Retinal Disease

A convolutional neural network model accurately and reliably predicted age and sex using retinal fundus images; however, accuracy dropped among patients with underlying systemic vascular-related conditions.

Step therapy protocols and prior authorization regulations in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are limiting access to needed medications and should be suspended by CMS for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology

New interim data for the OPTIC phase 1 dose-ranging clinical trial of ADVM-022 intravitreal injection gene therapy for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration showed robust efficacy in each cohort, long-term durability in cohort 1 and the potential for fewer adverse events in cohort 3, according to a press release from Adverum Biotechnologies.

Simultaneous neutralization of Ang-2 and VEGF-A with faricimab has the potential to reduce vascular destabilization in age-related macular degeneration, achieving sustained efficacy with a significantly lower frequency of administration as compared with ranibizumab.

A network meta-analysis comparing anti-VEGF agents, dosing and injection frequency for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration found comparable outcomes for all included anti-VEGF regimens, according to a presenter at the virtual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

Persistent subretinal fluid, or SRF, in the course of anti-VEGF treatment may operate as a compensatory mechanism that maintains the function of the degenerating macula and prevents progression to atrophy, according to one presenter at the virtual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.

While anti-VEGF injections have dramatically improved our ability to treat many retinal diseases, there is a growing pool of evidence that shows that Iridex MicroPulse laser therapy may improve anatomy, reduce the treatment burden of intravitreal injections and improve visual outcomes. Here, I summarize two studies that show the value of having this treatment in our armamentarium.

Bausch + Lomb announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Stada Arzneimittel and its development partner Xbrane Biopharma to develop and commercialize a biosimilar candidate to Lucentis in the U.S. and Canada.

Between 2006 and 2015, nearly 125,000 patients in the U.S. have received nearly a million injections of anti-VEGF medicines for the treatment of retinal disease, according to Parikh and colleagues. Nearly two-thirds of the injections have been for wet age-related macular degeneration.

About a year ago I wrote a piece on hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity, in which I explored the drug’s mechanism and why it yields its characteristic bullseye.