David Hutton

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.

Melt Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from its Phase 3 study of MELT-300, a non-IV, non-opioid tablet for procedural sedation during cataract surgery. The results support a regulatory submission, with potential to revolutionize sedation practices in various medical specialties.

SpyGlass Pharma completed enrollment in a Phase 1/2 trial evaluating its drug delivery platform for glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Designed for implantation during cataract surgery, the platform delivers bimatoprost to lower intraocular pressure for up to 3 years.

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

The designations underscore the unmet need in Stargardt disease, a rare and serious pediatric disease for which no treatment exists.

Emmecell announced positive Phase 1 extension study results for EO2002, a nonsurgical cell therapy for corneal edema. The therapy improved vision, reduced central corneal thickness, and demonstrated strong safety, offering an alternative to corneal transplants.

This Week in Ophthalmology is a weekly video series highlighting the latest news and articles featured on the Ophthalmology Times website.

HelpMeSee’s Mazava Project trains general practitioners in Madagascar to perform cataract surgeries, addressing the country’s high rate of avoidable blindness. Trainees gain proficiency through simulation-based learning and live surgeries, improving access to eye care in remote areas.

Livionex, recently announced a successful end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, supporting the advancement of C-KAD, a 2.6% EDTA ophthalmic solution, to a Phase 3 clinical study. In an interview with Ophthalmology Times, Randall Olson, MD, lead author and a Distinguished Professor at the University of Utah, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and CEO of the John A. Moran Eye Center, discusses the ongoing research.

Prevent Blindness has designated November 18 to 24, 2024, as the 5th annual Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Awareness Week. The week aims to raise awareness of TED's symptoms, impact on vision and mental health, and new treatment options. Educational resources and expert-led episodes will support patients and healthcare professionals.

Sun Pharmaceutical presented Phase 4 data at ESCRS 2024 showing that cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.09% significantly improves dry eye disease symptoms and corneal staining in patients inadequately controlled on Restasis, with positive results observed through 12 weeks of treatment.

HelpMeSee has partnered with new initiatives to address the global cataract blindness crisis, focusing on empowering women in low- and middle-income countries. Through training and education, the organization aims to reduce gender inequality and improve socioeconomic outcomes worldwide.

HelpMeSee has partnered with Empowered, an educational series hosted by Meg Ryan, to spotlight the cataract blindness crisis, its socioeconomic impacts, and gender inequality issues. The episode emphasizes simulation-based surgical training advancements, expanding cataract care access for underserved populations and fostering equitable healthcare solutions.

NEI Initiative aims to boost awareness, standardize diagnosis, and improve care for children with CVI through multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging technologies.

Atsena Therapeutics and Nippon Shinyaku have formed an exclusive licensing agreement for ATSN-101, a gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1). Nippon Shinyaku will commercialize ATSN-101 in the U.S. and Japan, while Atsena retains global rights outside these territories.

A recent cohort study revealed low adoption of FDA-approved AI-based diabetic retinopathy detection, with less than 5% of diabetic patients receiving ophthalmic imaging. Researchers emphasize the need for improved awareness, cost-effectiveness, and integration to increase diabetic retinopathy screening rates.

Harrow announced that starting in January 2025, Vevye will be covered under key Medicare Part D formularies and across major insurance programs, expanding access to the dry eye disease treatment for millions of patients, particularly older adults.

Peking University researchers have developed a deep learning-based, noninvasive choroidal angiography method that enables detailed 3D visualization of choroidal vessels from OCT scans. This technique could improve diagnostics for retinal diseases like macular degeneration, offering a safer alternative to traditional methods.

This Week in Ophthalmology is a weekly video series highlighting some of the top articles featured on the Ophthalmology Times website.

A Johns Hopkins study reveals that anti-VEGF treatments for wet AMD may unintentionally elevate ANGPTL4, a protein that promotes blood vessel growth. Combining anti-VEGF with an experimental drug targeting HIF-1 could enhance vision outcomes and prevent vision loss.

Omar Salamanca, MD, staff ophthalmologist, Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, discusses Orbis's tailored glaucoma training programs, which focus on hands-on surgical skills, early detection, telemedicine, and personalized follow-up care, helping underserved regions improve glaucoma management and blindness prevention.

In an interview with David Hutton of Ophthalmology Times, Ash Abbey, MD, discusses the Phase 3 LUGANO trial for EYP-1901 in treating wet age-related macular degeneration. Abbey discusses the trial’s non-inferiority objectives, treatment schedule, patient outcomes like reduced treatment burden, and anatomical stability. Patient interest is high, particularly among those wanting fewer injections, though recruiting treatment-naive patients may be challenging. If results are favorable, potential FDA approval could occur within 3 to 4 years.

To educate the public—including parents, caregivers, and allied health professionals—Prevent Blindness is offering free educational resources, including fact sheets, social media graphics, web pages, and educational videos in both English and Spanish.

A group of German researchers has discovered how tiny eye movements and the density of photoreceptors assist in visual acuity.

Alfredo Sadun, MD, PhD, is the chief of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute of UCLA. At this year's AAO meeting held in Chicago, Illinois, he stopped by the Eye Care Network booth to share insights from the symposium "Professional Longevity 2.0: Assessing the Ophthalmologist," which he presented during.

This Week in Ophthalmology is a video series highlighting some of the top articles featured on the Ophthalmology Times website.

Valerie Biousse, MD, from the Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, shared insights on how ocular imaging in the emergency department can provide timely, accurate diagnosis while also benefiting the on-call ophthalmologists. She shared these thoughts at this year's AAO meeting held in Chicago, Illinois.

Joanne F. Shen, MD, director of the dry eye clinic at Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix, Arizona, and a research team studied 35 patients treated with IPL/MGX. The team reviewed demographics, ocular histories, Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness 2 symptom survey scores, slit-lamp examinations and meibomian gland evaluations at baseline and at each visit before IPL/MGX treatments.

Researchers receive $6.4 million grant from NEI to seek new treatment for blindness-causing diseases.

NEI Initiative aims to boost awareness, standardize diagnosis, and improve care for children with CVI through multidisciplinary collaboration and emerging technologies.