Reference Library
What is the Reference Library?
Keeping current with the retina literature is, for most, an ongoing, futile effort. New journals are constantly being introduced, and existing journals keep getting thicker and thicker. Researching a topic on PubMed doesn’t allow you to spot key references or quickly digest what’s new globally on a topic of interest. And remembering what you’ve read a few weeks later (or even after you’ve turned the page to the next article) is a struggle.
To address these concerns, we pull key clinical references from 24 major ophthalmic and retinal journals each month (click here for the journal list). Although we can’t provide the journal article PDF due to copyright issues, we provide a single-line citation with a brief summary of the article’s main points. Our goal is to capture all major clinically relevant references.
Please contact us if we’re missing any key references or if any reference is mis-summarized or cited.
Want to Automatically Receive Our Monthly Journal Article Summaries?
That’s easy! Just subscribe to the Retina World Congress’s monthly email blast here.
How is the Reference Library integrated into the Image Library?
At the top of most Image Library folders is a ___References Word document containing the annotated bibliography for that topic. Every month, we file key articles into the appropriate Retina Rocks folder(s) and update this file. Key articles are located at the top of the list. This allows for a rapid snapshot and review of the literature while also looking through our multimedia images. Some seemingly unrelated references are included in each folder to aid in differential diagnosis or to learn about similar findings in other disorders.
Key Retina Journal Articles of the Month
Here is the current month's snapshot of key retina journal articles
Monthly Archives
Ellipsoid Zone Integrity at Angiographic Leak After Resolution of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: MICRoN Report Number Two
Retina. 2026 Jul 1;46(7):1272-1281. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004811.
ICSC with baseline perifoveal FFA leak: Longer symptom duration, complex disease, and irregular outer segment thickening associated with increased EZ atrophy at resolution — Micron Retrospective, 84 eyes.
How do genetic polymorphisms influence the efficacy of age-related macular degeneration treatments? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul;264(7):2105-2118. doi: 10.1007/s00417-025-07058-3.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of AMD confirms association with CFH Y402H and ARMS A69S polymorphisms.
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Tumors in 948 Eyes of 926 Patients
Retina. 2026 Jul 1;46(7):1160-1169. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004827.
RPE tumors: Large clinical series including CHRPE (most common), torpedo, RPE hamartoma, combined hamartoma, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma — Retrospective, 926 patients.
Phacovitrectomy versus Vitrectomy for Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Phakic Eyes: A Multicenter Propensity-Matched Study
Ophthalmol Retina. 2026 Jul;10(7):691-699. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2026.03.014.
Primary RRD PPV vs PPV+ lensectomy: Similar anatomic success. Multicenter propensity-matched study, 6113 eyes.
Long-Term Evolution and Growth Rate Assessment of Non-Exudative Macular Neovascularization: A Multicenter Analysis
Ophthalmologica. 2026;249(3):238-248. doi: 10.1159/000551308.
Non-exudative AMD: MNV Found in 7% of fellow nAMD eyes receiving anti-VEGF. Increased lesion growth rate associated with conversion to future exudation — Retrospective, 61 eyes.
Impact of glaucoma on outcomes after epiretinal membrane surgery. a pairwise and post-hoc single-arm meta-analysis
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul;264(7):1949-1961. doi: 10.1007/s00417-026-07188-2.
Glaucoma attenuates but doesn’t eliminate the visual benefits of PPV for macular pucker. Central VF may be compromised in moderate to advanced disease — Meta-analysis.
Bilateral Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis After Faricimab Rechallenge
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul 1;144(7):659-661. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2026.1610.
Case of bilateral occlusive retinal vasculitis after Vabysmo rechallenge.
Trends in Prevalence and Incidence of Diabetic Retinal Disease across Age Cohorts
Ophthalmol Retina. 2026 Jul;10(7):745-752. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2026.03.007.
Diabetic retinal disease does not progress faster in those 25YO or younger. Those 65 YO and older showed a decline in DRD prevalence and incidence over the observation period. Retrospective, Medicare database.
PULSAR: Clinical Outcomes of Aflibercept 8 mg with Extended Dosing and 2 mg in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Subgroups Defined by Baseline Characteristics
Ophthalmol Retina. 2026 Jul;10(7):707-718. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2026.02.020.
