusions.

The company is advancing its Phase I/II trial and exploring accelerated approval pathways in the US and Europe.

A global survey explores the impact of geographic atrophy (GA) on quality of life, revealing similar challenges for individuals with unilateral and bilateral GA. Researchers also highlight the need for improved education, support, and treatment options.

In the LIGHTHOUSE study, Atsena Therapeutics is evaluating ATSN-201 gene therapy for X-linked retinoschisis, leveraging AAV.SPR capsid for central retina transduction without foveal detachment risks.

Researchers at the USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics and the USC Roski Eye Institute are advancing a new treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older adults.

USC is leading a research team aiming to better understand retinitis pigmentosa and inform future treatments.

According to presentations at FLORetina ICOOR 2024 in Florence, Italy, data show promising early improvements in low luminance visual acuity, a key measure of visual function. A pivotal Phase 2/3 VISTA trial for laru-zova in XLRP is currently enrolling.

Researchers described the presence of multiple bilateral serous retinal detachments (SRDs) found in 3 women after they used hair dyes.

Ahead of this year's Floretina meeting and International Congress on OCT Angiography, En Face OCT and Advances in OCT (ICOOR), David Hutton of Ophthalmology Times spoke with Charles Wykoff, MD, PhD. At FLORetina ICOOR, he presented on a number of topics, including diabetic retinopathy—the subject of his conversation with the Eye Care Network.

The authors searched PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials.gov, and selected studies based on reports with an association between RVO and heart attack risk.

Nerve cells in the retina were analyzed at the Vienna University of Technology using microelectrodes. According to researchers, the nerve cells demonstrated surprisingly stable behavior, which is good news for retina implants.

EyePoint Pharmaceuticals has dosed the first patient in the LUCIA Phase 3 trial of Duravyu for wet AMD. The study evaluates Duravyu’s efficacy, durability, and re-dosing every 6 months in both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients. Topline data is anticipated in 2026.

Prevent Blindness announces its fourth annual Geographic Atrophy Awareness Week, December 2 to 8, 2024. The organization offers free educational resources, including videos and guides, and supports GA patients through programs like Living Well With Low Vision.

Preclinical research highlights mRNA-based therapy's potential to inhibit scar tissue and abnormal blood vessel growth in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, addressing a critical unmet need in treatment.

While studies of obesity and tobacco and alcohol consumption showed that many chronic diseases are affected by the factors being studied, none had mentioned an effect on glaucoma progression.

Early results suggest participant diversity and novel measures will enable new, artificial intelligence-driven insights. As the study evolves, it could lead to significant advancements in understanding how environmental exposures contribute not only to diabetes but also to its complications, including those affecting eye health, such as diabetic retinopathy.

A study by a team of Chinese researchers highlights the potential of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in detecting retinal microvascular damage in renal hypertension patients. OCTA identifies reduced vascular density in key retinal regions, offering a noninvasive tool for early diagnosis and systemic disease management.

Avant Technologies and Ainnova Tech have partnered to develop a low-cost retinal camera integrated with Ainnova’s Vision AI platform for early detection of ocular and systemic diseases. The technology will be marketed as a SaaS platform for primary care settings.

After closing, the combined company is expected to operate under the name Kalaris Therapeutics, Inc.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has funded Keck School of Medicine of USC translational research advancing a therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness in older adults.

Key findings include reduced lesion growth, retinal tissue preservation, and improved visual function, demonstrating significant potential for the treatment option.

Program director and co-founder Bonnie An Henderson, MD, sits down with Ophthalmology Times to talk about how the annual conference is a unique blend of cutting-edge science, professional growth, and community. The 2025 conference will take place February 14 to 17 at the Caribe Hilton San Juan, in Puerto Rico.