INTERESTING EYE NEWS & CLINICAL PEARLS

 A large study found that people who suffer from migraines are almost three times more likely to develop central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), an eye condition that causes fluid buildup under the retina. Researchers analyzed data from over 800,000 adults aged 18–40 and found a CSCR rate of 1.43 per 10,000 in migraine patients, compared with 0.51 per 10,000 in those without migraines. This higher risk was seen across all migraine types and was not affected by common migraine medications. The findings suggest that migraines and CSCR may share similar vascular causes. Both involve changes in blood flow in the choroid (the eye layer supplying the retina). The study proposes that stress, autonomic nervous system imbalance, and abnormal vascular responses could link the two conditions. Migraine attacks might cause temporary choroidal expansion, and in some people, this may lead to chronic dysfunction and CSCR. Clinically, the authors recommend that a migraine history be considered...

  A large JAMA Ophthalmology study of more than 90,000 obese, nondiabetic adults found that those using GLP-1 receptor agonists —such as liraglutide and semaglutide—had an over 80% lower risk of developing nonexudative (dry) AMD compared with users of other weight-loss medications. At 5, 7, and 10 years, GLP-1 users had risk reductions of 83%, 87%, and 91%, respectively. Researchers suggest that GLP-1 drugs may have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in the retina, independent of blood sugar control. However, they noted that the study was retrospective and relied on electronic health record coding, meaning results could be affected by selection and documentation bias . An invited commentary praised the study’s scale but warned that the magnitude of benefit seemed unusually large and may reflect methodological issues , such as incomplete screening for AMD and reliance on coding rather than clinical exams. Experts concluded that while GLP-1 drugs have clear health b...

 A new study in the International Journal of Surgery analyzed data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (2004–2024) to find which systemic (whole-body) drugs are most often linked to eye problems . The most common eye conditions reported were cataract, dry eye, and glaucoma , with blurred vision and eye pain being the most frequent symptoms. In total, 141 drugs were identified, spanning categories such as cancer treatments, nervous system drugs, infection treatments, immune/inflammatory drugs, cardiovascular and endocrine therapies, and respiratory drugs . Dupilumab (for atopic dermatitis) was the drug most often linked to eye issues. It can damage goblet cells in the conjunctiva, reducing tear production and causing dry eye disease . Belantamab mafodotin (for multiple myeloma) caused frequent blurred vision and dry eye . Fingolimod (for multiple sclerosis) was the next most common, known for causing macular edema . Moxifloxacin (oral form) was linked t...

 A new wireless retinal implant called PRIMA may restore central vision in people with geographic atrophy (GA) from advanced AMD, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study . The PRIMA system uses a tiny 2x2mm chip placed under the retina where photoreceptors have died. A camera on special glasses captures images and projects them onto the implant with infrared light , which the chip converts into electrical signals to stimulate retinal cells—essentially replacing lost photoreceptors. In the PRIMAvera clinical trial of 38 GA patients, 81% of participants showed significant vision improvement (≥0.2 logMAR) after 12 months, with many able to read and write again . Side effects, mostly from surgery, were temporary and similar to those seen with standard retinal procedures. The implant currently provides black-and-white vision , but updates may allow grayscale or facial recognition in the future. Its wireless design makes it safer and easier to upgrade or combine ...

 A large study published in Eye analyzed over 17 million FDA adverse event reports to find drugs linked to retinal detachment (RD). Researchers identified 30 medications with significant RD associations, including eye drops, cancer drugs, corticosteroids, and erectile dysfunction medications . The strongest links were seen with pilocarpine, encorafenib, and ocriplasmin , while drugs like prednisolone, bevacizumab, and topiramate had weaker connections. The time to RD onset varied—anticancer drugs caused it soonest (around two weeks), while erectile dysfunction drugs had the longest delay (about a year). Younger adults (<65) and men were more prone to RD from certain drug classes, especially ophthalmic agents. Older adults (65+) were more affected by corticosteroids, and women showed higher risk with cefuroxime and encorafenib. Different drugs were tied to different types of RD : cancer drugs often to exudative , anti-VEGF agents like aflibercept to regmatogenous , a...

 Even with a high genetic risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), adopting healthier lifestyle choices can significantly lower the chances of developing advanced disease . A study found that healthy habits, such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy BMI, and eating well, could reduce the risk of advanced AMD by up to 60% for individuals with high genetic susceptibility. To learn more about lifestyle modifications for AMD, read the full article

 A large study from Taiwan found that people who took the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) had a much lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) . The study used national health insurance data and included over 5,000 NAC users and 5,000 non-users . NAC users showed a significantly lower risk of both dry and wet AMD, especially at higher doses , suggesting a dose-response effect . NAC helps protect cells by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation , both key factors in AMD. However, the benefit was mainly seen in those taking larger or longer-term doses , and the data for wet AMD were less certain due to fewer cases. The authors caution that, since this was a retrospective database study , more prospective clinical research is needed to confirm NAC’s protective role and clarify the optimal dosage.

A new study found that taking testosterone—whether by patch, injection, or supplement—may increase the risk of developing central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) , a condition where fluid leaks under the retina and causes blurry or distorted vision. Researchers reviewed large medical databases and discovered that patients on testosterone therapy had higher average testosterone levels and blood counts, and were more likely to develop CSCR compared to non-users. Although some results weren’t statistically strong due to smaller sample sizes, the overall link remained significant. Scientists believe testosterone may raise pressure in the tiny blood vessels behind the eye or make them more “leaky,” allowing fluid to collect under the retina. Another possible cause is overstimulation of the body’s stress-response system, which can damage the retinal cells that normally keep fluid out. The study’s authors advise doctors to ask about testosterone use when diagnosing CSCR and to educate pa...