CE Event Recap: IRD Treatments + the Effects of Gravitational Force on the Retina
On March 25, 2024, Retina Consultants of Texas presented a virtual CE webinar entitled “IRDs and the Treatments on the Horizon Effects of G-Force on the Retina.” Hosted by Dr. James C. Major, the webinar was split into two presentations by Dr. Kenneth C. Fan and Dr. Patrick Staropoli, two of RCTX’s newest retina specialists in the greater Houston area
Dr. Fan’s Presentation: Inherited Retinal Diseases
Dr. Fan gave a comprehensive overview of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), which are diseases that are genetically passed down from parents to children. IRDs encompass a very wide range of diseases known by many names, with over 270 genes being identified as causative factors. After a quick refresh on the visual phototransduction cycle, Dr. Fan talked a little bit about a few of the more common IRDs, including Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, and retinitis pigmentosa.
From there, Dr. Fan discussed how treatments for IRDs are essentially in their infancy – the first treatment for an IRD condition only became available in 2017 when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved voretigene neparvovec-rzyl for the treatment of Leber congenital amaurosis, an eye disorder causing severe vision loss from birth. However, since 2017, there has been an explosion in IRD research, with many clinical trials and developments on the horizon, many of which involve gene therapy.
Dr. Staropoli’s Presentation: G-Force and the Retina
Dr. Staropoli gave an extensive overview of how gravitational forces (G-force) impact vision and the retina, resulting in visual phenomena typically experienced by pilots, astronauts, and race car drivers. After demonstrating how both positive and negative acceleration affect the eyes, Dr. Staropoli touched on the various potential injuries that can be caused by G-force factors, including vitreoretinal interface (VRI), vitreous base avulsion, retinal tear or detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, posterior vitreous detachment, and macular holes. He also discussed how zero G-forces can also contribute to irreversible vision issues.
From there, Dr. Staropoli talked about one of our latest projects at RCTX – the Driving to Fight Blindness Campaign. A passionate race car driver and NASCAR race winner, Dr. Staropoli loves using the motorsports platform to raise awareness for diseases and fundraise for our research foundation, the Texas Retina Research Foundation.
We invite you to watch the full video of our “IRDs and the Treatments on the Horizon Effects of G-Force on the Retina” presentation on our YouTube channel. To attend Retina Consultants of Texas’s next CE Zoom event, please register here for updates.
