The potential threat of this year’s first hurricane wasn’t enough to stop the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) from kicking off its 2026 annual meeting in the Big Easy this past weekend.
We’ve got a few highlights of the clinical data presented, subspecialty day updates, which companies were on the show floor—and the new products showcased—over the four-day event.
Where to start?
Let’s set the stage for a few big-picture themes that stood out from the meeting, from the programming to the ophthalmic clinical data presented:
- Retina therapies are trending toward longer durability, follow-up, and gene-based therapies
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is shifting from accuracy questioning to clinic workflow integrations (see below for the keynote topic)
- Interventional glaucoma is on the rise
- Ocular surface treatment is getting more targeted (and less drop-focused)
- Emergency eye care and practice economics are hot topics
- As discussed by AAO President Christopher Rapuano, MD
Don’t worry—we’ll back these up with the clinical data (and presentations) discussed.
Duly noted. Now for a look at the Academy agenda.
Ahead of Friday’s kickoff, Thursday’s Eyecelerator featured a jam-packed agenda of industry presentations and innovations. (Also check out this year’s Winning Pitch Challenge finalists).
The meeting was officially underway the following morning with six of the eight Subspecialty Day programs: glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, refractive surgery, retina (day 1), and uveitis. This was followed by cornea and oculofacial plastic surgery (and retina day 2) on Saturday.
Also on Saturday: The Academy’s opening session featured celebrations of this year’s award winners as well as two notable presentations:
- The keynote delivered by Robert Wachter, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco
- That topic: generative AI in health care
- The 83rd Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture (titled Predicting the Future of Uveitis) delivered by Janet Louise Davis, MD
And the program itself?
A jam-packed schedule spanned instruction courses, symposia, original paper sessions, poster presentations and discussions, video programs, Subspecialty Day meetings—plus 49 hands-on Skills Transfer activities and 27 Skills Transfer lectures.
Other notable mentions: programming from the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) and American Academy of Ophthalmic Professionals (AAOP).
Quite the lineup … next, tell us about some of the clinical data presented.
First up: the retina / inherited retinal disease (IRD) space.
Kodiak Sciences presented three clinical datasets evaluating three late-stage investigational assets for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and macular edema secondary to inflammation (MESI):
- Zenkuda (tarcocimab tedromer)
- Phase 3 GLOW2 data in DR (our prior coverage here)
- Phase 3 DAYBREAK data (with tabirafusp-ted) for wet AMD
- Tabirafusp-ted (KSI-501)
- Phase 3 DAYBREAK data (with zenkuda) for wet AMD
- KSI-101
- Phase 1b APEX data
Regarding the DAYBREAK data: As Kodiak reported late last month, the study met its primary endpoint for each treatment, with both Zenkuda and tabirafusp-ted demonstrating non-inferior vision gains compared with aflibercept at Year 1.
Who else?
Ocugen delivered two podium discussions on 12-month results from the ArMaDa trial in geographic atrophy (GA). See here for a look at that data.
- The candidate: OCU410, an investigational first-in-class modifier gene therapy that delivers the human retinoid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORA) gene to regulate multiple pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of GA.
Nanoscope Therapeutics presented a dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) poster and 4-year durability data from the phase 2b/3 RESTORE trial in retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
- The candidate: MOGENRY (MCO-010) is a mutation-agnostic optogenetic gene therapy using adeno-associated viral vector serotype 2 (AAV2) to deliver an MCO transgene.
- More on this asset and its IVT delivery here.
- And in recent news: The company began filing a Biologics License Application (BLA) for its RP indication in 2025—and is currently awaiting FDA approval.
Any others?
Ocular Therapeutix highlighted topline SOL-1 phase 3 outcomes in wet AMD.
- The candidate: AXPAXLI (OTX-TKI), an investigational bioresorbable hydrogel intravitreal (IVT) implant with anti-angiogenic properties.
- See here for how it delivers axitinib—and the sustained-release delivery target of 9 to 12 months.
- And in recent news: The company reported a positive pre-New Drug Application (NDA) meeting with the FDA last month; current plan is for a Q4 2026 submission.
Also in the retina space: ANI Pharmaceuticals delivered a late-breaking talk on phase 4 data from the SYNCHRONICITY trial of ILUVIEN (fluocinolone acetonide IVT implant) 0.19 mg for chronic non-infectious posterior uveitis (NIPU).
- If you recall: ANI acquired Alimera Sciences, the FDA-approved implant’s developer, in 2024.
How about one more?
Belite Bio presented topline 24-month data from the phase 3 DRAGON trial for adolescent Stargardt disease (STGD).
Its candidate: oral tinlarebant, a once-daily orally-administered tablet.
- Click here for more on how it works.
As for the data: See our coverage from August 2026 for details on the once-daily tablet’s phase 3 performance among patients with STGD type 1.
Moving on … to neuro-ophthalmology and cornea data.
Stoke Therapeutics presented two phase 1 posters from the first-in-human (FIH) OSPREY study evaluating its autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA; an inherited optic nerve disorder) asset.
The candidate: STK-002 is an RNA-based therapy designed to target the underlying cause of ADOA by increasing OPA1 gene protein levels to improve vision.
- To note: As an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), this therapeutic utilizes the biotech company’s proprietary Target Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output (TANGO) research platform. See how it works.
