As 2026 gets underway, January has delivered a busy start across regulation, clinical research and community awareness. From new pharmacological options for presbyopia to expanded retinal indications in Europe and early signals in neuroprotection, there’s already plenty to digest.
Closer to home, January also marked the close of nominations for touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2026. We’d like to thank everyone across the ophthalmology community who took the time to recognise and put forward the rising stars shaping the future of the specialty.
Regulatory updates
The year opened with an early flurry of regulatory announcements, including:
- FDA approves YUVEZZI (carbachol + brimonidine) for presbyopia
The US FDA approved a dual-agent fixed-dose eye drop combining carbachol and brimonidine for adult presbyopia. This is the first dual-mechanism eye drop formally cleared to improve near vision pharmacologically, expanding beyond previous single-agent drops.
- European Commission approves extended label for Eylea 8 mg (aflibercept HD) in RVO and macular oedema
Bayer announced that the European Commission granted approval for Eylea 8 mg (aflibercept HD, also called Eylea HD) to treat visual impairment due to macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO). This represents a regulatory expansion of dosing options for retinal specialists in the EU.
- FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to a neuroprotection candidate for optic neuritis
Oculis announced that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Privosegtor (formerly OCS-05), a novel neuroprotective small molecule for the treatment of optic neuritis.
- FDA clears repeat dosing of iDose TR
In the literature
Although we are only one month into the year, a growing body of research and review articles is already building on existing knowledge and recent developments. Here are a few we’ve selected:
Exploring retinal and choroidal characteristics on multimodal imaging in resolved central serous chorioretinopathy
Early clinical data published in Reviews in Ophthalmology show that implantation of a new trifocal aspheric hydrophobic intraocular lens, the AT ELANA 841P delivers good functional vision across distance, intermediate and near ranges, with high levels of refractive accuracy. Most patients achieved postoperative refractions close to target, supporting reliable predictability, and reported high levels of spectacle independence. Visual disturbances such as glare and halos were generally mild, suggesting a favourable balance between optical performance and visual quality in the early postoperative period.
Efficacy and safety of low-dose atropine for pediatric myopia progression
In a large, randomised clinical trial published in JAMA Ophthalmology, atropine 0.01% demonstrated a statistically significant benefit in slowing myopia progression over three years compared with placebo, with a higher proportion of children experiencing limited refractive progression and reduced axial elongation. The 0.02% concentration showed less consistent refractive benefit, despite some effect on axial length. Both concentrations were well tolerated, with no serious treatment-related adverse events.
Early detection of neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the second eye reduces intravitreal treatment burden
This original research report, published in Eye, found that earlier detection of neovascular AMD in the fellow eye is associated with a reduced need for frequent intravitreal injections over short-term follow-up. Earlier identification of neovascular changes appears to permit more timely treatment initiation and a lower overall treatment burden, which has implications for management strategies and monitoring frequency in bilateral disease.
Raising awareness of glaucoma
January also marked Glaucoma Awareness Month, with renewed focus on early detection, patient education and the long-term impact of glaucoma worldwide. Campaigns across clinics, societies and social media helped reinforce the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment adherence.
Hawaiian Eye & Retina 2026
Many ophthalmologists made their annual trek to Hawaii for the Hawaiian Eye & Retina 2026 meeting, held 17–23 January at Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii’s Big Island. As we have come to expect, the event brought together comprehensive ophthalmologists, retina specialists, nurses, technicians and administrators for a week of clinical discussion, practice pearls and networking across subspecialties.
Highlights included sessions on integrating emerging therapies into practice, advances in imaging and AI-assisted retinal care, updates in nAMD and DME management, biomarker-guided treatment strategies, and discussions on gene therapy and inherited retinal disease.
January has clearly set the momentum for a productive year of innovation, development and meaningful clinical progress. As we move into February, keep an eye out for two key updates from touchOPHTHALMOLOGY:
- The launch of touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2026, where we’ll reveal this year’s selected rising stars
- We are expanding our Expert Pearls series through the next few months. In the meantime, why not take a look at our latest guide on personalised treatment approaches in neovascular AMD.
Looking for more updates?
- Read our latest journal articles in touchREVIEWS in Ophthalmology here
- Find our latest expert insights and news here
Citation: January round-up: News and highlights. touchOPHTHALMOLOGY. 30 January, 2026.
Disclosure: This article was created by the touchOPHTHALMOLOGY team utilizing AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat.) The content was developed and edited by human editors. No funding was received in the publication of this article.
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