This week in ophthalmology | June 5, 2026

Top five stories we have been keeping an eye on

This week in ophthalmology: new phase 2/3 data in metastatic uveal melanoma, clinically relevant updates from the European Glaucoma Society (EGS) Congress, phase 3 results for a topical diabetic macular edema (DME) candidate, a bevacizumab resubmission for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and a link between dermatitis and retinal detachment risk. Here are five stories to catch up on this week.

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1. Darovasertib plus crizotinib improves progression-free survival in metastatic uveal melanoma

Late-breaking data from the phase 2/3 OptimUM-02 trial, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2026 Annual Meeting, showed that darovasertib, a first-in-class oral protein kinase C inhibitor, combined with crizotinib improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with investigator’s choice in treatment-naïve patients with HLA-A*02:01-negative metastatic uveal melanoma. Median PFS by blinded independent central review was 6.9 months versus 3.1 months, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]=0.42; p<0.0001). Objective response rates were 37.1% with darovasertib plus crizotinib versus 5.8% with comparator treatment, and disease control rates were 73.3% versus 31.1%, respectively. Overall survival data remain immature.

These findings are relevant for ophthalmologists involved in the diagnosis, follow-up, and referral of patients with uveal melanoma, particularly because systemic treatment options remain limited for patients with HLA-A02:01-negative metastatic disease.

→ Read the full touchOPHTHALMOLOGY coverage

2. Atopic dermatitis linked with higher retinal detachment risk

A large US cohort study published in Ophthalmology Retina found that adults with atopic dermatitis had a higher risk of retinal detachment and retinal detachment repair compared with matched controls. Patients with atopic dermatitis also had higher rates of proliferative vitreoretinopathy after surgery. The authors, from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, highlighted chronic inflammation and habitual eye rubbing as possible contributing factors.

For ophthalmologists, the study adds to the evidence that atopic dermatitis may be an important risk factor to consider during retinal assessment, particularly in patients with symptoms or signs suggestive of vitreoretinal pathology.

→ Read the full article here

Reference: Hong AT, Lin F, Rahimy E, Prasad PS. Association of Atopic Dermatitis with Retinal Detachment and Postoperative Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Risk. Ophthalmol Retina.
2026; epub ahead of print. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oret.2026.05.006.

3. EGS 2026 rapid fire: IOP spikes after injection, AI screening, and 10-year XEN 45 data

The 17th EGS Congress, held in Brussels, Belgium, from May 30 to June 2, 2026, included several Rapid Fire abstracts with direct clinical relevance. A real-world analysis from Moorfields Eye Hospital of 145,578 intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections found that prior glaucoma clinic attendance was an independent risk factor for post-injection intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes. With syringe formulations, IOP elevation of ≥10 mmHg occurred in 34.3% of patients with prior glaucoma clinic attendance compared with 30.6% of those without prior glaucoma clinic attendance.

The same session also included 10-year outcomes for the XEN 45 gel stent, reporting sustained IOP and medication reductions in selected patients, although needling was required in 68% of eyes. Encouraging diagnostic accuracy data were also presented for the MONA G-Risk artificial intelligence glaucoma screening model in a primary care setting.

For clinicians prescribing anti-VEGF injections in patients with glaucoma or those attending glaucoma clinics, the Moorfields dataset reinforces the importance of careful IOP monitoring and proactive management in selected higher-risk cases.

→ Read the full touchOPHTHALMOLOGY EGS Rapid Fire roundup

4. Oculis will not pursue DME filing after DIAMOND trials miss vision endpoint

Two phase 3 DIAMOND trials of OCS-01, a topical dexamethasone 15 mg/mL solution designed to treat DME without intravitreal injection, did not meet their primary endpoint of mean change in best-corrected visual acuity letter score at Week 52. Oculis confirmed that it will not pursue a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filing for OCS-01 in DME.

Both trials showed a reduction in retinal thickness as a secondary endpoint, but this was not accompanied by the visual acuity gains needed to support a filing. Oculis stated that it will focus on other programs, including the PIONEER program for privosegtor in optic neuropathies and the PREDICT-1 trial of licaminlimab in dry eye disease.

→  Read the press release here

5. Outlook Therapeutics resubmits bevacizumab BLA for wet AMD after FDA appeal

Outlook Therapeutics resubmitted its Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA™ (bevacizumab-vikg) for neovascular AMD on June 1, 2026, following a successful formal dispute resolution appeal. According to the company, the FDA concluded that substantial evidence of effectiveness has been established and designated the resubmission as a Class 1 review, triggering a 60-day Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) review clock. A decision could arrive in August 2026.

If approved, LYTENAVA would become the first FDA-approved ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for wet AMD, with potential implications for treatment access and cost of care in a field currently dominated by higher-cost biologics.

→  Read the press release here