When the holiday season is upon us, we often find ourselves reflecting not only on the year that has passed but also the advances that have taken shape within our practices and profession. At this time of year, I am filled with gratitude for the trust our patients place in us and a renewed sense of motivation to provide the highest level of care. This year, I cannot help but reflect on one area in particular that has transformed optometry: retinal disease management.
The retina has always been a focal point of optometric care, but it has become more important with recent advances in imaging, therapeutics, and genetics. Today, we can better detect, monitor, and comanage retinal conditions that, just a few years ago, were managed primarily by retina specialists. Our expanding role in retina care reinforces the idea that primary eye care is often the first line of defense against irreversible vision loss.
Beyond anti-VEGF therapy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) management focuses on early intervention and comprehensive risk modification. Technological changes are allowing earlier detection of AMD, enabling us to implement nutritional, lifestyle, and monitoring strategies before conversion to late-stage disease. Home-based monitoring devices and AI-assisted retinal analysis have further strengthened our ability to track subtle changes and intervene earlier than ever before. The contributors to this issue of Modern Optometry tackle many of these next-level AMD management considerations. For example, Jill Gottehrer, OD, provides a look at the evolution of anti-VEGF therapy and the latest innovations in the space, and Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, and Brenda Yeh, OD, FAAO, discuss advances such as home monitoring, genetic testing, photobiomodulation, and AI.
Perhaps the most exciting development in retina is the FDA’s approval of treatments for geographic atrophy (GA). These medications offer new avenues for slowing disease progression, but they also introduce new layers of complexity in comanagement. It is critical that we optometrists identify GA patients early, educate them on realistic expectations, and establish a strong referral relationship with retina specialists for ongoing therapy. In this issue, Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO, and Brendan Girschek, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, delve into the new management paradigm for GA and how we can collaborate with our retina colleagues.
As we close the year with gratitude, generosity, and goodwill, it is important to celebrate the advances and collaboration that define the care we provide to our patients. Current retinal management is an opportunity for optometrists and ophthalmologists to work together to reshape the landscape of preserving vision. This holiday season, may we continue to give our patients the greatest gift: the ability to continue to see clearly.
- Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO
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