30-Second Takeaway
- High myopia substantially increases glaucoma and glaucoma surgery risk, warranting lower thresholds for lifelong surveillance.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists modestly raise NAION risk but show no broad ocular safety signal.
- New tools—steroid-sparing uveitis therapy, multiplex infectious uveitis PCR, and AI prognostics—may refine subspecialty management.
- Data-driven imaging approaches can flag high-risk subclinical keratoconus before conventional criteria are met.
- Systemic therapies, from ICIs to neonatal metabolic signaling, may inform future retinal disease prevention strategies.
Week ending January 10, 2026
What’s new in glaucoma risk, inflammatory eye disease tools, and systemic–ocular links
High myopia markedly elevates glaucoma and glaucoma surgery risk in a nationwide cohort
In over 14 million Korean adults aged 40 years or older, myopia significantly increased incident glaucoma risk versus non-myopia. Adjusted hazard ratios for glaucoma were 1.44 for any myopia and 2.67 for high myopia (≤ -6.0 D). High myopia also tripled the risk of glaucoma surgery overall and quadrupled the risk of filtering procedures such as trabeculectomy. These data support earlier and more frequent glaucoma surveillance and counseling in patients with moderate-to-high myopia.
GLP-1 receptor agonists modestly increase NAION risk without broader ocular toxicity
This meta-analysis of 15 longitudinal studies (>1.5 million patients) found GLP-1 receptor agonist use increased NAION risk (OR 1.70). Absolute NAION risk with GLP-1 agonists was 0.09%, yielding an excess risk of 0.037% and number-needed-to-harm about 2,700. Randomized and observational data showed consistent risk elevation, but there was no increase in overall ocular adverse events. Clinicians should contextualize the small absolute NAION risk against substantial cardio-metabolic benefits when counseling patients.
Steroid-free dazdotuftide is less effective but safer for IOP than prednisolone in anterior NIU
In this phase 3 trial, 136 patients with active anterior non-infectious uveitis were randomized 2:1 to dazdotuftide (TRS01) or prednisolone acetate 1%. By day 28, 48% on TRS01 versus 68% on prednisolone achieved ACC grade 0, confirming inferior anti-inflammatory efficacy. TRS01 was non-inferior for flare and ocular pain control and showed a superior intraocular pressure safety profile versus steroids. For patients at high risk of steroid-induced ocular hypertension, TRS01 may offer a steroid-sparing alternative despite lower efficacy.
OcuPan multiplex PCR provides rapid, highly specific detection for infectious uveitis
The OcuPan panel, detecting 46 ocular pathogens, was evaluated in 78 infectious uveitis cases and 31 controls. Overall clinical sensitivity was about 51%, while specificity reached 100% with no false positives among controls. Sensitivity was highest in undiluted vitreous samples and showed excellent agreement with conventional PCR, especially for herpesviruses and Treponema pallidum. This assay can streamline workup of suspected infectious uveitis when sample volume is limited and broad coverage is needed.
References
Numbered in order of appearance. Click any reference to view details.
Additional Reads
Optional additional studies from this edition.