Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.030
Luca De Simone , Rocco Bruno , Fabrizio Gozzi , Elena Bolletta , Pietro Gentile , Chantal Adani , Rodolfo Mastropasqua , Luca Cimino
Purpose
To describe multimodal imaging (MMI) features in autoimmune retinopathies (AIR) and characterize distinct phenotypic clusters.
Design
Retrospective observational case series.
Participants
Ten patients diagnosed with AIR between November 2017 and August 2025 were evaluated at the Ocular Immunology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale–IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Methods
Patients with paraneoplastic and nonparaneoplastic AIR underwent full-field electroretinography and MMI, including retinography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography. Qualitative pattern analysis was performed to identify recurring imaging features.
Main Outcome Measures
MMI characteristics of AIR.
Results
Of 30 referred patients, 10 (14 eyes) met inclusion criteria (median age 42 years, range 28 to 65; 70% female; median follow-up 40 months). Three recurring imaging clusters were identified. One cluster showed features within the acute zonal occult outer retinopathy spectrum, including monozonal, bizonal, and trizonal configurations on FAF and OCT. A second cluster was characterized by predominant posterior pole photoreceptoritis with subtle FAF changes and diffuse outer retinal alterations on OCT. A third cluster showed unilateral, peripheral, retinitis pigmentosa–like degeneration with centripetal progression on FAF and mild capillary leakage on fluorescein angiography.
Conclusions
In this small case series, MMI revealed recurring phenotypic clusters in AIR that may help contextualize the heterogeneity of this condition. These observations are exploratory and hypothesis-generating, and warrant validation in larger, multicenter studies.
{"title":"New Insights into Imaging Patterns of Autoimmune Retinopathies: A Cluster-Based Update","authors":"Luca De Simone , Rocco Bruno , Fabrizio Gozzi , Elena Bolletta , Pietro Gentile , Chantal Adani , Rodolfo Mastropasqua , Luca Cimino","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To describe multimodal imaging (MMI) features in autoimmune retinopathies (AIR) and characterize distinct phenotypic clusters.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Retrospective observational case series.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Ten patients diagnosed with AIR between November 2017 and August 2025 were evaluated at the Ocular Immunology Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale–IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients with paraneoplastic and nonparaneoplastic AIR underwent full-field electroretinography and MMI, including retinography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography. Qualitative pattern analysis was performed to identify recurring imaging features.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>MMI characteristics of AIR.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 30 referred patients, 10 (14 eyes) met inclusion criteria (median age 42 years, range 28 to 65; 70% female; median follow-up 40 months). Three recurring imaging clusters were identified. One cluster showed features within the acute zonal occult outer retinopathy spectrum, including monozonal, bizonal, and trizonal configurations on FAF and OCT. A second cluster was characterized by predominant posterior pole photoreceptoritis with subtle FAF changes and diffuse outer retinal alterations on OCT. A third cluster showed unilateral, peripheral, retinitis pigmentosa–like degeneration with centripetal progression on FAF and mild capillary leakage on fluorescein angiography.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In this small case series, MMI revealed recurring phenotypic clusters in AIR that may help contextualize the heterogeneity of this condition. These observations are exploratory and hypothesis-generating, and warrant validation in larger, multicenter studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 30-42"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145893648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To compare the incidence and outcomes of postoperative epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation after fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling (FSIP) and standard internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in eyes with myopic traction maculopathy (MTM).
Design
Multicenter, retrospective clinical cohort study (Schisis report no. 4).
Methods
Patients with MTM who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) at 10 institutions between June 2008 and July 2024, with at least 12 months of follow-up, were included. Postoperative ERM was identified on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and graded using the Govetto classification. The main outcomes were the 12-month incidence of postoperative ERM and postoperative visual outcomes.
Results
We included a total of 206 eyes (201 patients); 46 eyes treated with FSIP and 160 eyes treated with standard ILM peeling. Of the 206 eyes, postoperative ERM developed in 16 eyes (7.8%) at 12 months: 8 eyes (17.4%) in the FSIP group and 8 eyes (5.0%) in the standard ILM peeling group. The incidence of postoperative ERM was significantly higher in the FSIP group than in the standard ILM peeling group (P = .014), and univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that FSIP was significantly associated with postoperative ERM at 12 months (OR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.39-11.55, P = .009). Of the 8 eyes with postoperative ERM after FSIP, 6 eyes showed stage 1 ERM and 2 eyes showed stage 2 ERM. Of the 8 eyes with postoperative ERM after standard ILM peeling, 7 eyes showed stage 1 ERM and 1 eye showed stage 2 ERM. No additional surgery was required for postoperative ERM during 12 months. Postoperative logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity at 12 months did not differ significantly between eyes with (0.50 ± 0.43) and without ERM (0.42 ± 0.52; P = .517). The incidence of postoperative macular hole (MH) was lower in the FSIP group (2.2%) than in the standard ILM peeling group (12.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant (P = .071).
