Table of Contents
Eye research is evolving in exciting ways, and researchers are using AI to develop new treatments faster. Now, innovative treatments like gene therapy are becoming a reality.
For eye health professionals, keeping up with optometry news is key for sharing up-to-date information about new eye treatments with patients. Plus, you’ll have access to more recent findings to better understand how eye diseases appear and evolve as researchers learn more about them.
New Eye Treatments for Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease is becoming more common as the population ages. The risk of dry eye disease also increases for patients wearing contacts or recovering from refractive surgery.
Artificial tears and lifestyle changes are common treatment approaches – but this could change thanks to new FDA-approved vision treatments:
- Rather than hydrating the eye with an artificial tear film, Miebo forms a protective layer over it. This approach prevents tear evaporation and helps patients retain more natural tears.
- VEVYE is another recently approved treatment that promotes corneal healing. The active ingredient is an anti-inflammatory agent delivered directly into the cornea, treating the root cause of dry eye disease and improving tear production.
- The FDA is currently reviewing Reproxalap. This eye treatment would deliver small-molecule modulators that target inflammation in the eye. This topical medication ensures patients can produce enough tears on their own.
These new vision care treatments reflect two interesting trends:
- They aim to prevent symptoms instead of alleviating them – which is what many current treatment options focus on.
- Researchers are developing new molecules and looking for new ways to deliver them to enhance their effectiveness.
Light Therapy for Dry Age-Related Macular Generation
Early in 2025, the FDA approved a light therapy device for dry age-related macular degeneration. It’s worth noting that AMD could soon affect a third of those over 75, with severe vision loss being a risk for some dry AMD patients.
Current treatment options include injections that slow down the progression of the disease – without reverting it. Light therapy exposes light-sensitive cells in the retina to different wavelengths of light. Researchers believe it could prevent these cells from dying, helping patients retain their central vision longer.
Because optometrists can administer some forms of light therapy, this new FDA-cleared treatment could be a major shift in how eye health professionals treat dry AMD.
It’s not the only exciting news in AMD treatment. The FDA has approved biosimilars for Eyelea, a popular eye treatment for wet AMD and other conditions. This could make injections that slow down the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eyes more accessible.
Preventing Complications from Diabetes
Susvimo is a game-changer in treating diabetic macular edema – and it could also be a good option for wet AMD.
Like many new vision treatments, this implant aims to improve drug delivery. Once an eye surgeon places it in the eye, it delivers small doses of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor directly to the eye.
It’s also worth noting that medical research is supporting better and earlier detection of diabetes. For instance, VCD’s Remote Patient Management solution comes with a cutting-edge eye scan to detect early signs of diabetes years before patients notice the first symptoms.
Current Trends in Eye Health Research
These newly approved eye treatments reflect broader trends in medical research. As you keep up with optometry trends, you’ll notice an acceleration of treatments entering the market, an important factor for overall market growth.
Treatment options are also getting more advanced. With the possible exception of light therapy, optometrists will have to refer patients to an eye health expert to receive these treatments – building a strong network of vision care professionals has never been more important for your patients.
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy involves introducing new genes into the body. These genes can replace those that cause disease, deactivate them, or have a healing effect. It’s a highly personalized approach to vision health that aligns with patient-centric care.
Treatments like Luxturna or Encelto already exist. The first treats retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis with gene therapy, while the second treats MacTel.
Stem Cell Therapy
With stem cell therapy, a healthcare professional implants new cells that grow and repair damaged tissues or organs.
Current research focuses on implanting corneal stem cells, which could be crucial in restoring lost vision. Experts believe it might reverse damage from AMD and retinitis pigmentosa. Targeting the retinal nerve with stem cell therapy could also be a treatment option for glaucoma.
AI-Powered Research
If you keep up with optometry news, you’ve probably noticed that research has been progressing much faster lately. AI has a lot to do with it.
Researchers are relying on AI to accelerate the clinical trial process. They can also use AI to help predict how molecules will react with the body and design innovative treatments.
Thanks to AI, scientists can analyze huge medical datasets. This is crucial for improving their understanding of eye diseases and overall trends shaping public health – such as the rise of refractive errors in younger generations.
Keeping Up With Optometry News and Patient Education
While optometrists won’t directly administer many of these new eye treatments, keeping up with the latest research matters.
You’re often the first point of contact. If you spot anything unusual during an eye exam, sharing information about the latest treatment options empowers patients to make better eye health decisions.
Even though eye treatments improve, early diagnosis remains the best way to improve vision health outcomes. Besides educating patients about this exciting eye health research, you must drive home the importance of checking their eyes often.
Accepting VCD can make eye exams more accessible. As a local, doctor-owned plan, we prioritize patients and optometrists.
You can count on us to support your practice through a transparent and competitive compensation schedule while delivering negotiated savings to help your patients pay less for the services they need.
Learn more about joining the VCD family.
Summary: Eye research is accelerating. Catch up on the latest eye treatments the FDA recently approved and explore trends in vision care research.
