AI photoreceptor mapping useful tool for monitoring GA

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — Geographic atrophy is a growing worldwide health issue, with approximately 8 million patients impacted, according to a speaker.
At Retina 2026, Healio | OSN associate medical editor Rishi P. Singh, MD, FASRS, delivered an expansive update on the GA treatment landscape.
“GA is a progressive disease. About 1.6 years after diagnosis, 67% of patients lose their ability to drive,” he said. “Within 2 years of diagnosis, a huge percentage of these patients lose two lines of vision.”
Additionally, 77% of patients report that GA affected their vision faster than expected after being

VISA system helps monitor TED progression over time

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — The VISA classification system is a helpful tool for monitoring disease progression in patients with thyroid eye disease, according to a speaker here.
At Hawaiian Eye 2026, Mark J. Lucarelli, MD, FACS, said that the VISA system assesses thyroid eye disease (TED) progression by primarily focusing on vision outcomes, inflammatory findings, strabismus and appearance.
“First and foremost, we want to know if there is visual compromise,” he said. “Is there thyroid optic neuropathy, or exposure keratopathy? Second, we’re looking at inflammatory findings.”
VISA implements a 10-point

Patient history key when evaluating eyelid lesions

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — Patient history, growth rate and bleeding are important factors to consider when evaluating eyelid lesions and deciding whether or not to biopsy, according to a speaker.
“There are situations where we need to have heightened awareness. These skin cancers occur, and they can evolve,” Jeremiah Tao, MD, FACS, said during a presentation at Hawaiian Eye 2026.
“On examination, there are three key findings I think we should all be considering: Ulceration, irregularity and eyelid margin destruction. These are three features that should prompt you to put these patients into the

Pupil exams, motility checks key for ptosis treatment approach

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — Examining the pupil and performing motility checks are key for effectively managing patients with ptosis and catching underlying conditions, according to a speaker at Hawaiian Eye 2026.
“When you think about the eyelid, and ptosis in general, the eyelid always runs with two friends: The pupil and the extraocular muscles,” Andrew R. Harrison, MD, said. “When you see a patient with an eyelid problem, a ptosis, you need to think about these two as well.”
In patients with ptosis, a large pupil may be a sign of third nerve palsy, Harrison said. These patients should immediately be

Alpha-2 receptor drugs reduce heavy alcohol drinking, study finds

Alcohol use is widespread and alcohol use disorder (AUD) causes substantial harm. AUD affects 29 million individuals and causes more than 140,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. Individuals with AUD also often struggle with cognitive deficits, particularly in memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility, which can further undermine recovery. Current drug options are limited and only modestly effective, so more efficacious and better-tolerated options are urgently needed.

Color blindness may reduce early bladder cancer detection and survival

People who are colorblind may be missing a life-saving warning sign of bladder cancer. Analysis of the electronic health records of hundreds of people found that those with color vision deficiency (CVD), or color blindness and bladder cancer had significantly worse outcomes than patients with normal vision, according to a study published in Nature Health.