Conclusions
FSIP increased the incidence of postoperative ERM compared with standard ILM peeling, but most ERMs were subclinical and did not affect vision. Despite the elevated ERM risk, the potential benefit of FSIP in reducing postoperative macular hole formation may outweigh its drawbacks.
目的比较近视牵引性黄斑病变(MTM)术后保留中央凹内限制膜剥离(FSIP)与标准内限制膜剥离(ILM)后视网膜前膜(ERM)形成的发生率及预后。设计:多中心、回顾性临床队列研究(Schisis报告编号;4)。方法选取2008年6月至2024年7月期间在10家医院行玻璃体部切除术(PPV)的MTM患者,随访时间至少12个月。术后ERM采用光学相干断层扫描(OCT)识别,并采用Govetto分级。主要观察结果为术后12个月的ERM发生率和术后视力。结果共纳入206只眼(201例患者);FSIP组46眼,标准ILM剥离组160眼。206只眼中,术后12个月有16只眼(7.8%)发生ERM: FSIP组8只眼(17.4%),标准ILM剥离组8只眼(5.0%)。FSIP组术后ERM发生率显著高于标准ILM剥离组(P = 0.014),单变量logistic回归分析显示,FSIP与术后12个月ERM发生率显著相关(OR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.39-11.55, P = 0.009)。FSIP术后出现ERM的8只眼中,6只眼为1期ERM, 2只眼为2期ERM。在标准ILM剥离后发生ERM的8只眼中,7只眼为1期ERM, 1只眼为2期ERM。术后12个月内均未发生ERM手术。术后12个月最小分辨角的对数在ERM组(0.50±0.43)和无ERM组(0.42±0.52;P = .517)之间无显著差异。FSIP组术后黄斑孔发生率(2.2%)低于标准ILM剥离组(12.8%),但差异无统计学意义(P = 0.071)。结论与标准ILM剥落相比,sfsip增加了术后ERM的发生率,但大多数ERM是亚临床的,不影响视力。尽管ERM风险升高,但FSIP在减少术后黄斑孔形成方面的潜在益处可能大于其缺点。
{"title":"Postoperative Epiretinal Membrane After Fovea-sparing Versus Standard Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling for Myopic Traction Maculopathy","authors":"Akihiko Shiraki , Nobuhiko Shiraki , Kotaro Tsuboi , Masaki Fukushima , Ryota Akai , Tomoko Ueda-Consolvo , Yuichiro Ishida , Keita Baba , Kentaro Abe , Hisashi Fukuyama , Yuki Yamamoto , Yuki Otsuka , Ryuya Hashimoto , Motohiro Kamei , Hirokazu Sakaguchi , Fumi Gomi , Yasushi Ikuno , Takatoshi Maeno , Yusuke Oshima , Jay Chhablani , Taku Wakabayashi","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To compare the incidence and outcomes of postoperative epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation after fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling (FSIP) and standard internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in eyes with myopic traction maculopathy (MTM).</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Multicenter, retrospective clinical cohort study (Schisis report no. 4).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients with MTM who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) at 10 institutions between June 2008 and July 2024, with at least 12 months of follow-up, were included. Postoperative ERM was identified on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and graded using the Govetto classification. The main outcomes were the 12-month incidence of postoperative ERM and postoperative visual outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included a total of 206 eyes (201 patients); 46 eyes treated with FSIP and 160 eyes treated with standard ILM peeling. Of the 206 eyes, postoperative ERM developed in 16 eyes (7.8%) at 12 months: 8 eyes (17.4%) in the FSIP group and 8 eyes (5.0%) in the standard ILM peeling group. The incidence of postoperative ERM was significantly higher in the FSIP group than in the standard ILM peeling group (<em>P</em> = .014), and univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that FSIP was significantly associated with postoperative ERM at 12 months (OR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.39-11.55, <em>P</em> = .009). Of the 8 eyes with postoperative ERM after FSIP, 6 eyes showed stage 1 ERM and 2 eyes showed stage 2 ERM. Of the 8 eyes with postoperative ERM after standard ILM peeling, 7 eyes showed stage 1 ERM and 1 eye showed stage 2 ERM. No additional surgery was required for postoperative ERM during 12 months. Postoperative logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity at 12 months did not differ significantly between eyes with (0.50 ± 0.43) and without ERM (0.42 ± 0.52; <em>P</em> = .517). The incidence of postoperative macular hole (MH) was lower in the FSIP group (2.2%) than in the standard ILM peeling group (12.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant (<em>P</em> = .071).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>FSIP increased the incidence of postoperative ERM compared with standard ILM peeling, but most ERMs were subclinical and did not affect vision. Despite the elevated ERM risk, the potential benefit of FSIP in reducing postoperative macular hole formation may outweigh its drawbacks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 123-132"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145893651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.015
Shinji Kakihara, Amani A Fawzi
{"title":"Comment on: Choroidal-derived intraretinal neovascularization compensates for diabetic retinopathy ischemia via dual-pathway remodeling post-pan-retinal photocoagulation.","authors":"Shinji Kakihara, Amani A Fawzi","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.015","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":" ","pages":"261-262"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145987520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.020
CHENYUE HANG , TIANYUAN ZHAO , ZHIXUAN CHEN , HONG WANG , LIN CHEN , TING ZHANG , YUTIAN JIAO , TONG LI , JUNRAN SUN , SUQIN YU , YUANYUAN GONG , HAO ZHOU , XUJUN JIANG , XINXIN LIU , HUIXUN JIA , KAIRONG ZHENG , XIAOLING WAN , JIEQIONG CHEN , XIAODONG SUN
Purpose
To investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation in RHO-associated retinopathy, with a focus on delineating an ethnic-specific variant spectrum and comparing clinical severity across biological classes and common variants.
Design
Retrospective cohort study and literature review.
Methods
We systematically reviewed all published cases of RHO-associated retinal diseases (2196 patients, 1278 probands) and analyzed clinical, genetic, and imaging data from our institutional cohort (80 probands). Variants were categorized by type and by biological class (Class 1-7), and phenotypes were compared across different biological classes and three common variants.
Results
A marked geographic divergence was observed: P23H was common in North America but rare in other populations, whereas P347L and R135W were major common variants in European and Asian populations. Genotype-phenotype analysis revealed that Class 2 variants were associated with later onset and slower visual decline, whereas Class 1 and Class 3 variants correlated with earlier onset (P < .0001) and more aggressive phenotypes. Notably, R135W (Class 3) emerged as an under-recognized but highly aggressive variant, with earlier onset (P < .01) and potentially earlier macular involvement.
Conclusions
Our study represents the largest study integrating ethnic, genotypic, and clinical data in RHO-associated retinopathy. The findings highlight substantial inter-ethnic differences in common variants and underscore the clinical relevance of biological classification in predicting disease course. In particular, R135W and P347L warrants closer clinical attention due to their aggressive trajectory, which may inform prioritization in gene therapy trials and individualized patient management.
{"title":"Geographic and Phenotypic Variability in RHO-Associated Retinopathy: Evidence From a Chinese Cohort and Global Literature","authors":"CHENYUE HANG , TIANYUAN ZHAO , ZHIXUAN CHEN , HONG WANG , LIN CHEN , TING ZHANG , YUTIAN JIAO , TONG LI , JUNRAN SUN , SUQIN YU , YUANYUAN GONG , HAO ZHOU , XUJUN JIANG , XINXIN LIU , HUIXUN JIA , KAIRONG ZHENG , XIAOLING WAN , JIEQIONG CHEN , XIAODONG SUN","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation in <em>RHO</em>-associated retinopathy, with a focus on delineating an ethnic-specific variant spectrum and comparing clinical severity across biological classes and common variants.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Retrospective cohort study and literature review.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically reviewed all published cases of <em>RHO</em>-associated retinal diseases (2196 patients, 1278 probands) and analyzed clinical, genetic, and imaging data from our institutional cohort (80 probands). Variants were categorized by type and by biological class (Class 1-7), and phenotypes were compared across different biological classes and three common variants.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A marked geographic divergence was observed: P23H was common in North America but rare in other populations, whereas P347L and R135W were major common variants in European and Asian populations. Genotype-phenotype analysis revealed that Class 2 variants were associated with later onset and slower visual decline, whereas Class 1 and Class 3 variants correlated with earlier onset (<em>P</em> < .0001) and more aggressive phenotypes. Notably, R135W (Class 3) emerged as an under-recognized but highly aggressive variant, with earlier onset (<em>P</em> < .01) and potentially earlier macular involvement.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study represents the largest study integrating ethnic, genotypic, and clinical data in <em>RHO</em>-associated retinopathy. The findings highlight substantial inter-ethnic differences in common variants and underscore the clinical relevance of biological classification in predicting disease course. In particular, R135W and P347L warrants closer clinical attention due to their aggressive trajectory, which may inform prioritization in gene therapy trials and individualized patient management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145823647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.038
Douglas R. da Costa , Rafael Scherer , Swarup S. Swaminathan , Henry Tseng , Felipe A. Medeiros
Objective
Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) is the primary method for monitoring glaucoma progression and an established functional endpoint in clinical trials. A ≥7 dB loss in at least five prespecified test locations has been proposed as a potential endpoint for glaucoma trials, but identifying such vulnerable points in advance remains a major challenge. We developed an artificial intelligence model that uses baseline SAP data to predict the locations most likely to progress, enabling a targeted approach to endpoint selection in neuroprotection trials.
Design
Retrospective cohort study to predict progression.
Subjects
A total of 82,449 SAP tests from 14,237 eyes of 10,533 subjects with open-angle glaucoma across three independent datasets: the Bascom Palmer Ophthalmic Registry, the Duke Glaucoma Registry, and the University of Washington Humphrey Visual Field.
