Study: ‘revolutionary,’ ‘world-first’ treatment for vision-threatening condition restores sight

Research from University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital has found that injection of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) can treat chronic structural hypotony. Published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the prospective interventional case series included eight patients who had hypotony for more than 3 months (IOP less than 6.5 mm Hg). The patients in the study received multiple HPMC injections over the course of 4 weeks until “either pre-morbid axial length was achieved, an IOP of 10–15 mm Hg was sustained for 4 weeks without signs of hypotony, or axial length of the contralateral eye was reached,” the authors wrote. The treatment improved BCVA in 87.5% of eyes, and IOP increased in 87.5% of eyes as well, from a baseline range of 1–5 mm Hg to 3–23 mm Hg. Axial length increased in 75% of eyes. Adverse events included uveitis flare-ups that led to loss of HPMC clarity in two cases; this was treated with topical and intravitreal steroids. Two cases of vision loss post-injection were resolved with paracentesis. A UCL news story that described the work as a “world-first project” suggested that this treatment, if made more widely available after further research, could replace the current treatment for hypotony, which is silicone oil fill. The latter is not “ideal” as the news story put it, due to potential toxicity and its impact on vision. A BBC article, which described the injection as “revolutionary,” shared a patient story. “If my vision stays like this for the rest of my life it would be absolutely brilliant,” the patient told the BBC.

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IDE granted to tissue-based presbyopia solution

Allotex has received a conditional Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to begin a clinical study for ALLO-1, which the company said is a “tissue-based solution for presbyopia.” The company described this as an “expansion milestone,” as the tissue treatment is already in clinical use in Europe.

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Fast Track designation granted for geographic atrophy treatment

The FDA has granted a Fast Track designation to Complement Therapeutics’ CTx001, an investigational AAV-based gene therapy for geographic atrophy secondary to AMD. According to the company, CTx001 previously had an Investigational New Drug application accepted in order to begin a clinical program in the U.S. The company expects its first patient to be dosed in its Phase 1/2 trial this quarter.

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Phase 1 results for Stargardt gene therapy

Phase 1 results from Ocugen for OCU410ST, a gene modifier therapy for Stargardt disease, were published in the journal Eye, finding “robust efficacy and safety outcomes supporting the clinical development of OCU410ST.” Atrophic lesion growth was reduced by 54% in six patients in treated eyes, compared to untreated fellow eyes, and lesion expansion was 50% slower. Treated eyes in these six patients gained 6 letters compared to –1.5 letters in untreated fellow eyes. Visual acuity in all treated eyes was considered stabilized or improved. According to the company’s press release, an ongoing Phase 2/3 trial is ahead of schedule in terms of enrollment, with completion expected in the first quarter of this year. The company expects to file a Biologics License Application in the first half of 2027.

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Topline Phase 1b results from study comparing a next-gen treatment to faricimab

Ollin Biosciences announced topline Phase 1b results from its study that compared OLN324, a VEGF/Ang2 bispecific antibody, to faricimab in 160 patients with diabetic macular edema or wet AMD. The investigational treatment showed faster and greater retinal drying compared to faricimab in patients with DME (patients who received ONL324 4 mg had a mean improvement in retinal drying that was about 75% greater than faricimab at week 1 and about 50% greater at week 12). The company added that nearly 90% of OLN324 4 mg-treated patients showed an absence of DME at week 12, compared to 57% of faricimab patients. The anatomic outcomes in wet AMD patients were the same among all treatment groups. According to the company’s press release “OLN324’s up to 60-fold higher anti-Ang2 potency, together with a smaller protein format and a higher molar dose, gives OLN324 a differentiated, first-line standard of care profile.”

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Enrolled patients complete dosing in part of trial evaluating X-linked retinoschisis therapy

Atsena Therapeutics announced that all dosing of its patients enrolled in Part B of its Phase 1/2/3 trial evaluating subretinal injection of ATSN-201 for treatment of X-linked retinoschisis is complete. This part of the study includes nine adult and three pediatric participants, separated into treatment and control groups. After 12 months off therapy, patients in the control group will have the option to receive ATSN-201. Enrollment in Part C is expected to begin this year, serving as the Phase 3 pivotal trial, enrolling 56 adult and pediatric patients. The company reported being on track for a Biologics License Application in 2028.

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Company news

• Topcon Healthcare and RemoniHealth have partnered to advance remote eyecare monitoring. According to the company’s press release, the partnership will leverage Topcon’s home monitoring, imaging, AI analytics, and interoperable platforms with RemoniHealth’s remote-monitoring technologies.

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ASCRS news and events

• 2026 ASCRS Annual Meeting: Register now for the 2026 ASCRS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., April 10–13, 2026. View the Preview Program for more information.
• SightLine at ASCRS: Connect, collaborate, and confront the challenges shaping the commercial landscape of ophthalmology at this meeting taking place Thursday, April 9 ahead of the ASCRS Annual Meeting. This meeting is for all commercial stakeholders in ophthalmology to learn about care delivery ideas that will forge a more sustainable financial future. Learn more.
• Business of Interventional Glaucoma: Surgeons and practice administrators alike are invited to the ASOA ASCRS Business of Interventional Glaucoma program, taking place Thursday, April 9 ahead of the ASCRS Annual Meeting and ASOA Annual Meeting. Learn more.
• ASCRS Foundation 20/20 Wine Club event: A virtual wine tasting event will take place February 3 at 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET, featuring six Napa Valley wines sent to registrants in a tasting kit alongside a live presentation and discussion, not only about the wine but about the ASCRS Foundation and its Operation Sight charitable cataract surgery program. Learn more and register now.

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Research highlights

• A new systematic refraction methodology was used to determine the optimal enhancement targets for patients in a retrospective consecutive case series who had trifocal IOL implantation but required a LASIK enhancement postop to be satisfied with their visual outcomes. According to the paper published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, the study included 59 cases (89 eyes) that had FLACS with trifocal IOL implantation. The 5-step refraction methodology was intended to “accurately identify multiple focal points created by trifocal IOLs and determine optimal enhancement targets.” One year after the LASIK enhancement, the mean manifest refraction SE improved from +0.35±0.75 D to −0.05±0.36 D. About 80% of eyes achieved ±0.50 D of emmetropia, according to the authors. “The percentage of eyes with ≤0.50 D cylinder increased from 37.1% to 83.3%,” the authors wrote. UDVA of 20/20 or better was achieved in 83.3% of eyes. The authors concluded that LASIK enhancements after trifocal IOL implantation are both safe and effective, and they noted that using a “systematic approach to measuring refractive error, accounting for the multifocal nature of these IOLs, is crucial for optimal outcomes.”
• The refractive outcomes, visual quality, and patient satisfaction of ray-tracing LASIK for moderate to high myopia and myopic astigmatism was evaluated in a consecutive case series of 51 patients (101 eyes). At 3 months postop, UDVA was 20/20 or greater in all eyes, while 69% of eyes achieved 20/16 or greater, and 20/12.5 or greater in 18% of eyes. BCVA was better than 61% in all eyes. For visual quality, the authors reported that “total HOA increased significantly, whereas spherical aberration showed no significant change.” All patients reported clear distance vision with 96.1% reporting “no near-reading difficulty.” Ninety-eight percent of patients were satisfied with their surgery and 98% would recommend to others. This research was published in the journal of Clinical Ophthalmology.

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