Subramanian, MD: anti-VEGF linked to kidney function decline

As anti-VEGF injections remain a mainstay treatment for diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion (RVO), questions about their systemic safety, including a potential link to kidney function decline, are drawing new attention from both ophthalmology and nephrology. At Retina Society 2026, Manju Subramanian, MD, an associate professor at Boston University and vice-chairman of faculty affairs at Boston University Eye Associates, presented a study examining the impact of anti-VEGF therapy on kidney function in patients with diabetic retinopathy and RVO, using the TriNetX global health research network. In the following Q&A, Subramanian discusses the clinical encounter that prompted the study, how she designed the analysis using propensity score matching, what the data showed in both patient populations, and what retina specialists should consider when coordinating care with nephrology.