Search

Archana A Nair, Avni P Finn, Paul Sternberg Jr Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USACorrespondence: Paul Sternberg Jr, Chair and G. W. Hale Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2311 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA, Email Paul.sternberg@vumc.orgAbstract: The advent of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents has revolutionized the treatment of retinal neovascular diseases including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Multiple agents and methods for drug delivery are emerging to increase the duration of treatment effect and treatment interval, reducing the overall treatment burden on patients and clinicians. The newest agent on the market is faricimab. This medication targets two distinct pathways in retinal angiogenesis, VEGF-A and Ang-2, to create a more durable effect. Phase 3 trials for this drug compared treatment intervals up to 16 weeks against aflibercept dosed at 8-week intervals for both nAMD and diabetic macular edema (DME). While the drug shows similar functional and anatomic outcomes with a low adverse effect profile and trial data demonstrating increased treatment duration, its exact place in the VEGF marketplace is yet to be determined. In this article, we discuss the mechanism of action, pivotal clinical trials leading to approval, and the anticipated role for faricimab in the treatment of retinal neovascular disease.Keywords: neovascular age-related macular degeneration, nAMD, macular degeneration, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, anti-VEGF, faricimab, choroidal neovascularization, CNVM

Avni P Finn, Dilraj S Grewal, Lejla Vajzovic Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC, USA Abstract: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of heterogeneous inherited retinal degenerative disorders characterized by progressive rod and cone dysfunction and ensuing photoreceptor loss. Many patients suffer from legal blindness by their 40s or 50s. Artificial vision is considered once patients have lost all vision to the point of bare light perception or no light perception. The Argus II retinal prosthesis system is one such artificial vision device approved for patients with RP. This review focuses on the factors important for patient selection. Careful pre-operative screening, counseling, and management of patient expectations are critical for the successful implantation and visual rehabilitation of patients with the Argus II device. Keywords: retinal prosthesis, vision rehabilitation, artificial vision, patient selection, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal degeneration, low vision