Retina 2007 (page 5)

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2008: the year for combining approaches?
So what do our experts think awaits us in 2008? Will we see combination therapy overtake anti-VEGF monotherapy as a treatment of choice in the treatment of AMD? Will we see the launch of even better instrumentation for vitreoretinal surgery? Will the manufacturers of imaging devices surprise us with a more superior technology?

"Hageman in 2001,³ showed that proteins associated with inflammation and immune-mediated processes are prevalent among drusen-associated constituents and one of the best available markers of AMD risk is single nucleotide polymorphisms in complement factor H (CFH). As such, I hope that next year we will see some research showing that inhibition of complement factors block drusen formation in certain patients," said Dr Mauget-Faysse.

Professor Rizzo, on the other hand, believes that we will see more and more studies advocating combination approaches to AMD therapy and the treatment of other retinopathies. He also thinks that we will see further improvements to MIVS instrumentation and techniques that allow surgeons to further reduce surgical trauma and increase patient comfort. "I also think that implants, which deliver sustained-release drug therapy for the treatment of DME will continue to yield impressive results in 2008," he hypothesized.

Dr Stefansson agrees that the benefits of combination therapies and surgery/therapeutic combinations will dominate the headlines in 2008. Meanwhile, he also hopes that studies touting the benefits of retinal oximetry will also be announced next year.

"I sincerely believe that we will see a shift from 'monotherapeutic thinking' to 'oncologic thinking' in terms of our treatment approaches. I also expect more interest in diabetic retinopathy. Dry AMD and prevention will also be a hot topic," concluded Professor Augustin.

References
1. A.J. Augustin, et al. Retina February 2007;27(2):133-140.
2. M. Inoue, et al. Am. J. Ophthalmol. November 2004;138(5):867-869.
3. G.S. Hageman et al. Prog. Retina Eye Res. 2001;20:705-732

Special contributors

Prof. Dr. Albert L. Augustin             Professor Stanislao Rizzo

Martine Mauget-Faysse, MD             Einar Stefansson, MD, PhD

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