Clinical Scorecard: NYU Langone Highlights Ophthalmic Advances at AAO 2026
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | Corneal disease, vitamin A deficiency, and research toward whole-eye transplantation |
| Key Mechanisms | The article reports on topical ripasudil after Descemet stripping only, mitomycin intravascular chemoembolization for corneal neovascularization, vitamin A deficiency presenting with severe corneal disease, and research into optic nerve regeneration, ocular preservation, and immunomodulation. |
| Target Population | The reported studies involved patients after DSO, eyes with treatment-resistant corneal neovascularization, and adults with severe corneal disease and laboratory-confirmed vitamin A deficiency. The VISION program investigates whole-eye transplantation approaches for irreversible blindness. |
| Care Setting | Findings were presented at the AAO 2026 meeting and Cornea and Eye Banking Forum. |
Key Highlights
- In a phase 2 randomized trial of 65 patients across 38 sites, central endothelial cell density was 531 cells/mm² with ripasudil versus 228 cells/mm² with placebo after DSO.
- Complete corneal edema resolution occurred in 81% of ripasudil-treated patients versus 9% of placebo recipients; rescue corneal transplantation was required in 10% versus 27%, respectively.
- In a retrospective series of 100 eyes with treatment-resistant corneal neovascularization, MICE was associated with full or partial vessel regression in approximately 81% of cases at six to 12 months and a mean 56% reduction in vessel area.
- Among 17 adults with laboratory-confirmed vitamin A deficiency and severe corneal disease, nine developed descemetocele or perforation and eight required tectonic keratoplasty.
- The VISION program is investigating technologies and surgical approaches for whole-eye transplantation, including optic nerve regeneration, ocular preservation, and immunomodulation.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- A presenting researcher said unexplained corneal breakdown or ulcer alongside low albumin, anemia, or low magnesium should prompt a serum vitamin A level; this is a reported expert statement, not a guideline.
Management
- The phase 2 trial investigated ripasudil after DSO; the article provides no general treatment recommendation.
- A retrospective series reported MICE outcomes for corneal neovascularization; the article provides no treatment protocol.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- The article does not report monitoring recommendations.
Risks
- In the vitamin A deficiency series, nine of 17 adults developed descemetocele or corneal perforation, and eight required tectonic keratoplasty.
Patient & Prescribing Data
The reported clinical studies included 65 patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy after DSO, 100 eyes with treatment-resistant corneal neovascularization, and 17 adults with laboratory-confirmed vitamin A deficiency and severe corneal disease.
Ripasudil was compared with placebo after DSO in a phase 2 randomized trial. MICE outcomes were reported in a retrospective series. The article provides no dosing or prescribing instructions.
Clinical Best Practices
- A presenting researcher said unexplained corneal breakdown or ulcer alongside low albumin, anemia, or low magnesium should prompt a serum vitamin A level.
- The MICE findings came from an international retrospective series; the vitamin A deficiency series is described as a series, with its study design not specified in the source.
Related Resources & Content
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
