In this episode of The Retina Channel Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Seong Joon Ahn from Hanyang University in South Korea to discuss a recent JAMA Ophthalmology study examining systemic drugs associated with underrecognized maculopathy. Using a novel two-step approach that integrates pharmacovigilance signal detection from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) with nationwide health-claims data from South Korea, the study identifies several commonly used systemic medications— apixaban, paclitaxel, ibrutinib, fingolimod, and sildenafil—as being associated with an increased risk of maculopathy. We explore the study's methodology, key findings such as dose-response relationships, and the clinical implications for retina specialists and general ophthalmologists alike, particularly around patient counseling and the potential need for ocular monitoring in patients on these medications.

Kim J, Ahn SJ, Park J, Gower EW, Chung JE. Systemic drugs associated with maculopathy. JAMA Ophthalmol.2025;143(11):946-952. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.3612.

In this episode, Dr. Mohsin Ali joins us to discuss his recent study on a simpler and highly effective way to clinically diagnose posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) using slit-lamp visualization of the posterior hyaloid membrane. The study compared this technique to the traditional Weiss ring method and OCT confirmation, finding that slit-lamp assessment of the posterior hyaloid was more sensitive, had a higher negative predictive value, and performed comparably in specificity — without requiring special lenses or imaging. Dr. Ali explains how the technique works, why it matters for everyday practice, and how it can improve decision-making around retinal tears, detachments, and vitreoretinal surgery — making a strong case that this should become a core diagnostic skill for all ophthalmologists.

The instructional slit-lamp PVD video referenced in this episode is available as supplemental material with the original Ophthalmology Retina publication. The video can be found here

References Article:

Sood S, Barra TA, Duong RT, et al.

Non-Funduscopic Slit Lamp Assessment of the Posterior Hyaloid Membrane: A Simpler and More Effective Way of Clinically Diagnosing Posterior Vitreous Detachments.

Ophthalmology Retina. 2025;9(9):892-898. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2025.02.027

Dr. David Chow, a proponent of 3D heads-up display (HUD) surgery for several years and involved in its development, provides a comprehensive introduction to 3D HUD systems in vitreo-retinal surgery. He covers optimization parameters for enhancing resolution and other variables to improve visualization.

This episode is a reproduction of another Retina-Focused EyeNovation webinar series and a result of a special collaboration between the Canadian Retina Society and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society.

Dr. Ioannis Dimopoulos of the University of Ottawa provides a comprehensive overview of Inherited Retinal Disorders, with a specific focus on various gene therapy approaches. He details the outcomes of his involvement in treatment approaches for Choroideremia.

Dr. Bernard Hurley of the University of Ottawa moderates this webinar.

In this episode of The Retina Channel Podcast, Dr. Christina Weng, Professor of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine and Chair of DRCR Retina Protocol AO, discusses the pivotal trial evaluating home OCT monitoring in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The conversation reviews the study's rationale, methodology, and key findings, with emphasis on how home-based imaging could transform treatment paradigms, refine injection strategies, and inform the future design of retina clinical trials.

Prof. Schmidt-Erfurth is a Professor and the Past Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical University of Vienna and the director of Vienna Reading Centre. She has been a pioneer in the application of AI in retinal image analysis. In this episode, she describes various applications of AI in retina research and the work that her group has been doing over the years. The following article is a review of the some of her work:

Enzendorfer ML, Tratnig-Frankl M, Eidenberger A, Schrittwieser J, Kuchernig L, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Rethinking Clinical Trials in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: How AI-Based OCT Analysis Can Support Successful Outcomes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Feb 20;18(3):284. doi: 10.3390/ph18030284. PMID: 40143063; PMCID: PMC11945239.

This episode is another retina-focused EyeNovation episode featuring Prof. Robyn Guymer who presented an in-depth discussion on the SIRE sign, assessment of visual function in Geographic atrophy and also current GA trials and treatments.

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/p-R4_OsuGKE

This episode is a reproduction of the second retina-focused EyeNovation webinar series and a result of a special collaboration between Canadian Retina Society and Canadian Ophthalmological Society.

Dr. Angie Fong from the University of Hong Kong gives a fantastic overview of pachychoroid spectrum of conditions with a focus on central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. She gives an in-depth review of pathogenesis, recent clinical trials, and emerging management strategies and discussed the incidence and risk factors for PDS progression based on natural observation studies.

Dr. Wai-Ching Lam from the University of British Columbia is the moderator for this webinar.

Dr. Wu discusses prospective cognitive outcomes of children who had treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity. The analysis suggests that cognitive outcomes were similar for children who had either laser or anti-VEGF injections for ROP treatment.

Dr. Wu will be one of the invited guest speakers at the Canadian Retina Society meeting in Vancouver, BC from April 25-April 27, 2025. You can register for this meeting at:

https://crsscr.ca/meeting

Discussed article:

Wu PL, Shih CP, Huang YS, Chen HC, Hsueh YJ, Lee CW, Chiang MC, Lien R, Lee CC, Chu SM, Chou HD, Liu L, Chen KJ, Hwang YS, Lai CC, Wu WC. ADMINISTERING INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY: 8-Year Cognitive Outcomes In A Prospective Cohort. Retina. 2024 Nov 1;44(11):1952-1960. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004222. PMID: 39121508.

This episode is a recording of the retina-focused EyeNovation webinar episode which was a collaboration between Canadian Ophthalmological Society and the Canadian Retina Society. Dr. Chakravarthy will provide a background to the double layer sign, its definition and how it is detected. Data to support the presentation will be from the EDNA trial . This study possesses an imaging dataset that was captured longitudinally in over 500 high risk eyes and obtained robust rates of progression to neovascularization as well as time to the event. The presence of the DLS and or other features of intermediate AMD were assessed at baseline and included measurements of length of separation of the RPE from its basement membrane, height of separation and the number of B scans involved. Rates of progression in eyes without and with DLS were computed and models built to assess risk of progression to neovascularization. In addition the DLS and SIRE signs were compared for their contributions to risk of progression. The findings from these analyses and their clinical significance will be discussed .

Make sure to register for the Canadian Retina Society (CRS) annual meeting which will take place in Vancouver, BC from April 25-27, 2025. Go to https://www.crsscr.ca to register.