Methods
A graph attention network was trained on Bascom Palmer Ophthalmic Registry data, split at the patient level into development and internal validation datasets, to predict progression risk at each SAP location using baseline total deviation values and anatomically informed graph connectivity. For each eye, the five highest-risk points (High-5) were identified and compared with global mean deviation (MD) and the five lowest-risk points (Low-5). The model was applied without retraining to the Duke Glaucoma Registry and University of Washington Humphrey Visual Field cohorts for external validation.
Main Outcome Measures
Model ranking performance, neighborhood hit rate, rates of change at High-5, Low-5, and MD, discrimination by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and time to repeatable ≥7 dB decline.
Results
In progressing eyes, mean slopes at High-5 were −2.05 to −2.32 dB/y, four to five times steeper than Low-5 (−0.45 to −0.66; P < .001) and approximately twice that of MD (−0.93 to −1.14; P < .001). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for discriminating progressors from nonprogressors ranged from 0.883 to 0.937 for High-5, outperforming Low-5 (0.668-0.731; P < .001) and MD (0.871-0.911; P = .003). Nearly all progressors reached the High-5 ≥7 dB threshold during follow-up.
Conclusions
The artificial intelligence-based model identified the most vulnerable visual field locations from baseline data. The High-5 metric provides a proof-of-concept framework consistent with regulatory concepts of functional endpoints and shows improved sensitivity to progression, supporting more efficient neuroprotection trials and personalized glaucoma monitoring.
{"title":"Artificial Intelligence-Guided Endpoint Selection for Neuroprotection Trials in Glaucoma","authors":"Douglas R. da Costa , Rafael Scherer , Swarup S. Swaminathan , Henry Tseng , Felipe A. Medeiros","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) is the primary method for monitoring glaucoma progression and an established functional endpoint in clinical trials. A ≥7 dB loss in at least five prespecified test locations has been proposed as a potential endpoint for glaucoma trials, but identifying such vulnerable points in advance remains a major challenge. We developed an artificial intelligence model that uses baseline SAP data to predict the locations most likely to progress, enabling a targeted approach to endpoint selection in neuroprotection trials.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Retrospective cohort study to predict progression.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>A total of 82,449 SAP tests from 14,237 eyes of 10,533 subjects with open-angle glaucoma across three independent datasets: the Bascom Palmer Ophthalmic Registry, the Duke Glaucoma Registry, and the University of Washington Humphrey Visual Field.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A graph attention network was trained on Bascom Palmer Ophthalmic Registry data, split at the patient level into development and internal validation datasets, to predict progression risk at each SAP location using baseline total deviation values and anatomically informed graph connectivity. For each eye, the five highest-risk points (High-5) were identified and compared with global mean deviation (MD) and the five lowest-risk points (Low-5). The model was applied without retraining to the Duke Glaucoma Registry and University of Washington Humphrey Visual Field cohorts for external validation.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>Model ranking performance, neighborhood hit rate, rates of change at High-5, Low-5, and MD, discrimination by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and time to repeatable ≥7 dB decline.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In progressing eyes, mean slopes at High-5 were −2.05 to −2.32 dB/y, four to five times steeper than Low-5 (−0.45 to −0.66; <em>P</em> < .001) and approximately twice that of MD (−0.93 to −1.14; <em>P</em> < .001). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for discriminating progressors from nonprogressors ranged from 0.883 to 0.937 for High-5, outperforming Low-5 (0.668-0.731; <em>P</em> < .001) and MD (0.871-0.911; <em>P</em> = .003). Nearly all progressors reached the High-5 ≥7 dB threshold during follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The artificial intelligence-based model identified the most vulnerable visual field locations from baseline data. The High-5 metric provides a proof-of-concept framework consistent with regulatory concepts of functional endpoints and shows improved sensitivity to progression, supporting more efficient neuroprotection trials and personalized glaucoma monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 88-100"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145893645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.008
Angel Gao , Tasha Miller , Arturo Ortin-Martinez , Radha P. Kohly
<div><h3>Topic</h3><div>Ophthalmology remains one of the least diverse medical specialties, with persistent racial and ethnic disparities throughout training and practice. This review examines experiences of individuals from underrepresented racial minorities (URiM) in ophthalmology within high-income countries, focusing on barriers to representation, discrimination, and equity initiatives.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical Relevance</h3><div>Identifying and addressing barriers faced by URiM in ophthalmology is essential to advancing workforce diversity, equitable patient care, and institutional inclusivity. Understanding where inequities persist can inform systemic interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic review of the literature was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to November 2024. Eligible studies included English-language publications from 2000 onwards focusing on racial or ethnic minority individuals in ophthalmology. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. Data were synthesized descriptively and thematically. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42025640520).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Forty-one eligible studies involving 500,823 responses were included. Most studies were cross-sectional, published after 2021 and conducted in the United States. Across all career stages, URiM individuals were underrepresented and faced structural barriers. In medical school, fewer URiM students pursued ophthalmology, citing lack of mentorship and role models. Minority representation among applicants has increased modestly, particularly among Hispanic students, though overall growth remains limited.