Week in review: Pediatric glaucoma after lensectomy, geographic atrophy treatment approved, uveitis in psoriatic arthritis

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.

Children are at risk for glaucoma in the 5-year period after lensectomy. A cohort study of 810 children (1049 eyes) who underwent initial lensectomy found that the cumulative 5-year incidence of postoperative glaucoma-related adverse events, defined as glaucoma or glaucoma suspect, was between 3% and 29%, with the highest rate in aphakic eyes. In patients with aphakia, the risk of developing glaucoma-related adverse events was associated with younger age at the point of surgery, an abnormal anterior segment, and intraoperative complications. The authors conclude that children who undergo lensectomies may need to be regularly monitored for development of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect. JAMA Ophthalmology

First treatment for geographic atrophy secondary to AMD is approved. On February 17, 2023, the US FDA approved pegcetacoplan injection (SYFOVRE) for the treatment of geographic atrophy secondary to AMD, based on positive efficacy and safety data from the phase 3, 24-month OAKS and DERBY studies. It is the first therapy approved for this specific use, and is expected to be available to US prescribers in early March. The marketing application is under review at the European Medicines Agency and will be submitted to Health Canada. Apellis Pharmaceuticals

Having psoriatic arthritis is bad, but uveitis makes it worse. Investigators in Spain conducted a retrospective review of 406 patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at a single center over a 30-year period. Five percent of patients developed uveitis (mostly anterior and unilateral), and those patients had a higher prevalence of axial pattern, greater ocular surface pathology, and higher rates of disease activity and skin involvement than those with without uveitis. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors helped to reduce uveitis incidence. RMD Open