The Lens Newsletter: September 30, 2026

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: A prospective cohort study in China shows diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) lenses can slow progression of myopia. In a post hoc analysis of the TENAYA and LUCERNE trials, having no subretinal fluid at week 12 after the initial Vabysmo injection in wet AMD is associated with a ~2.5x higher likelihood of keeping Vabysmo injections spaced at q12-16wk. Patients with varicose veins have ~2x risk of developing CSCR, supporting a potential link between systemic venous dysfunction and choroidal disease. Host: Awab Tanoli

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:Machine learning-derived vertical cup-to-disc ratios outperformed human grading for glaucoma detection, supporting their potential role in population screening.Donor diabetes severity was not associated with 1-year DMEK outcomes, supporting the use of diabetic donor corneas without additional diabetes-based testing or risk stratification.Median survival after ocular metastasis diagnosis was 8.2 months, with no significant improvement from 1979-2018Patient-derived uveal melanoma organoids preserve key genetic and epigenetic features of the original tumors and offer a promising platform for research.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week's episode, we discuss:Preeclampsia and elevated IOP were associated with increased risk of glaucoma development after pregnancy.The tumbling E test identified reduced visual acuity more frequently than HOTV in preschoolers, nearly doubling referral rates and supporting HOTV screening in children younger than 8 years.An early optogenetics trial showed increased light sensitivity in 7 out of 10 patients with retinitis pigmentosa following gene therapy and specialized goggle use.A multicenter study found that lid margin keratinization and conjunctivalization predicted surgical intervention, while certain medications were associated with subsequent vision loss.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:A single dose of bevacizumab given during trabeculectomy may improve long-term surgical success and reduce the need for glaucoma medications compared with placebo. A large registry study found that post-injection endophthalmitis is rare but occurs more often after corticosteroid implants and pegcetacoplan than after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections.IL-7R expression in blood immune cells may serve as a biomarker of Graves’ ophthalmopathy severity and treatment response.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:A national study found that prophylactic 360° cryotherapy substantially reduced retinal detachment risk in patients with type 2 Stickler syndrome, with benefits extending to the fellow eye.Stress tests aren’t just for your heart anymore, but could reveal eyes at risk for glaucomatous progression despite normal in-clinic pressure.Intraoperative posterior segment factors could help predict graft failure in penetrating keratoplasty.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:Use of oral anti-inflammatory medications (cetirizine, ibuprofen, and prednisone) was found to be observationally linked to a lower risk of development of diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.Approximately 50% of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy recurred after injection cessation even after reaching regression, suggesting a need for long-term injections in these patients.Adalimumab and Tocilizumab had similar efficacy in controlling vitreous haze in non-infectious uveitis.Outer retinal and parafoveal volume were associated with progression in diabetic macular edema, while inner retinal volume was not associated with progression.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss:OCT angiography detected glaucomatous progression earlier than OCT or visual field testing, preceding visual field progression by an average of 2.3 years.Living in areas with greater sunlight exposure in Taiwan was associated with a 20% higher odds of POAG and significantly faster RNFL thinning.Dry eye disease was significantly more frequent among patients with circadian rhythm sleep disorders at 1, 3, and 5 years after diagnosis compared with propensity-matched controls.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week's episode we discuss:Veligrotug infusions show potential for improving thyroid eye disease through improvement of symptoms including proptosis and diplopia A new cost-efficiency analysis study explores the utility of ambulatory surgical centers in ophthalmology A 15-year study of highly myopic eyes demonstrated 3D globe remodeling predicted pathologic progression beyond axial elongation alone. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) may play a role in inflammation and remodeling in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD)

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s issueChildren with neurodevelopmental disorders may have a higher risk of amblyopia, strabismus, and myopia.IOP stress testing may predict glaucoma progression.Patients with metastatic melanoma had a higher risk of developing noninfectious uveitis.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here!In this week's episode, we discuss:A study of AI use in 27000+ ophthalmic research articles found substantial evidence of LLM-generated text.HAL spectacle lenses significantly slowed myopic progression and axial elongation in US children compared with single-vision lenses. Unilateral noninfectious uveitis was associated with bilateral corneal nerve abnormalities, including reduced corneal nerve sensitivity and altered morphology. OCT/OCTA retinal vascular changes in patients with severe large artery stenosis were associated with cerebral atrophy and cognitive impairment.