</div><div>During residency and fellowship, racial disparities persisted in research access, fellowship application outcomes, and interview offers. URiM trainees reported negative experiences related to program culture and inclusivity. In practice, racialized ophthalmologists reported higher discrimination rates, reduced advancement into leadership, and underrepresentation on faculty and editorial boards.</div><div>While URiM match rates have improved, progress has been uneven. Asian representation has approached parity, while Black, Native American, and Pacific Islander individuals remain severely underrepresented. National ophthalmology mentorship programs have demonstrated high match success and participation. Residency programs that implemented structured interviews, holistic review and targeted equity strategies reported improved URiM representation, though implementation varied.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Racial and ethnic disparities remain pervasive in ophthalmology. While overall progress has occurred, gains have been concentrated among Asian individuals. Coordinated systemic reforms are urgently needed for a more represent
主题眼科仍然是最不多样化的医学专业之一,在整个培训和实践中存在持续的种族和民族差异。本综述考察了高收入国家中代表性不足的少数民族(URiM)在眼科的经历,重点关注代表性障碍、歧视和公平倡议。临床相关性识别和解决URiM在眼科面临的障碍对于促进劳动力多样性、公平的患者护理和机构包容性至关重要。了解不平等存在的地方可以为系统性干预提供信息。方法系统回顾MEDLINE、Embase、PsycINFO、CINAHL、Web of Science和Cochrane Library自成立以来至2024年11月的文献。符合条件的研究包括2000年以来的英语出版物,重点关注眼科中的种族或少数民族个体。两位审稿人独立筛选研究,提取数据,并使用纽卡斯尔-渥太华量表和乔安娜布里格斯研究所检查表评估偏倚风险。对数据进行了描述性和主题性的综合。协议在PROSPERO上注册(CRD42025640520)。结果纳入41项符合条件的研究,涉及500,823项应答。大多数研究都是横断面的,在2021年之后发表,并在美国进行。在所有职业阶段,URiM个体的代表性不足,面临结构性障碍。在医学院,攻读眼科专业的URiM学生较少,理由是缺乏指导和榜样。申请人中少数族裔的比例略有增加,尤其是在西班牙裔学生中,尽管总体增长仍然有限。在住院医师和奖学金期间,种族差异在研究机会、奖学金申请结果和面试机会方面持续存在。URiM学员报告了与项目文化和包容性相关的负面经历。在实践中,种族化的眼科医生报告了更高的歧视率,晋升到领导层的机会减少,在教师和编辑委员会中的代表性不足。虽然uri匹配率有所提高,但进展并不均衡。亚裔代表人数已经接近平等,而黑人、美洲原住民和太平洋岛民的代表人数仍然严重不足。国家眼科导师项目已经显示出很高的匹配成功率和参与率。实施结构化访谈、整体审查和目标股权策略的住院医师项目报告称,尽管实施情况各不相同,但URiM的代表性有所提高。结论眼科的种族差异仍然普遍存在。虽然总体上取得了进步,但收益集中在亚洲个人身上。迫切需要协调的系统改革,以建立更具代表性,包容性和支持性的眼科专业环境。
{"title":"Racial Disparities in Ophthalmology in Training and Practice: A Systematic Review","authors":"Angel Gao , Tasha Miller , Arturo Ortin-Martinez , Radha P. Kohly","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Topic</h3><div>Ophthalmology remains one of the least diverse medical specialties, with persistent racial and ethnic disparities throughout training and practice. This review examines experiences of individuals from underrepresented racial minorities (URiM) in ophthalmology within high-income countries, focusing on barriers to representation, discrimination, and equity initiatives.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical Relevance</h3><div>Identifying and addressing barriers faced by URiM in ophthalmology is essential to advancing workforce diversity, equitable patient care, and institutional inclusivity. Understanding where inequities persist can inform systemic interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic review of the literature was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to November 2024. Eligible studies included English-language publications from 2000 onwards focusing on racial or ethnic minority individuals in ophthalmology. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. Data were synthesized descriptively and thematically. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42025640520).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Forty-one eligible studies involving 500,823 responses were included. Most studies were cross-sectional, published after 2021 and conducted in the United States. Across all career stages, URiM individuals were underrepresented and faced structural barriers. In medical school, fewer URiM students pursued ophthalmology, citing lack of mentorship and role models. Minority representation among applicants has increased modestly, particularly among Hispanic students, though overall growth remains limited.</div><div>During residency and fellowship, racial disparities persisted in research access, fellowship application outcomes, and interview offers. URiM trainees reported negative experiences related to program culture and inclusivity. In practice, racialized ophthalmologists reported higher discrimination rates, reduced advancement into leadership, and underrepresentation on faculty and editorial boards.</div><div>While URiM match rates have improved, progress has been uneven. Asian representation has approached parity, while Black, Native American, and Pacific Islander individuals remain severely underrepresented. National ophthalmology mentorship programs have demonstrated high match success and participation. Residency programs that implemented structured interviews, holistic review and targeted equity strategies reported improved URiM representation, though implementation varied.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Racial and ethnic disparities remain pervasive in ophthalmology. While overall progress has occurred, gains have been concentrated among Asian individuals. Coordinated systemic reforms are urgently needed for a more represent","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 196-207"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145986455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.11.050
Ha-Neul Yu, Isdin Oke, Julius T Oatts
{"title":"Comment on: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Cataract Development.","authors":"Ha-Neul Yu, Isdin Oke, Julius T Oatts","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.11.050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.11.050","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":" ","pages":"250-251"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145877474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.034
DAVID S CHU , EDMUND TSUI , LANA M RIFKIN , ALAN G PALESTINE , CADMUS RICH , JENNIFER E THORNE , DAPHNE HAIM-LANGFORD , ZOHAR MILMAN , EMILEE FULCHER , RON NEUMANN , MARC D DE SMET
PURPOSE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dazdotuftide (TRS01 eye drops), a novel, steroid-free, anti-inflammatory drug in patients with active anterior noninfectious uveitis (NIU), following previous studies in which it had shown a favorable risk/benefit profile with regards to safety and specifically intraocular pressure (IOP) safety profile.
