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"New NIH-Funded Project Targets Early Drivers of Vision Loss in Macular Degeneration"

Monday, April 27, 2026

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, and current treatments do not work well enough for many patients, especially in the earlier stages of the disease. A new National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant will support promising research at University of Rochester Medicine to develop a more precise treatment approach that could help slow or prevent the damage that leads to blindness.

A Disease with Few Good Options

AMD affects the macula, the small but critical part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision used for reading, driving, and recognizing faces. The disease can develop in two major forms: dry AMD, which can lead to geographic atrophy, and wet AMD, which causes abnormal blood vessel growth. Although there are FDA-approved treatments for advanced disease, they have limited benefit, cause side effects, and do not address all stages of AMD.

“There is still a major unmet need for treatments that work earlier in the disease process and do more than simply slow down later damage,” said Ruchira Singh, PhD, with the Flaum Eye Institute and principal investigator of the project.

A New Target for Treatment

Singh’s lab is studying a protein called secretory phospholipase A2 -11A (sPLA2-IIA), which her team identified as a possible driver of AMD and related macular dystrophies. Using patient-derived stem cell models, the researchers found that elevated levels of this protein are linked to the harmful changes seen in the retina, including drusen, the early deposits that are the central hallmark of the disease.

“By studying patient cells, we found a biological signal that appears to be involved in how the disease starts and progresses,” Singh said. “That gives us a much better target for developing a therapy that is based on the disease mechanism itself.”

The team is now developing a new small-molecule therapy that eliminates the disease-related protein. This approach may allow for more precise treatment at lower doses and reduce unwanted side effects.

When Should I Get LASIK? Age, Eligibility, and Recovery Explained

Thursday, April 9, 2026

If you’ve been thinking about ditching your glasses or contacts, you might be wondering: Is now a good time for LASIK surgery? Is there a “best age?" Should you wait until your prescription stops changing?

In the United States, over 700,000 LASIK eye surgeries are performed every year, and timing does matter. But the right time for LASIK depends less on your age and more on your eye health and vision stability, says Scott MacRae, MD, LASIK eye surgeon with University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute and an international authority on LASIK. Here’s what Dr. MacRae says to consider before scheduling laser vision correction.

Is There a “Best Age” for LASIK? 

Many people assume there’s a perfect age for LASIK surgery. But age alone is rarely the deciding factor. Generally, candidates must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Have had a stable vision prescription for one to two years

• Not be pregnant at the time of surgery

The best time to get LASIK surgery is when your vision is stable and when you’re ready.

Common LASIK Misconceptions

• “I’m too young.” Some people’s prescription stabilizes at a younger age.

• “I’m too old.” If you’re in good overall and ocular health, LASIK can be performed at most ages, even in patients with conditions like well-controlled glaucoma.

• “I’m not healthy enough.” Patients can be eligible despite chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, well-controlled diabetes, and other conditions.