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From new clinical trials for neuropathic corneal pain treatments, to investigating the genetic underpinnings of keratoconus, these are the news stories and studies that caught our attention this week…
OK-101 phase II trials. OKYO Pharma Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aimed at developing treatments for neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and dry eye disease (DED), will be presenting at the annual International Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society Conference, held in Venice, Italy from October 30 to November 2. Among other topics, the OKYO team will be discussing the Phase II trial of their NCP therapy, OK-101. Link
Morphologic measurements. Researchers from the University of Toronto have developed a new morphologic staging system for full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to track progressive retinal changes. Defining four distinct stages of FTMH, the team found that higher FTMH stages at diagnosis correlated with longer symptom duration and worse baseline visual acuity, which also predicted poorer visual outcomes after surgery. This SD-OCT based staging system provides a valuable tool for assessing FTMH progression, emphasizing early intervention's role in improving surgical and visual outcomes. Link
Ocular benefits of pistachios. A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Nutrition has indicated that pistachios could be an effective dietary strategy for enhancing eye health, particularly in individuals with low dietary intake of eye-protective nutrients. The Boston-based team – linked to The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and Tufts Medical Center – investigated the effects of daily pistachio consumption on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in adults with low baseline lutein and zeaxanthin intake. Over 12 weeks, participants consuming 2 ounces of pistachios daily showed significant increases in MPOD, especially in central retinal areas, compared with those on a usual diet. Link
Genetic basis of keratoconus. A recent IOVS study has investigated the genetic underpinnings of keratoconus (KC) by conducting a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that identified two novel genetic loci – rs2806689 and rs807037 – linked to the disease. Among the 315 candidate genes that were identified as being influenced by KC-associated variants, the researchers – based at the Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain – found that the MINK1 gene plays a crucial role in KC pathogenesis. In light of these findings, the researchers developed a polygenic risk score (PRS) model that can distinguish KC patients from controls, potentially aiding early diagnosis and predicting disease risk. Link
