In this latest article of Voices in Vision, we speak with Maria Vittoria Cicinelli, another of our touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leader 2025 awardees.
Maria Vittoria Cicinelli, MD, FEBO, is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan. She completed her residency at the same institution and a fellowship in Medical Retina and Uveitis at Northwestern University, Chicago. Her main interests are Medical Retina and Uveitis.
Author of over 250 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 34, >10,000 citations), she edited the book Ultra Widefield Imaging of the Retina (Elsevier, 2025) and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of AJO International and Associate Editor for several indexed journals.
In this Q&A, Dr Cicinelli reflects on the growing challenge of managing eye care in an aging population and the opportunities this brings for innovation.
The single biggest challenge facing ophthalmology today is the demographic shift toward an aging population, which is driving a sharp rise in chronic eye diseases such as AMD, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. This translates into a rapidly increasing clinical and societal burden, stretching healthcare systems, workforce capacity and treatment sustainability. The challenge is not only managing volume but also ensuring equitable access, affordability and innovation in long-term care.
A major development this year has been the maturation of long-acting treatment strategies for retinal disease, particularly extended-interval anti-VEGF regimens. These advances are beginning to shift clinical practice by reducing injection burden, improving adherence and potentially reshaping the way we organize follow-up and patient flow.
AI tools can already screen for diabetic retinopathy, AMD and glaucoma with high accuracy, but the real opportunity lies in moving beyond detection toward prediction and personalized management.
Ophthalmology is evolving rapidly, from imaging to genetics to AI, and opportunities often come from unexpected directions. Stay curious, be open to novelty, and don’t be afraid to step outside traditional pathways.
Disclosures: Dr Cicinelli has nothing to disclose in relation to this article. No fees or funding were associated with this article.
Citation: Maria Vittoria Cicinelli. Voices in vision: Maria Vittoria Cicinelli on managing eye care in an aging population. touchOPHTHALMOLOGY.com. 8 October 2025.
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