Latest Ophthalmology research

Top 4 this week

Week of 1 November 2026

1. 1

   Outcomes of subthreshold diode micropulse laser and anti-VEGF vs anti-VEGF monotherapy for diabetic macular edema: a meta-analysis

   Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 26 October 2026

   Across nine studies involving 535 eyes, adding micropulse laser was linked to about two fewer anti-VEGF injections over 12 months. Visual acuity favored combination treatment by roughly two letters, but that difference was not significant when analysis was limited to randomized trials; overall vision and thickness differences were below clinically important levels, and evidence certainty was low.

2. 2

   Autologous Anterior Lens Capsule as an Intrascleral Spacer in Deep Sclerectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

   American journal of ophthalmology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 27 October 2026

   In a randomized trial of 60 eyes with glaucoma and cataracts, adding a patient's own lens capsule during combined surgery lowered average eye pressure to 12 mmHg at 12 months, versus 13.3 mmHg without the spacer. More eyes met a strict pressure target, but medication differences were not statistically clear and longer-term results remain unknown.

3. 3

   Association Between Ellipsoid Zone Area and Fixation Stability in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2

   Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 1 October 2026

   Among 212 adults with macular telangiectasia type 2, greater ellipsoid-zone area loss was associated with poorer fixation at baseline and 24 months; each additional 1 mm2 doubled the odds of poor fixation. A threshold near 1 mm2 is an exploratory marker, not yet validated, and fixation changes did not significantly differ between implant and sham overall.

4. 4

   Digital health technologies for myopia care: a systematic review

   Frontiers in public health · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 16 October 2026

   The 33 studies, involving 26,651 patients, examined digital tools for monitoring, diagnosis, treatment and behavior change, but the review found very low-certainty evidence across all areas. Small samples and widely differing studies limit conclusions about effectiveness, and the evidence comes mostly from East Asia, leaving its relevance elsewhere unclear.

Paper of the day, last two weeks

• Fluid fluctuation and visual outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review and meta-analysis

  Survey of ophthalmology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 5 November 2026

  Across 17 studies and 9,873 eyes, greater retinal fluid or thickness fluctuation during anti-VEGF treatment was linked to 5 to 11 fewer letters of vision gain at 24 months, depending on the measure. It was also associated with roughly twice the odds of fibrosis and atrophy, but evidence was low to very low certainty, and inconsistent definitions mean fluctuation is not yet a treatment target.

• Three-Year Outcomes of Trabeculotomy vs Combined Trabeculotomy-Trabeculectomy for Primary Congenital Glaucoma

  Ophthalmology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 5 November 2026

  In a randomized trial of children with primary congenital glaucoma and corneas measuring 12 to 14 mm across, trabeculotomy achieved surgical success in 82% at 36 months, compared with 85% after combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy. Adverse event rates did not differ significantly; hyphema was most common and usually resolved on its own. The findings support trabeculotomy as an alternative for this specific group.

• External validation of a deep-learning algorithm for perimetric glaucoma detection on color fundus photographs in the Rotterdam Study

  Ophthalmology · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 2 November 2026

  In an external test of nearly 19,100 eyes, a deep-learning algorithm detected about 7 in 10 glaucoma cases at 95% specificity, but generated 5.1 referrals for each case detected. It sometimes flagged disease 4 to 7 years before diagnosis, yet missed milder cases and performed less usefully when optic nerve visibility was poor, underscoring the need for better image quality and screening evaluation.

• Visual Perceptual Learning Based on Adaptive Contrast Detection Training Enhances Vision and Contrast Sensitivity in Diabetic Retinopathy

  Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 2 November 2026

  In a small randomized study, 12 patients who completed three months of home training improved visual acuity from 0.36 to 0.26 logMAR; grating acuity, motion contrast sensitivity, and vision-related quality of life also improved. Retinal blood-vessel imaging stayed stable, and eight of 36 randomized patients did not complete the study, so larger trials must confirm the benefit.

• Evaluation of the Perimouse Online Suprathreshold Visual Field Test for Glaucoma Screening in a Chinese Population: A Comparison with the Humphrey Field Analyzer

  Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · Q1 journal · Case-control · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 24 October 2026

  Diagnostic accuracy of rapid visual-field screening for glaucoma

• Intrastromal Voriconazole and Amphotericin B for Fungal Keratitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

  The ocular surface · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 28 October 2026

  In a review of 36 studies, comparisons found no significant improvement in healing, need for corneal surgery, or vision with intrastromal voriconazole or amphotericin B versus other therapies. Uncontrolled studies reported healing in about 79% and 86% of eyes, respectively, but cannot show the drugs caused those outcomes; limited evidence leaves their role as add-on or rescue treatment uncertain.

• Longitudinal OCT Angiography Versus Structural OCT for Predicting Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma

  Journal of glaucoma · Q1 journal · Cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 28 October 2026

  Among 333 eyes with open-angle glaucoma followed for about four years, 29% showed visual-field progression. Faster loss of macular vessel density on optical coherence tomography angiography independently predicted progression; thinning on structural optical coherence tomography did not. The findings support vessel-density change as a potential monitoring signal, but the study did not formally compare the tests head to head.

• Twelve-Month Efficacy and Visual Tolerability of MyoPi Spectacle Lenses in Childhood Myopia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

  Ophthalmology science · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 10 September 2026

  In a randomized trial of 116 children, those wearing MyoPi lenses had 0.19 mm of eye elongation over 12 months, compared with 0.35 mm with standard single-vision glasses. Their prescription also worsened less, and no serious adverse events were reported. Whether the benefit persists beyond one year remains unknown.

• AI-Based OCT Assessment of Anatomic Response During the Loading Phase of Anti-VEGF Therapy in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

  Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · Q1 journal · Retrospective cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 1 October 2026

  Compares anti-VEGF anatomical and visual responses in nAMD

• MACULAR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN RETINAL DETACHMENT COMPLICATED BY PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY

  Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 27 October 2026

  In 139 eyes operated on for retinal detachment complicated by scarring, cystoid macular edema rose from 21% at 10 days to 63% at 12 months, while epiretinal membrane affected half of eyes. Vision improved early but changed little afterward; severe retinal disruption on a 10-day scan was independently associated with poorer vision at one year, though the study's prognostic model had only moderate accuracy.

• Efficacy of Oral Belzutifan for Retinal Capillary Hemangioblastomas in von Hippel-Lindau Disease

  Ophthalmology. Retina · Q1 journal · Case series · Evidence level 4 (Very Low) · 23 October 2026

  In this 33-patient case series, average active retinal tumor area per eye fell 75% after one year of belzutifan, and no new tumors appeared during treatment. More than 70% of eyes showed signs of relapse after patients stopped therapy, suggesting control may depend on continued treatment; larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

• Silicone oil vs. gas tamponade in giant retinal tear associated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · Q1 journal · SR of cohorts · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 22 October 2026

  Across nine studies, final retinal reattachment was similarly successful with silicone oil and gas, with no clear difference in initial success or postoperative complications. Several studies suggested better vision with gas, particularly when the macula was still attached, but the evidence was low to very low certainty, leaving the visual advantage unresolved.

Evidence summaries in Ophthalmology

• Glaucoma
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma