The Lens Newsletter: August 20, 2025

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode, we discuss:Asymmetric Multi-point Defocus Technique (AMDT) lenses reduced myopia progression in children compared with single-vision lensesThere was no improvement in vision with the addition of corticosteroids or corneal cross-linking in the treatment of bacterial keratitisTear cell-based assays had a greater sensitivity than serum in detecting ocular myasthenia gravisAntioxidant protein DJ-1 may be protective against the mechanisms behind diabetic keratopathy

Too busy to read The Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:Genetic predisposition determined by polygenic risk score can predict glaucoma risk and visual field loss pattern.Patients receiving GLP-1 Receptor Agonists had a lower risk of developing uveitis.One-third of corneal perforations still required penetrating keratoplasty after glue treatment.

In This Week's Issue:A cross-sectional study looking at patients after globe removal from US service members showed higher rates of suicidal ideation, alcohol use disorder, anxiety/depression, among other behavioral health diagnoses.As compared to European populations, Hispanic populations had lower success rates and higher bleb leaks with trabeculectomy.A post hoc analysis found that younger adjusted age at congenital cataract surgery was associated with higher glaucoma risk but better long-term visual acuity, whilegestational age alone was not associated with outcomes.H. pylori-positive patients developed temporal retinal nerve fiber layer thinning at slightly higher rates and also developed signs of macular degeneration at a significantly younger age than H. pylori-negative patients

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss…Ocular vascular occlusion is a rare complication of soft tissue filler injections that can cause vision lossSemaglutide may be associated with various ocular adverse effects, most notably increased risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathyGlaucoma development is linked to poor sleep habits, insomnia, and sleep apnea

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss…In patients undergoing retinal detachment repair, patients with cannabis use had significantly less proliferative vitreoretinopathy compared to patients without. Chronic oral nitrate use may be protective against open angle glaucoma through vascular and neuroprotective mechanisms.Intravitreal injection for retinopathy of prematurity results in enlargement of the cup-to-disc ratio.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:CorNeat EverPatch shows high exposure and revision rates compared to human donor cornea grafts.Diversified segmental defocus optimization lenses show promise in preventing development of myopia in children.Screening and stroke workups in the ED for patients with central retinal artery occlusion have increased in the USA.IL-7 blockade outperforms IL-15 in treating chronic autoimmune uveitis.Modest IOP elevations in myopic normal tension glaucoma eyes may lead to progressive retinal nerve fiber layer thinning.

Too busy to read The Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:Implantable devices such as EYEMATE-SC show promise in safely and accurately measuring intraocular pressure without the assistance of a clinician. There is promise in using machine learning algorithms in glaucoma risk assessment as an objective tool for measuring retinal nerve fiber layer thickness from optic disc images.Hormonal contraceptive use confers a higher relative risk of retinal vein occlusion, though the relative risk of retinal vein occlusions is low.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week's episode we discuss...Certain systemic medications for T2DM may increase DME risk, while others are protective, suggesting medication choice impacts retinal health.Daily low-dose valacyclovir reduces herpes zoster ophthalmicus-related recurrence at 18 months, supporting utility in long-term suppression.RVO incidence rose during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea among middle-aged adults, while RAO rates remained stable. Nanopore sequencing shows promise for uveitis diagnosis, detecting herpes viruses with up to 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss…Pathogenic mismatch repair gene variants commonly linked to Lynch syndrome were found in a subset of uveal melanoma patients.Glaucoma is linked with circadian rhythm sleep disorders and other sleep-wake disturbances.Physical activity acutely increases IOP in glaucoma patients, returning near baseline during recovery, with IOP closely tracking blood pressure and heart rate changes.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:Thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch (brook) membrane is associated with both age-related macular degeneration progression and higher genetic risk scores. Early glaucoma diagnosis may increase emotional distress in patients, even without noticeable vision loss.Patients with diabetes may not be at increased risk of postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery, regardless of A1C levels.High cholesterol in the aging lens may help protect against cataract formation by preventing protein-membrane interactions.A multi-task artificial intelligence platform used ultra-wide-field fundus images to accurately detect and triage multiple retinal diseases—including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma suspect, and age-related macular degeneration—with high area under curves and interpretability features, offering a scalable solution for real-world screening.