30-Second Takeaway
- Fluocinolone implant as baseline DME therapy halves injection burden vs aflibercept but increases cataract and IOP events.
- Peri–stroke/MI anti-VEGF injections were not associated with worse survival or functional outcomes in a large EHR cohort.
- Tapering 0.05% atropine before stopping yields less myopic rebound, especially in younger, more myopic LAMP participants.
- Standardized multimodal imaging criteria now define activity vs quiescence across major noninfectious posterior uveitis entities.
- Short-term axial elongation, OCT rpeHRF, TED fat–muscle ratio, and PK-guided eye-drop dosing offer practical risk and treatment stratification tools.
Week ending March 28, 2026
New data on DME baselines, anti-VEGF safety after CV events, myopia control, uveitis imaging, and surgical/biomarker advances
Fluocinolone implant baseline therapy matches aflibercept outcomes with far fewer injections in DME
In NEW DAY, baseline 0.19 mg fluocinolone implant for center-involving DME achieved similar 18‑month BCVA and CST outcomes as aflibercept monotherapy. Total injections were reduced by more than half with fluocinolone vs aflibercept, despite similar need for aflibercept rescue injections. Time to first rescue aflibercept injection was longer after fluocinolone, suggesting more durable edema control. However, cataract surgery and IOP elevation were several-fold more frequent with fluocinolone, reinforcing the need for lens and glaucoma counseling.
Peri–stroke or MI anti-VEGF was not linked to worse systemic outcomes
This large TriNetX EHR cohort compared patients with stroke or MI who did vs did not receive intravitreal anti‑VEGF around the event. Peristroke anti‑VEGF exposure was associated with lower 3‑month and 1‑year mortality and fewer short‑term neurologic deficits after propensity matching. Peri‑MI anti‑VEGF similarly showed no signal of excess mortality or heart failure in matched analyses. These data support continuing indicated intravitreal anti‑VEGF through major cardiovascular events rather than reflexively pausing for systemic safety concerns.
Tapering 0.05% atropine lessens myopic rebound vs abrupt cessation in LAMP
In LAMP children maintained on 0.05% atropine, tapering over one year reduced subsequent 3‑year myopia progression vs abrupt stopping. Tapered children had less spherical equivalent shift and axial length elongation and more often met a ‘good discontinuation’ response definition. Younger age and greater baseline myopia were associated with faster progression and derived greater benefit from tapering. These results support a structured taper, particularly in younger, more myopic patients, instead of sudden atropine withdrawal.
MUV Taskforce defines imaging criteria for activity in noninfectious posterior uveitis
The MUV initiative consolidated multimodal imaging recommendations across five major noninfectious posterior uveitis entities. Using structured consensus methods, 49 statements were classified as suggestive of active disease, inactive disease, or equivocal. Twenty‑one features were endorsed as imaging signs of activity and 12 as quiescent, with 16 requiring further study. These standardized imaging endpoints provide a trial‑ready framework and can support more objective activity assessment in routine uveitis clinics.
References
Numbered in order of appearance. Click any reference to view details.
Additional Reads
Optional additional studies from this edition.