Top Reads of 2024: Breakthroughs in Treatment and AI Integration
1. New AI tools help monitor geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration
A study found that AI-enhanced automated optical coherence tomography (OCT) is effective for monitoring geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration, closely matching manual fundus autofluorescence measurements. It also suggested that ellipsoid zone loss may be a key marker in GA progression.
Read more here.
2. Geographic Atrophy: Will Complement Inhibitors and AI Open the Door to Tailored Treatment?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to irreversible blindness, with dry AMD progressing to GA, for which treatment options are limited. Recent FDA approvals of complement inhibitors, along with advancements in artificial intelligence for patient selection, offer hope for better treatment, though the integration of genetic and phenotypic features remains challenging in clinical practice.
Read more here.
3. Significant vision loss in AMD often precedes detectable foveal changes
A study found that significant visual acuity loss in geographic atrophy due to non-exudative AMD can occur before detectable foveal involvement. Early intervention may be possible, as rapid VA decline was often observed months before visible foveal damage, particularly in patients with certain retinal patterns.
Read more here.
4. Avacincaptad pegol helps patients with GA maintain driving eligibility
Treatment with avacincaptad pegol (ACP) 2mg significantly reduces the likelihood of progression to vision impairments that would restrict driving in patients with GA compared to a sham treatment, according to a presentation by Dr. Seenu Hariprasad at ASRS 2024. The analysis from the GATHER1 and GATHER2 trials showed that ACP-treated patients were less likely to experience significant vision loss that would disqualify them from driving.
Read more here.
5. Study confirms safety of repeated 0.1-mL intravitreous injections on IOP in geographic atrophy
A post hoc analysis of two clinical trials found that repeated 0.1-mL intravitreous injections in patients with geographic atrophy are associated with a low risk of significant intraocular pressure (IOP) increases, indicating that this injection volume is safe. Over 48 weeks, no change in mean pre-injection IOP was observed, and adverse events like glaucoma or ocular hypertension were rare in both the lampalizumab and sham treatment groups.
Read more here.
