New data presented at the AAN 2026 Annual Meeting in Chicago provided further insight into treatment outcomes in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), with updates spanning idebenone use in clinical and real-world settings, as well as emerging evidence for lenadogene nolparvovec gene therapy in patients with ND4-LHON.

ASCO 2026 delivered a wealth of late-breaking data across oncology, including several studies of interest to ophthalmologists. Among them was the phase 2/3 OptimUM-02 trial, which reported promising results for darovasertib plus crizotinib in patients with HLA-A*02:01-negative metastatic uveal melanoma. The findings address a significant unmet need in a disease where treatment options remain limited and outcomes are often poor once metastases develop. Although metastatic uveal melanoma is typically managed by multidisciplinary oncology teams, these findings are relevant to ophthalmologists involved in the diagnosis, long-term follow-up and referral of patients with this rare ocular malignancy.

New data presented at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting highlighted how the treatment landscape for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) continues to evolve beyond conventional anti-VEGF therapy. Across gene therapy, sustained-release drug delivery platforms and next-generation anti-VEGF strategies, investigators focused on a common challenge: how to maintain long-term visual and anatomical outcomes while reducing the burden of frequent intravitreal injections.

At the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting, DME remained a major focus, with multiple studies exploring how clinicians may extend treatment intervals, improve outcomes in suboptimal responders and target inflammatory pathways beyond VEGF. Across phase 2 and phase 3 trials, as well as real-world observational studies, key themes included long-term durability with faricimab, sustained-delivery approaches, and growing evidence supporting dual-pathway strategies that may help address the heterogeneity of DME in routine practice.

Your clinical career is shaped not only by what you know, but by who helps you navigate what comes next. Join us for the final episode in our mini-series exploring non-clinical skills that can help you thrive in your clinical career. Today we explore how to develop the right team around you to support your work, and what building that bench can mean for your career, and the life you build alongside it.

A session at the ARVO Annual Meeting 2026 explored the evolving role of AI in Age-related Macular Degeneration clinical trials, highlighting both the transformative potential of automated imaging analysis and the practical barriers that continue to limit broader implementation. Central to this discussion was the CLEAR study, an initiative led through the International Retinal Imaging Society that aims to establish a standardized validation framework for AI tools used in clinical-trial decision-making. In this Q&A, Dr Omer Trivizki (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Tel Aviv Medical Center) discusses how these same principles of standardization, transparency and clinically meaningful interpretation extend beyond imaging algorithms to emerging large language models. Drawing on his work at the Israeli GA Research Center and through CLEAR, he reflects on the risks of incomplete yet highly convincing AI-generated patient advice, particularly in rare inherited retinal diseases, and why clinical judgment, critical thinking and human connection must remain at the center of patient education and trial decision-making.

At the ASCRS Annual Meeting in Washington DC, digital innovation was once again high on the agenda, with the ASCRS Digital Clinical Committee showcasing how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are beginning to move from theory into everyday ophthalmic practice. From ambient AI scribes and smarter surgical planning to automated patient communication and workflow optimization, the message from this year’s sessions was clear: many of the tools shaping the future of practice are already available today. We caught up with Dr Eric Rosenberg following ASCRS 2026 to discuss the committee’s key takeaways, practical first steps for ophthalmologists looking to adopt AI in clinic, and how emerging technologies, including quantum computing, could influence the next decade of ophthalmic care.

Technological innovation in cataract surgery is accelerating, moving beyond digital visualization and image-guided workflows toward immersive spatial computing. A recent milestone suggests that the future of ophthalmic surgery may be more connected and collaborative than previously imagined. Dr Eric Rosenberg of SightMD (New York) recently became the first surgeon to perform cataract surgery using Apple Vision Pro. Following an inaugural case in October 2025, Dr Rosenberg and his team have since completed hundreds of procedures using the platform, marking a significant shift in surgical ergonomics.

The 3rd World Keratoconus Congress (WKC 2026), held in Florence, brought together leading corneal specialists from around the world to discuss the latest advances in keratoconus diagnosis, treatment and long-term management. Across three days of scientific exchange, several clear themes emerged: the growing role of earlier, more precise diagnosis, continued innovation in personalised treatment strategies, and an increasing focus on functional and patient-centred outcomes.