Published in Research

FDA grants AAO funding for pediatric cataract surgery research

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2 min read

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has received a grant of nearly $400,000 from the FDA to support Verana Health’s research into pediatric cataract surgery using data collected in the AAO IRIS Registry.

What is the IRIS Registry?

The IRIS (Intelligent Research In Sight) Registry is the AAO’s comprehensive eye disease and condition registry. Launched in 2014 and managed in partnership with Verana Health, the registry has collected data from more that 75 million patients over 454 million visits, as well as over 16,000 eyecare practitioners across the United States.

What are the challenges of pediatric cataract surgery?

Possible challenges include difficulty measuring IOL calculations (as eye growth is difficult to predict and can vary among patients); potential postop issues with inflammation, IOP, and amblyopia; and—long term—the risk for glaucoma and retinal detachments in adulthood. (via)

So what is the grant for?

Michael Mbagwu, MD, the senior medical director at Verana Health and an adjunct clinical instructor of ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine will be leading the research team analyzing data from pediatric cataract surgeries with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation collected by the IRIS Registry between 2013 and 2020.

The team plans to use natural language processing models to parse clinician notes as well as the structured data from electronic health records (EHRs) and insurance claims to glean information on the types of IOLs implanted, surgical techniques used, changes in vision over time, as well as the frequency and presentation of post-operative complications. (via)

Expert thoughts on this?

Dr. Mbagwu stated in a news release that “The only way to get an accurate view of real-world evidence on treatment is through research using a data registry.” He referenced pediatric cataract surgery as one of the most impactful procedures that can be done for young patients in need. “In doing so, surgeons can give the gift of sight to children who may have otherwise gone blind,” he said.

When can we expect results?

The Verana Health team expects to submit the pediatric cataract surgery data results to the FDA before the end of 2023.