First commercial cases of laser-based, non-incisional trabeculotomy procedure

ViaLase announced the first commercial FLIGHT procedures with its ViaLuxe Laser System for treatment of open angle glaucoma. The ViaLuxe Laser System produces an incision-free, image-guided femtosecond laser trabeculotomy, intended to restore aqueous outflow and reduce IOP, according to the company. More specifically, the company stated that the “FLIGHT procedure is performed using the ViaLuxe Laser System, which combines high-resolution OCT imaging with proprietary femtosecond laser technology to enable micron-level precision and image-guided treatment delivery.”

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FDA grants appeal, allowing for BLA resubmission of AMD treatment

Outlook Therapeutics announced that the FDA has granted its appeal, as part of a Formal Dispute Resolution, for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA (bevacizumab-vikg, bevacizumab gamma), allowing the company to resubmit its Biologic License Application (BLA), expected in June 2026. If approved, the company stated that ONS-5010 would be “the first FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab supported by an FDA-approved manufacturing process, FDA-approved labeling, as well as robust pharmacovigilance.”

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Study: small-aperture IOL safe, effective for irregular corneas

A retrospective chart review published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology evaluated the outcomes of the IC-8 IOL (Bausch + Lomb) in patients who had corneal comorbidities at the time of cataract surgery. The outcomes included measures of UDVA, spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and the spherical equivalent refractive prediction accuracy of several IOL calculation formulas. Sixty-seven eyes were included in the study; 56 received the IC-8 only and 11 had a piggyback IOL. According to the study, mean UDVA in the IC-8 only eyes was “0.24±0.30 logMAR, with 61.1% (33/54) achieving UDVA of 6/9 or better. Mean postoperative SER in these eyes was −0.17±1.27 D, with 54.2% (26/48) and 81.3% (39/48) of eyes achieving postoperative SER within 0.50 and 1.00 D, respectively.” Additionally, there were no significant differences in precision and accuracy of the IOL power calculation formulas evaluated. The eyes that had a piggyback IOL had a UDVA of 0.42±0.39 logMAR; 36.4% achieved UDVA of 6/9 or better postop. The authors concluded that for patients with irregular corneas, the IC-8 was “safe and effective, yielding good visual and refractive outcomes in this niche population, who typically have suboptimal outcomes.” They recommended updating clinical guidelines to include this IOL for these types of patients.

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Company news

• Lexitas Pharma Services announced acquisition of Erie Retina Research, CASExERIE, and Element Erie: Imaging & Reading Center.
• IQity and Sightpath Medical entered into a strategic partnership to bring IQity’s technologies in diagnostics and surgical platforms into Sightpath’s service infrastructure.

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ASCRS news and events

• ASCRS Live!: This educational dinner series is heading to several cities across the U.S. in 2026. Registration is open for the next event in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 11.
• ASCRS Online Education: The ASCRS CME Education Catalog offers a wealth of both CME and non-CME content for ASCRS members. Check out what your colleagues have been watching lately.
• ASCRS Annual Meeting: Hotel rooms are now available for the 2027 ASCRS Annual Meeting. Book your 2027 hotel in San Diego early to get your preferred room and location.

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EyeWorld article of the week

Having varying degrees of zonulopathy can make a case more challenging. D. Brian Kim, MD, and Angela Verkade, MD, discuss how they identify zonulopathy, the best lenses and tools to use in these cases, and other important approaches to proceeding with surgery in “Zonulopathy: signs and surgical management” in the Spring issue of EyeWorld.

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Research highlights

• The efficacy of a low-power toric IOL for eyes with mild corneal astigmatism was evaluated in a single-center observational cohort study published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. According to the study, eyes were categorized into a T2 group that received a 1 D toric IOL, a non-toric IOL group (T0), or a Tx group where the patient received a T3 or higher IOL with 1.5 D of cylinder power or more. Eyes with irregular corneal astigmatism were excluded. After 3 months, the authors observed that those in the T2 group had significantly lower mean refractive astigmatism and subjective astigmatism than the T0 group. They also had better UDVA. T0 eyes had more refractive and subjective astigmatism compared to Tx eyes, and T2 eyes “achieved astigmatism correction comparable with that of Tx in mild-astigmatism eyes.” The authors concluded that while patients with low amounts of corneal astigmatism have often been excluded from receiving toric IOLs, low-cylinder power toric IOLs can effectively correct astigmatism and improve visual outcomes.
• Corneal HOAs, densitometry, and whole eye optical quality after ultrathin Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) or DMEK combined with cataract surgery in patients with Fuchs was evaluated in a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. This study was performed as secondary analysis of a randomized trial; it included 72 patients who had cataract surgery and UT-DSAEK or cataract surgery with DMEK and 37 patients with healthy corneas but in need of cataract surgery who served as controls. The authors found that total posterior HOAs were significantly higher at 12 months postop after UT-DSAEK than DMEK and higher in the DMEK group compared to controls. Total densitometry for the central and peripheral annular corneal zones was also significantly higher at 12 months after UT-DSAEK compared to DMEK, as was the objective scatter index. Visual acuity and objective scatter index and contrast sensitivity and objective scatter index were significantly correlated as well. In addition to these findings, the authors concluded that “Although DMEK surgery for [Fuchs] provides excellent visual rehabilitation, the corneal optical quality remains suboptimal.”

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Product news

• Oculus launched a new software, Meibo Analytics, as an optional add-on in the JENVIS Pro software for the Keratograph 5 M. This software, according to the company, makes dry eye assessments easier.

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