The News Feed
Timely reports on clinical research, legislative updates and product launches, from the editors of Review of Optometry and RCCL. Stories post each weekday morning.
Depression Rates Four Times Higher in Those with Central Vision Loss
Anxiety, loneliness, social isolation and poor sleep were also more common in subjects with macular degeneration, according to an ARVO poster.
May 16, 2024
Risk of NAION Higher in Patients on GLP-1 Drugs for Diabetes or Weight Loss
Exposure to agonists such as Ozempic and Mounjaro was associated with a 3.24-fold higher likelihood.
May 16, 2024
Consumer Reviews for OTC Eye Care Products May Be Misleading
Also, safety profile doesn’t necessarily correlate with popularity, ARVO study shows. Regulatory oversight could improve public safety, researchers suggest.
May 16, 2024
Post-cataract IOP Spike is Significant Predictor of Spike in Fellow Eye
Patients were more likely to experience another incident even after accounting for other risk factors, according to an ARVO abstract.
May 15, 2024
Allergies, Atopic Disease Linked to Higher CXL Failure Rate
While only 1.2% of keratoconic eyes required either repeat treatment or corneal graft surgery, the procedure’s failure was more likely to occur with these factors in the patient history.
May 15, 2024
MIGS on the Rise: Study Showcases Runaway Success of Newer Options
From 2011 to 2021, there was a decline in traditional trabeculectomies while minimally invasive procedures such as iStent, goniotomy and transluminal dilation showed substantial increases.
May 15, 2024
High BMI a Risk Factor for Dry Eye Symptoms in Children
However, the OSDI score was not associated with age, race, sex, screen time, outdoor activities or diet.
May 14, 2024
ARVO Study Compares Effectiveness of 13 Artificial Tears
There was no hands-down winner. The findings emphasized the importance of tailoring treatment based on individual patient characteristics.
May 14, 2024
Smaller Back Optic Zone Diameter Improves Ortho-K Results
A 5mm design induced a greater corneal power shift than a 6mm version, with corresponding better effects on axial length growth in a recent ARVO paper.
May 13, 2024
Humidity May be Risk Factor for Keratoconus
After considering other environmental components, this was the only one that influenced prevalence of the condition in an ARVO study.
May 13, 2024
High-dose Aflibercept Pushes Dosing Interval to Five Months
Nearly half of subjects went 20 weeks or longer between injections with the 8mg formulation. The regimen also maintained BCVA gains out to 96 weeks.
May 13, 2024
Punctal Plug Alternative to CXL on the Horizon?
Inserts imbued with copper were shown to enhance lysyl oxidase activity. Early results look promising and will continue to receive development in hopes of eventual commercialization.
May 10, 2024
Glaucomatous Eyes with High Systolic Blood Velocity May Progress Faster
This group of eyes studied showed the worst structural and functional markers.
May 10, 2024
Maximum Blink Interval Helps Detect Dry Eye Cases with Mismatch of Signs vs. Symptoms
The findings were diagnostic in patients when TBUT and Schirmer’s scores weren’t.
May 10, 2024
Lipid-lowering Agents May Prevent DR Complications
An ARVO paper highlights the potential benefits of using statins in delaying progression to PDR.
May 9, 2024
Corneal Edema Post-Cataract More Common in Diabetic Patients
Age, disease status and race/ethnicity were linked to higher risk of issues after surgery.
May 9, 2024
DREAM Study Cohort Shows Dry Eye Test Repeatability Needs Improvement
Corneal and conjunctival staining scores were the most reliably consistent tests, while tear break-up time was the least.
May 9, 2024
Topical Insulin Eyedrops May Aid Corneal Healing
Re-epithelialization was faster and more successful with the treatment vs. conventional methods. Studies found positive effects in cases used for neurotrophic keratitis and ulcers.
May 8, 2024
Long-term Use of Anti-Glaucoma Meds Before SLT Linked to Adverse Effects
Higher age was predictive of failure, while a higher pre-SLT IOP was associated with a greater probability of success.
May 8, 2024
Study Links Reticular Pseudodrusen to Stroke Risk
Drusen didn’t show the same association, highlighting the distinct nature of the two findings.
May 8, 2024
B+L Launches New Scleral Lens for Advanced Corneal Conditions
With the Zenlens Echo, clinicians can specify numerous parameters using a slit lamp, OCT and profilometer, the company says.
May 7, 2024
Two ARVO Studies Note Influence of Genetic Testing in Glaucoma Onset
One paper helped isolate ocular hypertensives at a low risk of disease conversion. The other screened high- and low-risk patients and found a correlation between PRS and new diagnoses of POAG.
May 7, 2024
Corneal Complications Common in Pediatric Patients With Herpetic Keratoconjunctivitis
An ARVO paper focusing on ocular surface conditions in kids also shows high-potency corticosteroids were used most often in blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.
May 7, 2024
Two Studies Give Positive Marks to Pegcetacoplan Therapy for GA
Real-world results show that the drug reduced annual growth rate by about 34%. A clinical trial extension also reported a similar level of efficacy.