PULSAR post hoc nAMD: Eylea HD Similar functional and anatomic results as Eylea 2mg, but with longer dosing intervals, regardless of baseline severity.
The Risk of Retinal Breaks or Detachment in Fellow Eye with Lattice Degeneration After Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Retina. 2026 Jul 1;46(7):1170-1177. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004806.
Prior contralateral RRD/RB increases risk of break-RD in fellow eye with lattice. Increased odds ratio 4.47. Myopia increased risk — Retrospective, TriNetX.
Intrafamilial Variability of IMPG1-Associated Vitelliform Dystrophy
Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2026 Jul 1;20(4):510-514. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001772.
IMPG1-associated vitelliform dystrophy: Brother and sister with different phenotypes, including foveal and multifocal lesions.
Real-World Durability of Aflibercept 8mg and Faricimab in Initiators Versus Switchers: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis
Retina. 2026 Jul 1;46(7):1231-1240. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004813.
Initiation of Vabysmo or Eylea HD extended Tx intervals, and better VA vs eyes switched from older agents. Suggests step therapy may compromise outcomes. Retrospective real-world — 12501 eyes. With Spaide editorial.
Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant as a Baseline Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: Results from the Randomized Phase 4 NEW DAY Study
Ophthalmology. 2026 Jul;133(7):837-851. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2026.03.019.
Iluvien vs Eylea as primary DME treatment. Iluvien fewer than half total injections with similar VA and anatomic outcomes. 28% in Iluvien group underwent cataract surgery vs 7% in Eylea group. 4 NEW DAY, Prospective, 18-month RCT — 517 patients.
Intraocular Inflammation After Intravitreal Faricimab Injections: A Case Series
Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 May-Jun;54(4):507-513. doi: 10.1111/ceo.70058.
Post-Vabysmo IOI: Developed on average after 5 injections, all uveitis with anterior vitritis, most 2-7 weeks post-injection with high IOP — Retrospective, 8 eyes.
High-Stakes Errors: Incorrect Gas Mixtures in Vitreoretinal Surgery
Ophthalmol Retina. 2026 Jul;10(7):774-776. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2025.11.011.
High-stakes errors: Incorrect gas mixtures in vitreoretinal surgery. Settled OMIC malpractice cases from incorrect gas concentration or volume. With editorial.
Is There a Causal Link Between GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy? A Critique of the Clinical Evidence
Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 May-Jun;54(4):554-564. doi: 10.1111/ceo.70096.
Link between GLP1 agonists and NAION. Current meta-analyses suggest 2-3 times increased risk — Review
Comparison of Initial Loading Injection Outcomes Between Aflibercept 8 mg and Faricimab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Retina. 2026 Jul 1;46(7):1220-1228. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004819.
Eylea HD vs Vabysmo for Tx-naive nAMD: After 3 loading doses, comparable anatomic and functional outcomes. Retrospective —100 eyes.
Psychological Burden and Interventional Outcomes in Symptomatic Vitreous Opacities: A Systematic Review
Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul:287:285-297. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2026.03.040.
Vitreous opacities psychological burden and interventional outcomes: Higher levels of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. VA underestimates functional impairment — Systematic Review.
Macular Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Biomarkers Predict Regional Retinal Nonperfusion Patterns on Ultrawidefield Angiography in Diabetes
Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul:287:198-207. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2026.03.031.
Diabetic macular OCTA DCP perfusion defects biomarker for ischemia in all retinal regions on UWF FA. Increased FAZ reflected posterior ischemia. Prospective — 159 eyes.
Agreements between 24-2 and 24-2 C test grids for chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine retinopathy patients and high-risk patients
Eye (Lond). 2026 Jul;40(10):1461-1468. doi: 10.1038/s41433-026-04462-9.
Visual field screening for chloroquine-hydroxychloroquine toxicity: 24-2 and 24-2C similar efficacy but 24-2C minimized testing time. Prospective — 75 patients.
Stroke Risk after Ischemic Ocular Events: Insights from an Electronic Health Record Database
Ophthalmol Retina. 2026 Jul;10(7):764-773. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2026.03.013.
Acute ischemic ocular events (RAO, amaurosis) increased risk for ischemic stroke-TIA, especially within 30 days. EMR database.