DESIGN
A randomized, double-masked, multicenter, active-controlled phase 3 trial.
PARTICIPANTS
Adults (≤75 years of age) and pediatric patients, with active anterior NIU, with or without uveitic glaucoma, on stable medical therapy for NIU or who had received no prior therapy, requiring further treatment for an active NIU flare-up. Patients eligible for inclusion had Anterior Chamber Cell (ACC) Grade 2 or Grade 3 on Visual Analog Scale in the study eye.
METHODS
Patients were randomized 2:1 to topical TRS01 1% or prednisolone acetate 1% administered 4 times daily for 28 days. Key ocular assessments included slit-lamp examination, ocular pain, Best Corrected Visual Acuity, IOP and dilated ophthalmoscopy.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Resolution of inflammation (ACC = 0), clinically meaningful improvement of ACC, ocular pain, flare, and IOP changes on Day 28.
RESULTS
The Full Analysis Set included 136 patients; the mean age was 43 years in the TRS01 arm and 42 years in the prednisolone acetate arm. 48% of TRS01 vs 68% of prednisolone acetate patients achieved ACC Grade = 0 on Day 28 (95.1% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.37, −0.02; P = .0311) and 64% of TRS01 vs 89% prednisolone acetate patients experienced clinically meaningful improvement of ACC Grade = 0 or 1, ie, ≤5 cells (95.1% CI: −0.33, −0.06; P = .0049). While TRS01 was found to be inferior to topical steroids to control ACC, TRS01 was noninferior to topical steroids to control flare and ocular pain and exhibited a superior IOP safety compared to topical steroids. For patients who reached ACC = 0, TRS01-treated patients benefited from statistically significantly improved safety outcomes for IOP (including change from baseline and at each IOP threshold evaluated [P < .05]) versus steroid-treated patients.
CONCLUSIONS
TRS01 offers the potential to serve as an effective and safe treatment option in NIU that meets the urgent need for a drug that controls inflammation without the steroids’ associated risk of IOP elevation.
{"title":"Dazdotuftide: Novel Treatment for Noninfectious Uveitis with Superior Intraocular Pressure Safety Profile: A Randomized Clinical Trial","authors":"DAVID S CHU , EDMUND TSUI , LANA M RIFKIN , ALAN G PALESTINE , CADMUS RICH , JENNIFER E THORNE , DAPHNE HAIM-LANGFORD , ZOHAR MILMAN , EMILEE FULCHER , RON NEUMANN , MARC D DE SMET","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>PURPOSE</h3><div>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dazdotuftide (TRS01 eye drops), a novel, steroid-free, anti-inflammatory drug in patients with active anterior noninfectious uveitis (NIU), following previous studies in which it had shown a favorable risk/benefit profile with regards to safety and specifically intraocular pressure (IOP) safety profile.</div></div><div><h3>DESIGN</h3><div>A randomized, double-masked, multicenter, active-controlled phase 3 trial.</div></div><div><h3>PARTICIPANTS</h3><div>Adults (≤75 years of age) and pediatric patients, with active anterior NIU, with or without uveitic glaucoma, on stable medical therapy for NIU or who had received no prior therapy, requiring further treatment for an active NIU flare-up. Patients eligible for inclusion had Anterior Chamber Cell (ACC) Grade 2 or Grade 3 on Visual Analog Scale in the study eye.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Patients were randomized 2:1 to topical TRS01 1% or prednisolone acetate 1% administered 4 times daily for 28 days. Key ocular assessments included slit-lamp examination, ocular pain, Best Corrected Visual Acuity, IOP and dilated ophthalmoscopy.</div></div><div><h3>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES</h3><div>Resolution of inflammation (ACC = 0), clinically meaningful improvement of ACC, ocular pain, flare, and IOP changes on Day 28.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS</h3><div>The Full Analysis Set included 136 patients; the mean age was 43 years in the TRS01 arm and 42 years in the prednisolone acetate arm. 48% of TRS01 vs 68% of prednisolone acetate patients achieved ACC Grade = 0 on Day 28 (95.1% Confidence Interval (CI): −0.37, −0.02; <em>P</em> = .0311) and 64% of TRS01 vs 89% prednisolone acetate patients experienced clinically meaningful improvement of ACC Grade = 0 or 1, ie, ≤5 cells (95.1% CI: −0.33, −0.06; <em>P</em> = .0049). While TRS01 was found to be inferior to topical steroids to control ACC, TRS01 was noninferior to topical steroids to control flare and ocular pain and exhibited a superior IOP safety compared to topical steroids. For patients who reached ACC = 0, TRS01-treated patients benefited from statistically significantly improved safety outcomes for IOP (including change from baseline and at each IOP threshold evaluated [<em>P</em> < .05]) versus steroid-treated patients.</div></div><div><h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>TRS01 offers the potential to serve as an effective and safe treatment option in NIU that meets the urgent need for a drug that controls inflammation without the steroids’ associated risk of IOP elevation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 78-87"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145893646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To evaluate whether immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which modulate T-cell activity in cancer therapy, influence the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Design
