Insulin-based treatment for neurotropic keratitis advances

EyeDura Therapeutics announced that it began preclinical efficacy studies with the Singapore Eye Research Institute to advance its investigational insulin-based topical drop for treatment of neurotropic keratitis. According to the company’s press release, EYED-002 is being developed with EyeDura’s sustained-release technology, giving it the ability to potentially deliver therapeutic levels of the drug from a single drop per day for 7+ days. The company explained that this could improve patient adherence and reduce treatment costs by not requiring multiple doses daily for treatment. The company plans to submit an IND for this indication in the third quarter of 2026.

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Study evaluating implantable telescope in patients with late-stage AMD begins

Samsara Vision began a study evaluating its Smaller-Incision New-Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope (SING IMT) in pseudophakic patients with late-stage AMD. According to the company’s press release, the device, which has the CE mark for use in some countries, is currently contraindicated for patients who have had cataract surgery. The study is taking place at three CE referenced countries and is significant, according to the company, because “this subgroup represents a large proportion of individuals affected by late-stage AMD who are not eligible for any other intervention.” Primary endpoints are safety, visual outcomes, patient selection criteria, and rehabilitation strategies. The SING IMT is under investigation in the U.S.

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Registrational trial to begin for investigational neuroprotective therapy

Oculis Holding AG announced a positive meeting with the FDA, which is allowing it to advance Privosegtor into a registrational program that will investigate it as a neuroprotective therapy for acute optic neuritis (AON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The company is planning three pivotal trials—one expected to begin at the end of this year and the others during 2026—to support its registration plans for these indications. According to the company, Privosegtor is a peptoid small molecule candidate that would be the first neuroprotective agent for these indications, if approved.

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Enrollment complete in pivotal trials for wet AMD treatment

REGENXBIO announced that enrollment is complete in its two pivotal studies evaluating surabgene lomparvovec for treatment of wet AMD. The studies for the subretinal treatment have enrolled more than 1,200 participants at more than 200 study sites. Topline data is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. If successful and eventually approved, this would be the first gene therapy for wet AMD.

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ASCRS news and events

• ASCRS Live!: This educational dinner series is heading to several cities across the U.S. in 2025. Registration is open for the next events in Orlando on October 16 and Dallas November 13.
• 2026 ASCRS Annual Meeting: Hotel room blocks are open for the 2026 ASCRS Annual Meeting, taking place in Washington, D.C., April 10–13, 2026. The call for case video submissions is going on now—learn more. Registration opens next week.
• ASCRS Grand Rounds: The latest episode of ASCRS Ground Rounds, presented by Eastern Virginia Medical School, is available on demand.

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Research highlights

• A paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology described the effort to develop a Vitreous Floaters Functional Questionnaire (VFFQ) and to see if scores from this questionnaire correlated with quantitative density (measured by ultrasonography) and visual function (measured by contrast sensitivity). The single-center, cross-sectional study evaluated 169 patients with floaters to develop the questionnaire. The VFFQ score and correlations with contrast sensitivity and ultrasonography were performed in a different group of 224 participants. The authors found that the questionnaire (VFFQ) had “high test-retest reliability and correlated with vitreous structure and visual function.” They wrote that the “vision-related patient-reported outcome of disease severity in patients with vitreous floaters might be useful for individual patient evaluations, population screening and triage, and assessing the response to current therapies, like vitrectomy and YAG laser vitreolysis, and future therapies, such as nanoparticle treatments and pharmacologic vitreolysis.”
• The visual outcomes and changes in HOAs after KLEx using the conventional, symmetric spot/track distance laser spacing vs. a modified, asymmetric spot/track distance laser spacing was the topic of a retrospective comparative case series published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. Patients having KLEx for myopia correction (530 eyes of 265 patients) were treated with a symmetric spot/track distance laser spacing or a modified asymmetric spot/track distance laser spacing with the same treatment dose and pulse energy. In postop UDVA and CDVA, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The induced HOAs were lower in total HOAs, vertical coma, and spherical aberration in the asymmetric group. The authors concluded that the modified asymmetric laser spacing technique was comparable to traditional spacing in terms of visual outcomes but induces “significantly fewer corneal HOAs in the early postop period.”

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Product news

• Virtual Vision will be introducing its next-generation Virtual Eye VR visual field testing devices—Virtual Eye Elite S+ and Virtual Eye Pro—at the upcoming American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting.

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