Retinal Physician

In vitreoretinal surgery for the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), internal tamponade agents provide mechanical support to the retina by counteracting fluid entry through retinal breaks and stabilizing the neurosensory retina against the retinal pigment epithelium while chorioretinal adhesion develops.

JULY/AUGUST 2026 www.retinalphysician.com Challenging Cases and New Surgical Techniques CHRISTINA Y. WENG, MD, MBA • MRINALI GUPTA, MD, FASRS NIMESH A. PATEL, MD • FRANK BRODIE, MD, MBA A panel of expert vitreoretinal surgeons share complex cases and discuss their management strategies. Emerging Trends in Intraocular Tamponade Vitreoretinal Surgery at High Altitude CHRISTINE I. CLAVELL, MD • JAMES P.

Audina M. Berrocal, MD, FASRS, discusses the surgical education, scientific sessions, and social events awaiting attendees in Montreal. The following transcript has been edited for clarity. Hi, I am Audina M. Berrocal, MD, FASRS. I’m the program chair of the ASRS meeting this summer in Montreal. It’s very exciting to be in Montreal. As you all know, it’s a beautiful city, and during the summer, it’s really spectacular.

Development of vitreoretinal surgery capacity in resource-limited settings is extremely challenging because of the substantial resource requirements and subspecialty training involved.1 During a mission to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in March 2026, our surgical team confronted a sobering reality: The cost of supplies for a single complex retinal detachment repair could fund hundreds of cataract surgeries.

Vitreoretinal surgery at high altitudes presents a host of unique challenges. Mountainous terrain is found throughout the United States from the Appalachian Mountains with a peak altitude of nearly 2,130 m (7,000 ft) in the east, to the Rocky Mountains in the west with peaks exceeding 4,270 m (14,000 ft).

At Clinical Trials at the Summit, Daniel Chao, MD, PhD, discussed the development of SZN-8141 (Surrozen), a bifunctional antibody designed for diabetic macular edema and other retinal vascular diseases. The following transcript has been edited for clarity. Diana V. Do, MD: I’m with Daniel Chao, MD, PhD, today discussing a novel therapy for diabetic macular edema and retinal vascular diseases. Tell us about this new agent and what potential advantages it might offer. Figure 1.

At Clinical Trials at the Summit, Deepak Sambhara, MD, FASRS, encouraged early career retina specialists to ask questions, seek mentorship, and take advantage of networking opportunities. The following transcript has been edited for clarity. Diana V. Do, MD: Hi, I'm Diana V. Do, MD. I’m joined by my colleague and friend, Deepak Sambhara, MD, FASRS. Tell me about your excitement on Clinical Trials at the Summit and what you’re looking forward to. Deepak Sambhara, MD, FASRS: Diana, thanks for having me.

Lawrence J. Singerman, MD, FACS, spoke with Editor in Chief Diana V. Do, MD, about his clinical experiences with pegcetacoplan at Clinical Trials at the Summit. The following transcript has been edited for clarity. Diana V. Do, MD: Today I'm joined by a leader in retina, Lawrence J. Singerman, MD, FACS. We’re at Clinical Trials at the Summit, where all of these leaders and industry partners are together. What excites you and what data is compelling? Lawrence J.

Retina remains one of the most innovative areas in ophthalmology, but as therapies mature and development costs rise, many emerging companies eventually face a familiar question: how to sustain growth and bring new therapies to more patients. That challenge was a central theme of “From Big Pharma to Biotech: Advancing Solutions for Unmet Medical Needs,” a Biogen-sponsored Friday evening fireside chat during the Clinical Trials at the Summit meeting in Las Vegas.

At Clinical Trials at the Summit, Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc, discussed phase 3 data supporting Belite Bio’s tinlarebant as a potential treatment for Stargardt disease. The following transcript has been edited for clarity. Diana V. Do, MD: Hi, today I'm joined by Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc, from Stanford. Quan, you presented some exciting data about an investigational therapy for Stargardt disease, tinlarebant. Tell us the key take-home points.