May 7, 2024
ARVO Study Highlights Importance of Identifying Peripheral DR Lesions
Research using ultra-widefield imaging showed that assessment of the entire retina is important to more accurately stratify disease progression risk in vulnerable patients.
May 6, 2024
First Specific Genetic Locus Detected for Dry Eye
The disease has been thought to possess some level of heritability, and one recent investigation expands on this principle.
May 6, 2024
No Meaningful Rebound Effect Seen After Discontinuing Multifocals for Myopia Control
The BLINK2 study followed children and teenagers for an additional year after they wore such lenses for two years. Axial length and refraction were maintained.
May 6, 2024
Handheld AI Fundus Camera Detects DR in 60 Seconds
New automated device from Optomed features a 50-degree field of view to detect early-phase retinal changes and flags results as red or green.
May 3, 2024
Rho-Kinase Inhibitor Exhibits Protective Effect After Cataract Surgery
In a recent study, endothelial cell loss in patients administered ripasudil was one-third that of untreated patients.
May 3, 2024
PED Lesions, Hyperreflective Foci Associated With Visual Decline in Dry AMD
Mesopic dysfunction was found following previous predominant rod-mediated function loss, whereas the overall highest functional loss was detected with development of cRORA lesions.
May 3, 2024
Meta-analysis Associates Three Air Pollutants with AMD Risk
The relationship was not causal, suggesting that more research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
May 3, 2024
Peripapillary RNFL Thickness Predictive of Visual Outcomes
Nerve fibers in the temporal quadrant represent the papillomacular bundle and hence strongly influence acuity, researchers propose.
May 2, 2024
Study: Blue-Light IOLs Can Reduce Progression of Macular Atrophy, But Not Incidence
Following cataract surgery, the pathology developed in 23% of eyes with filtering lens implants and 19% without. Mean annual increases, however, were 0.78mm2 and 1.26mm2, respectively.
May 2, 2024
Bariatric Surgery May Reduce Risk for Ocular Diseases
Diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, AMD and cataract surgery were among those with decreased future risk.
May 2, 2024
New Treatment Pairs with BlephEx to Help Restore MG Function
“OptiVize,” as the company calls it, is indicated for monthly use immediately following blepharoexfoliation until meibum health improves.
May 1, 2024
Most Glaucoma Patients Require a Second Med Within Five Years
Adequate IOP control was only maintained for about a year and a half in a large British study.
May 1, 2024
Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness Reduced in AMD
The most significant inner retinal alterations were observed in those with late-stage disease and/or GA, while little difference was noted between early and intermediate macular degeneration.
May 1, 2024
Meds that Induce Angle-Closure Glaucoma Identified
Topiramate tops the list for specific agents, while the category of sulfonamides was the largest drug class overall.
May 1, 2024
More Evidence Supports Red Light Therapy in Myopia Management
After one year, mean change in SER was almost 1D while axial length difference was one-third of a millimeter. Safety concerns did not arise.
April 30, 2024
Three Home-monitoring Vision Tests for nAMD Fall Short in Diagnostic Accuracy
The options called KeepSight, MyVisionTrack and MultiBit are not yet ready for implementation in clinical practice, researchers say.
April 30, 2024
Uveitis Recurrence Risk Elevated After COVID-19 Vaccination
More than half of cases occurred in the early post-vaccination period, suggesting close clinical monitoring is essential for at-risk patients.
April 30, 2024
Normal-Tension Glaucoma Exhibits Reduced Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Dynamics
Researchers speculate that the ensuing stagnation may cause an accumulation of neurodegenerative factors; another theory involves compartmentalization of the optic nerve sheath.
April 29, 2024
Study Finds Suspected Glaucomatous Changes in One-Sixth of Cataract Patients
Routine OCT screening before surgery picked up a considerable number of previously unidentified cases with abnormal RNFL results.
April 29, 2024
Manifest Refraction in KCN Patients Varies Notably Between Examiners
As this impacts corrected-distance VA and hence treatment decisions, clinicians need to consider ways to bring more consistency to their workups, study argues.
April 29, 2024
Visual System May Serve as Ideal Model for MS Drug Assessment
The neurodegenerative disease can be difficult to track in terms of remyelination, but certain agents can be monitored through ocular imaging to gauge efficacy.
April 26, 2024
Nutraceutical for Dry Eye Coming This Fall
Bausch + Lomb previewed a forthcoming product and pointed to company-funded research showing treatment effects possible after two, four and eight weeks of daily use.
April 26, 2024
Vision-related QoL Unchanged After Trabeculectomy
This research highlights the importance of using both objective and subjective measures to evaluate glaucoma patients and treatment outcomes.
April 26, 2024
Prenatal Carotenoid Supplementation Benefits Both Mother and Child
The regimen improved foveal maturity among infants as well as maternal levels of macular pigment, study shows.
April 26, 2024
Smoking Reduces ONH Vessel Density in Glaucoma
Study shows a dose-dependent association with faster deterioration over time.
April 25, 2024
AREDS Report Updates Simplified Severity Scale
This revision—accounting for reticular pseudodrusen and GA—shows that progression rates are substantially higher when using a more comprehensive approach.
April 25, 2024
