EW Weekly, February 5, 2021

- 2021 ASCRS Annual Meeting update
- FDA approves new monofocal IOL
- First patient dosed in Phase 2 trial for investigational DED therapy
- Phase 2a trial initiated for add-on wet AMD therapy
- Research highlights
- Product news
- Research published in Stem Cell Reports provided proof-of-concept for a gene therapy that could be used to treat dominant CRX mutations that cause Leber congenital amaurosis (LRA) and other CRX retinopathies. The investigators used induced pluripotent stem cells from two patient volunteers with a CRX mutation to create an in vitro model of CRX-LRA in retinal organoids. They then used AAV-mediated CRX gene augmentation therapy and partially restored expression of phototransduction genes, the study reported.
- A study published in Clinical Ophthalmology looked at the unintended ocular consequences that could result from delaying care during the COVID-19 pandemic closure. This cross-sectional, retrospective review of data from a single-provider outpatient clinic specifically looked at patients who receive regular intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF or corticosteroids. The review took place over 6 weeks in consecutive patients following reopening of elective procedures, and patients were marked as either having care delayed (follow-up of at least 33% longer than intended) or undelayed. Main outcomes were BCVA and OCT of intraretinal or subretinal fluid. Data from the same time period of the previous year (2019) served as a control comparison. A total of 183 eyes were included in the study period (193 as a control in 2019), 62 of which were considered delayed. The investigators found that about 15% of patients were “delayed” as a result of the pandemic shutdown. Those in the delayed group had greater BCVA decline and were more likely to have worse OCT results. The study authors concluded that consequences of delayed care due to the pandemic should be anticipated and mitigation strategies should be developed if a similar delay of care happens again.
- A report published in the journal Cornea discussed an observation while using Scheimpflug densitometry on keratoconic corneas. The observation was that Scheimpflug densitometry analysis seemed to delineate the base of the cone in the area of the cornea affected. The investigators looked at Scheimpflug densitometries of 20 normal corneas and 90 from patients with keratoconus. The researchers observed a “bright area” in the densitometry map in the cone location on 88 of the 90 keratoconus cases. Characteristics such as brightness and contrast also correlated with keratoconus severity, the authors noted. Changes over time were observed. Densitometry maps of normal corneas did not show such features. With these findings, the researchers wrote that densitometry maps could be used as a supplementary tool for documenting the stage of keratoconus. They also advocated for future studies to look into whether this feature could be used in keratoconus detection, progression, or other corneal biomechanical behavior.
This issue of EyeWorld Weekly was edited by Stacy Jablonski and Vanessa Caceres.
EyeWorld Weekly (ISSN 1089-0319), a digital publication of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), is published every Friday, distributed by email, and posted live on Friday.
Medical Editors: Eric Donnenfeld, MD, Chief Medical Editor; Rosa Braga-Mele, MD, Cataract Editor; Clara Chan, MD, Cornea Editor; Nathan Radcliffe, MD, Glaucoma Editor; and Vance Thompson, MD, Refractive Editor
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