ICYMI: AAO 2025 showcases new technologies and continued research

The annual scientific meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) was held in Orlando, Florida. At this meeting, presenters and companies highlighted new technologies and continued areas of research. Ophthalmology Times is highlighting some stories that you may have missed from this meeting.

Xanthelasma may be risk factor for cardiovascular disease

Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear used the TriNetX network to review the electronic health records. They matched 2 groups, each with more than 17,000 patients aged 18 to 90, the first with xanthelasma and a control group without xanthelasma. The analysis of their records showed that group with xanthelasma showed an elevated risk of cardiovascular events (14% compared to 11.8%). The xanthelasma group also had a higher rate of high cholesterol or other lipid disorders (50% compared to 38%).¹ Results also showed that the xanthelasma group had higher rates of hyperlipidemia, were more likely to undergo revascularization, and used a higher rate of lipid-lowering medications.¹

In a press release from the AAO, lead researcher Niloufar Bineshfar, MD, said, “the study doesn’t resolve the question of whether high cholesterol levels cause xanthelasma, but it does support the idea of referring patients with xanthelasma for a cardiovascular workup.”¹

Research challenges benefits of AREDS supplements of geographic atrophy

Previously, research conducted on the benefits of AREDS and AREDS2 supplements to slow the progression of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and geographic atrophy (GA), suggested that there was a slowing of progression by using these supplements. This initial research was conducted in the 1990s and 2000s using color fundus photography.

With more modern imaging techniques available, Rishi P. Singh, MD, incoming chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear and Mass General Brigham, and his colleagues looked to further analyze the affect these supplements have on geographic atrophy. Using the data from OAKS and DERBY, which evaluated more than 1,200 untreated eyes with fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography, researchers found “no significant effect of AREDS or AREDS2 supplementation on overall geographic atrophy growth. They also found no effect on progression toward the fovea.”²

The impact of GLP-1s on vision is conflicting

Researchers used data from the World Health Organization’s global database of drug safety reports to conduct an analysis of 117,173 patients with diabetes who were taking semaglutide (GLP-1 drugs), empagliflozin, exenatide, tirzepatide, or insulin.³ According to this analysis, patients taking “GLP-1 drugs were 68.6 times more likely to develop NAION and eight times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy than those taking empagliflozin, exenatide, insulin or metformin.”³

However, a different study, conducted by researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute reviewed the effect of GLP-1 drugs on the risk of patients developing AMD. The data analyzed included “430,000 patients aged 50 and older who took either a GLP-1, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), metformin or insulin to manage their diabetes for at least 2 years.”³ The results showed that of the 7,319 patients on a GLP-1 medication for 5 years saw a significantly lower risk of developing dry AMD. According to the press release, “The protective effect increased among patients followed for up to five years. The analysis showed no significant protection against the wet form of AMD.”³

More from AAO 2025

Ophthalmology Times was on site in Orlando at the 2025 AAO meeting to speak with presenters about their research.

• Joel S. Schuman, MD, FACS, of Wills Eye Hospital, presented an update on laser therapies for glaucoma, emphasizing recent innovations in selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and laser cyclophotocoagulation.
• Sahar Bedrood, MD, PhD, discussed her early clinical experience with the Leos endoscopic laser system.
• Kenneth C. Fan, MD, MBA, described STARLIGHT as a Phase 2 open-label study designed primarily to evaluate safety and tolerability of MCO-010 optogenetic therapy in the treatment of Stargardt disease.

References:

1. That Harmless Bump Near Your Eye May Be a Sign of Heart Disease. American Academy of Ophthalmology. News release. October 19, 2025. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/that-harmless-bump-near-your-eye-may-be-sign-of-he

2. Vitamin Supplements May Not Slow Geographic Atrophy Growth in Advanced Macular Degeneration. American Academy of Ophthalmology. News release. October 20, 2025. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/vitamin-supplements-may-not-slow-geographic-atroph

3. Do GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Cause or Prevent Vision Loss?. American Academy of Ophthalmology. News release. October 20, 2025. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/do-glp-1-drugs-like-ozempic-cause-prevent-vision-l