Retrospective cohort study.
Participants
Adults aged ≥60 years with a history of cancer, identified from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network. Only patients who remained alive throughout the follow-up period were included.
Methods
Two cohorts were constructed: patients who received ICIs and those who did not. Sub-analyses were conducted for patients with melanoma and for those with metastatic disease. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed using demographic and clinical covariates. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between ICI exposure and AMD incidence over 5 years.
Main Outcome Measures
Incidence of non-neovascular and neovascular AMD after ICI therapy.
Results
After matching, 36,037 patients were included in each cohort. ICI-treated patients had a significantly lower risk of developing non-neovascular AMD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, [0.63, 0.93]; log-rank P = .0084) over a 5-year follow-up. No significant association was observed between ICI exposure and neovascular AMD. The protective association persisted in melanoma and metastatic subgroups.
Conclusions
In this large, multicenter cohort, ICI therapy was associated with a reduced risk of non-neovascular AMD in older adults with cancer. These findings suggest a potential protective role of T-cell modulation in AMD pathogenesis and highlight the need for further research into the retinal effects of ICIs.
目的评估免疫检查点抑制剂(ICIs)在癌症治疗中调节t细胞活性是否影响发生年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)的风险。设计回顾性队列研究。参与者年龄≥60岁,有癌症病史,从TriNetX全球协作网络中确定。只有在整个随访期间仍然存活的患者被纳入研究。方法构建两组队列:接受和未接受ICIs的患者。对黑色素瘤患者和转移性疾病患者进行了亚组分析。使用人口统计学和临床协变量进行倾向评分匹配(1:1)。Kaplan-Meier估计和Cox比例风险模型评估了5年内ICI暴露与AMD发病率之间的关系。主要观察指标:ICI治疗后非新生血管性AMD和新生血管性AMD的发生率。结果匹配后,每个队列共纳入36037例患者。CI治疗的患者在5年随访期间发生非新生血管性AMD的风险显著降低(风险比[HR], 0.77; 95% CI, [0.63, 0.93]; log-rank P = 0.0084)。未观察到ICI暴露与新生血管性AMD之间的显著关联。这种保护性关联在黑色素瘤和转移亚群中持续存在。结论:在这个大型、多中心的队列研究中,ICI治疗与老年癌症患者发生非新生血管性AMD的风险降低相关。这些发现提示了t细胞调节在AMD发病机制中的潜在保护作用,并强调了进一步研究ICIs对视网膜的影响的必要性。
{"title":"Reduced Risk of Non-Neovascular AMD in Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study","authors":"Natan Lishinsky-Fischer , Sima Gharra , Itay Nitzan, Itay Chowers, Jaime Levy","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.035","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.035","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To evaluate whether immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which modulate T-cell activity in cancer therapy, influence the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Retrospective cohort study.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Adults aged ≥60 years with a history of cancer, identified from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network. Only patients who remained alive throughout the follow-up period were included.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two cohorts were constructed: patients who received ICIs and those who did not. Sub-analyses were conducted for patients with melanoma and for those with metastatic disease. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed using demographic and clinical covariates. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between ICI exposure and AMD incidence over 5 years.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>Incidence of non-neovascular and neovascular AMD after ICI therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After matching, 36,037 patients were included in each cohort. ICI-treated patients had a significantly lower risk of developing non-neovascular AMD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, [0.63, 0.93]; log-rank <em>P</em> = .0084) over a 5-year follow-up. No significant association was observed between ICI exposure and neovascular AMD. The protective association persisted in melanoma and metastatic subgroups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In this large, multicenter cohort, ICI therapy was associated with a reduced risk of non-neovascular AMD in older adults with cancer. These findings suggest a potential protective role of T-cell modulation in AMD pathogenesis and highlight the need for further research into the retinal effects of ICIs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 153-160"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145937813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.031
Alessandro Feo , David Sarraf
Purpose
To review the pivotal role of en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) in elucidating the pathoanatomy, diagnostic markers, and clinical management of inflammatory macular diseases. These noninvasive modalities provide depth-resolved, layer-specific visualization of structural and vascular alterations, enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and facilitating monitoring of disease activity and therapeutic response.