- As for this data: It’s based on the dose-escalating study’s earlier cohorts; findings from its later cohorts is expected H1 2027.
Next up: Claris Bio gave a podium talk during Eyecelator as well as on Sunday.
- The topic: CSB-001 (oremepermin alfa ophthalmic solution), its investigational asset for limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) intended to address the underlying “drivers” of vision loss by promoting corneal epithelial regeneration while modulating inflammation and fibrosis.
Let’s talk glaucoma.
For that therapeutic area, Avisi Technologies delivered 2-year data from the multisite, prospective VITA trial evaluating its flagship glaucoma device: the VisiPlate.
- The details: VisiPlate is a minimally-invasive bleb surgery (MIBS) device designed to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) via a microchannel network that controls aqueous drainage from the anterior surface and minimizes the risk for blockage.
- Get a visual of how it works.
As for this pilot study: We previously covered the 6-month results.
SpyGlass Pharma’s positive 12-month phase 2 data on the bimatoprost drug pad-intraocular lens system (BIM-IOL System) offered a closer look at its safety and efficacy for glaucoma and ocular hypertensive (OHT) patients.
Any dry eye data?
Yes! We’ll start with Harrow.
After presenting quite the lineup of clinical data at last week’s American Academy of Optometry annual meeting, the company was on-site in New Orleans with two posters highlighting phase 3 data for BYQLOVI (clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension) 0.05%.
- To refresh: Harrow acquired the U.S. rights to this FDA-approved therapy—indicated for post-operative ocular inflammation and pain—in 2025.
- And take note: BYQLOVI has not yet launched to the U.S. market under the Harrow name.
Go on …
Also in dry eye, BioTissue presented phase 2 data from a randomized, controlled, double-masked study evaluating a new biologic derived from human birth tissue.
- That candidate: TTAX03 is an investigational biologic made from human amniotic membrane and umbilical cord.
The study in question: evaluated three doses of TTAX03 versus a saline control among patients with mild-to-moderate dry eye disease (DED) randomized 1:1:1
- And the results: Highest dose showed greatest improvement in overall symptoms and eye dryness as well as corneal staining by Day 85. See here for more.
Speaking of visual gains, I heard of some real-world Luminopia data.
You heard right. The FDA-authorized binocular therapy for pediatric amblyopia was the subject of a pediatric ophthalmology / strabismus podium paper and ePoster exploring its use among pediatric patients.
- For a quick recap of Luminopia, see here.
As for the real-world evidence (RWE) from the two papers:
- An analysis from the Patients Using Prescription Luminopia (PUPiL) Registry found the therapy demonstrated visual acuity (VA) improvement across all patient groups (7.4 ± 2.3 years)—with baseline stereoacuity emerging as the strongest predictor for improvement, showing meaningful gains.
- A separate RW registry analysis determined that pediatric patients who previously underwent an average of 30 months of conventional amblyopia treatment achieved significant additional vision gains with Luminopia.
- These were maintained post-treatment, with very low rates of clinically meaningful vision loss during post-treatment follow-up.
Any updates in thyroid eye disease?
Viridian Therapeutics highlighted its thyroid eye disease (TED) portfolio by presenting new topline and subgroup phase 3 data for two therapies:
- Lumvoa (veligrotug-vvze), which was granted FDA approval in June as the second treatment for TED—and the first with labeling for both active and chronic disease
- Elegrobart, an investigational subcutaneous (SC) treatment with the potential to be the first autoinjector treatment for TED
- A BLA submission is currently on track for Q1 2027
As for those clinical presentations, they included the following studies:
- REVEAL-1 on elegrobart
- Check out our coverage on the phase 3 trial’s topline data
- THRIVE-2: a patient-level proptosis analysis for Lumvoa
- THRIVE & THRIVE-2: a subgroup analysis for Lumvoa
- See here for our reporting on these two global phase 3 trials
Sticking with TED … wasn’t there also new TEPEZZA research?
Yes! Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, presented new findings on the molecular features of TED and the changes observed in patients following TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw).
- To refresh: Horizon Therapeutics (now part of Amgen) received FDA approval for TEPEZZA in 2020 as the first TED treatment.Also worth noting: An on-body injection (SC) form of the therapy is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical investigation (see the positive topline data from April).
As for this research: A single-nuclear multiomics sequencing was used to compare orbital tissue across TED patients (active, chronic, reactivated, and TEPEZZA-treated) versus control.
- The findings: offered new insight into the cellular pathways associated with TED, with the potential to better understand how TEPEZZA reduces eye bulging, potentially informing future research and therapeutic development.
What else?
Bausch + Lomb sponsored an extensive array of scientific presentations and events highlighting its product portfolio.
- Among these: the enVista Apsire and IC-8 Apthera premium intraocular lenses [IOLs], XIIDRA, MEIBO, and the ELIOS procedure for glaucoma.
Johnson & Johnson also featured quite a few scientific and educational programs in cataract care.
And Merck announced the full results from its phase 2b/3 BRUNELLO trial evaluating remigromig (MK-300, previously known as EYE103) for DME.
- Check out our full coverage on that data.
Now, that can’t be all the clinical data presented, right?
Oh, definitely not; just a few highlights (in an effort to stick with our Glance perspective)
In fact, we haven’t even touched on the copious industry and product updates announced and on full display in the Exhibit Hall.
Stay tuned for that recap …