touchREVIEWS in Ophthalmology – Volume 17, Issue 1

Welcome to the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in Ophthalmology. In this edition, we feature a range of reviews and editorials on various diseases, including glaucoma and ocular surface disease, to name but a few, discussing improvements in our understanding and novel treatment options for ophthalmological conditions. We begin this issue with an expert interview with […]

Identifying treatments that prevent diabetic retinopathy progression is a priority in current research. Patients with non-proliferative retinopathy currently have limited treatment options to prevent the progression of retinopathy and loss of vision, and therapies such as anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, steroid injectable therapy and laser treatment are reserved for patients who advance to proliferative diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema (DMO). The […]

The challenge of patient adherence Patient adherence is a major concern in the field of glaucoma, where medication adherence rates can be as low as 40–55% due to complex dosing regimens, unpleasant side effects and difficulty with eyedrop administration.1,2 Moreover, 25% of patients with glaucoma do not refill their second eyedrop prescription, making it challenging for […]

With the introduction of monoclonal antibody inhibitors for all isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, which were first presented in September 2005 with off-label use of bevacizumab, significant anatomical and visual improvements for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) became a reality. Following the landmark ANCHOR and MARINA trials, which showed that monthly ranibizumab injections resulted in 7.2–11.0 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters gained after 1 year of treatment, anti-VEGF agents became the standard of care for nAMD.1,2 The […]

Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.1,2 High intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of the major risk factors for the development and progression of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) but is not an essential criterion for diagnosis.3,4 Nonetheless, lowering the IOP is considered the only proven intervention to decelerate disease progression.3–5 IOP can be reduced using topical hypotensive […]

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrially inherited optic nerve disease characterized by bilateral (sequential or simultaneous), subacute, painless central vision loss.1 LHON was first described in 1871 by the German ophthalmologist Theodor Leber.2 However, it was not until 1988 that the mitochondrial mutation was discovered by Wallace et al.3 LHON is the most common hereditary mitochondrial optic neuropathy. Several primary mitochondrial […]

Corticosteroids are the best choice for treating various ocular conditions affecting the anterior and posterior segments of the eye.1 Currently, different routes are available for ocular administration of corticosteroids. Topical application to the eye is the route of choice when targeting diseases affecting the ocular surface and anterior segment, whereas posterior segment conditions may require periocular, […]

Reproxalap is a reactive aldehyde species (RASP) inhibitor believed to mitigate inflammatory conditions such as dry eye disease (DED), allergic conjunctivitis and uveitis.1 RASP are pro-inflammatory molecules that covalently bind to thiol and amino groups expressed on various receptors and kinases. This binding activates the pro-inflammatory signalling cascade, which involves the activation of inflammatory cytokines leading to inflammation and pro–histaminic factors leading to an allergic response.1 Malondialdehyde (MDA) […]

The treatment options for neurotrophic keratitis (NK) are ever-evolving as the pathogenesis of this increasingly prevalent degenerative keratopathy is further elucidated. Currently available therapeutics can be divided into medical, procedural and surgical interventions that directly address the effects of corneal denervation as well as the comorbid conditions causing superimposed infection and inflammation in the affected […]

Choroidal granuloma is a relatively rare manifestation of sarcoidosis. Cases of sarcoid granuloma may lack accompanying ocular inflammation and can mimic posterior segment tumours, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. These lesions are typically steroid responsive,1 and quick identification and treatment can result in improved visual outcomes.2 We report two cases of patients who presented […]