Methods
This perspective article synthesizes recent advances in multimodal imaging (MMI) with emphasis on en face OCT and OCTA across the spectrum of posterior noninfectious and infectious uveitic disorders. Representative diseases include multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS), punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC), and idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (iMFC), acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR), acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) and its chronic variants, serpiginous choroiditis (SC), acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC), and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. Imaging signatures were reviewed in relation to pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and clinical management.
Results
En face OCT delineates disease-specific topographic patterns: “dots and spots” in MEWDS, hyperreflective plaques in PIC/iMFC, trizonal maps in AZOOR, sharply demarcated placoid lesions in APMPPE, geographic patterns in SC, and concentric hyperreflective “fingerprint” rings in VKH. OCTA provides complementary vascular insights, distinguishing preserved vs impaired choriocapillaris (CC) flow and revealing disease-driven ischemia. MEWDS typically demonstrates preserved CC perfusion, in contrast to the flow deficits of APMPPE, relentless placoid chorioretinitis, and SC. In PIC/iMFC, OCTA enables detection of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV), while in ASPPC and VKH, it captures reversible or persistent CC flow voids following appropriate systemic therapy. Structural-vascular correlation permits differentiation between ischemic and nonischemic disorders, recognition of masquerades, and monitoring of subclinical disease activity.
Conclusions
En face OCT and OCTA have redefined the diagnostic and management landscape of inflammatory macular diseases by providing rapid, reproducible, and layer-specific structural-vascular information. Their disease-specific signatures enhance accuracy, support treatment decisions, and improve monitoring of progression and complications such as inflammatory CNV. Integration of these tools into routine multimodal imaging protocols is essential, while future research should prioritize standardization of acquisition and interpretation criteria, quantitative biomarkers, and expanded use of widefield technologies to capture peripheral and longitudinal disease dynamics.
{"title":"En Face Optical Coherence Tomography and OCT Angiography in the Pathoanatomy of Inflammatory Macular Disease","authors":"Alessandro Feo , David Sarraf","doi":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To review the pivotal role of en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) in elucidating the pathoanatomy, diagnostic markers, and clinical management of inflammatory macular diseases. These noninvasive modalities provide depth-resolved, layer-specific visualization of structural and vascular alterations, enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and facilitating monitoring of disease activity and therapeutic response.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This perspective article synthesizes recent advances in multimodal imaging (MMI) with emphasis on en face OCT and OCTA across the spectrum of posterior noninfectious and infectious uveitic disorders. Representative diseases include multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS), punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC), and idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (iMFC), acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR), acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) and its chronic variants, serpiginous choroiditis (SC), acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC), and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. Imaging signatures were reviewed in relation to pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and clinical management.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>En face OCT delineates disease-specific topographic patterns: “dots and spots” in MEWDS, hyperreflective plaques in PIC/iMFC, trizonal maps in AZOOR, sharply demarcated placoid lesions in APMPPE, geographic patterns in SC, and concentric hyperreflective “fingerprint” rings in VKH. OCTA provides complementary vascular insights, distinguishing preserved vs impaired choriocapillaris (CC) flow and revealing disease-driven ischemia. MEWDS typically demonstrates preserved CC perfusion, in contrast to the flow deficits of APMPPE, relentless placoid chorioretinitis, and SC. In PIC/iMFC, OCTA enables detection of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV), while in ASPPC and VKH, it captures reversible or persistent CC flow voids following appropriate systemic therapy. Structural-vascular correlation permits differentiation between ischemic and nonischemic disorders, recognition of masquerades, and monitoring of subclinical disease activity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>En face OCT and OCTA have redefined the diagnostic and management landscape of inflammatory macular diseases by providing rapid, reproducible, and layer-specific structural-vascular information. Their disease-specific signatures enhance accuracy, support treatment decisions, and improve monitoring of progression and complications such as inflammatory CNV. Integration of these tools into routine multimodal imaging protocols is essential, while future research should prioritize standardization of acquisition and interpretation criteria, quantitative biomarkers, and expanded use of widefield technologies to capture peripheral and longitudinal disease dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7568,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Ophthalmology","volume":"284 ","pages":"Pages 110-122"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145893643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}