First AI foundation model in ophthalmology

The University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital announced the publication about the first open-source artificial intelligence foundation model developed for ophthalmology. According to the institution’s news article, RETFound is a foundation AI model, similar to ChatGPT, trained on “huge amounts of unlabeled data.” The article stated that RETFound “consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art AI systems across a range of complex clinical tasks, and even more importantly, it addresses a significant shortcoming of many current AI systems by working well in diverse populations, and in patients with rare disease.” Information about RETFound was published in the journal Nature.

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24-month topline data from Phase 3 geographic atrophy therapy

Astellas Pharma, the parent company of Iveric Bio, announced 24-month topline results from its Phase 3 trial evaluating IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) for treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to AMD. IZERVAY was FDA approved in August. According to the company’s press release, this complement C4 inhibitor met its primary objective, which was significant slowing of geographic atrophy growth compared to sham with monthly treatment. The company’s press release reported that dosing on a bimonthly basis with IZERVAY also showed a similar reduction in geographic atrophy growth rate compared to sham.

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Positive data from Phase 1/2 trial for retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis treatment

Ocugen provided an update on its Phase 1/2 trial that is assessing safety and efficacy of OCU400 for treatment of retinitis pigmentosa associated with NR2E3 and Rhodopsin (RHO) mutations as well as Leber congenital amaurosis associated with CEP290 gene mutations. According to the company’s press release, this extension of earlier reported results includes additional subjects from a high-dose group. The study, which is evaluating a low, medium, and high dose of OCU400 in participants ages 18–77 with varied disease stages and other demographic differences, thus far suggests “continued positive trends in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and multi-luminance mobility testing (MLMT), as well as positive trends in low-luminance visual acuity (LLVA) among treated eyes,” according to the company. More specifically, Ocugen reported that 83% of subjects have demonstrated stabilization or improvement from baseline in the treated eye in either BCVA, MLMT, or LLVA. The company also noted that 86% of patients with the RHO mutation experienced stabilization or increase of MLMT from baseline.

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FDA clearance granted for portable retinal imaging system

NeoLight announced that it received FDA Class II clearance for its retinal imaging system ICON GO. According to the company’s press release, this is the “world’s only portable ophthalmic retinal imaging system with expanded fluorescein angiography capabilities.” The company explained that the portability of this device allows it to be brought to environments such as the PICU, NICU, OR, and ER. According to the press release, ICON GO will be available commercially in the fourth quarter of this year.

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ASCRS news and events

• ASCRS Annual Meeting: The call for submissions for the 2024 ASCRS Annual Meeting is going on now through October 9. Find submission details here.
• ASCRS Live Webinar: “A Challenging Day in the OR: Tough Choices in IOL Selection,” a live educational event, will take place Tuesday, September 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Register now for this webinar that will cover four unique cases.
• ASCRS Foundation: Young Eye Surgeon International Service Grant applications are due Monday, September 25.

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Research highlights

• A retrospective consecutive case series sought to evaluate the best IOL calculation formula for eyes with prior vitrectomy. The study included 974 vitrectomized eyes and evaluated 11 formulas (Barrett Universal II, Emmetropia Verifying Optical, Hoffer-QST, Kane, Ladas Super Formula, Pearl-DGS, Hill Radial Basis Function, Haigis, HofferQ, Holladay1, and SRK/T). The authors found that the Kane formula had the highest overall prediction accuracy in the context of prior vitrectomy, but eyes that also had prior scleral buckle, a steep cornea, or a long axial length in addition to prior vitrectomy were better served by the Barrett Universal II, Hill RBF, and the Holladay1 with the Wang-Koch axial length adjustment, respectively. According to the study, the risk of hyperopia in patients with prior vitrectomy was higher in those who had silicone oil tamponade and a longer axial length; scleral buckle or ciliary sulcus IOL implantation were more likely to have a myopic prediction error. The study was published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
• Epithelial complications after SMILE were investigated in a retrospective, single-site study that included 232 eyes of 220 patients. The paper, published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology, described that epithelial complications occurred in 15.7% of cases (68 eyes) and included anterior basement membrane changes, epithelial ingrowth, erosion, rough epithelium, epithelial defect, diffuse lamellar keratitis secondary to epitheliopathy, microstriae secondary to epitheliopathy, interface debris, and incisional fibrosis. The authors reported a statistically significant difference in age and development of epitheliopathy, with older patients more likely to develop these issues. Patients with epithelial complications were more likely to receive PRK enhancement after SMILE, compared to those who didn’t have epithelial complications. According to the paper, “despite the incidence of epithelial-related complications, visual prognoses were favorable and achieved through various management strategies.”

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Product news

• NovaBay began its commercial launch of its Avenova Allograft, intended to serve as a protective covering for ocular surface repair.

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