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
Intraocular Povidine-Iodine During Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Severe and Atypical Endophthalmitis
Retina. 2026 May 1;46(5):855-862. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000004748.
PPV with intraocular povidone-iodine 0.025% infusion in severe and atypical endophthalmitis is safe with favorable post-op results. Retrospective, 41 eyes.
Effect of membrane peeling on the ganglion cell inner-plexiform layer in glaucomatous eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 May;264(5):1363-1372. doi:10.1007/s00417-025-07096-x.
PPV pucker in glaucomatous eyes further thins GCL-IPL post-op vs non-glaucomatous eyes. Retrospective, 120 eyes.
The Role of Systemic Methotrexate on Preventing Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Following Retinal Detachment Repair
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2026 May;57(5):320-326. doi:10.3928/23258160-20260413-01.
Post-RRD repair Methotrexate use within 1 year was not associated with reduced PVR risk. Retrospective, TriNetX Database.
The “SCOLEX” Sign: A Distinct Hyperreflective Foci on the Wall of Serous Pigment Epithelial Detachments in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy – Micron Report Number Seven
Retina. 2026 May 1;46(5):871-880. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000004770.
“Scolex Sign” as a novel OCT finding in ICSC: Hyperreflective focus on the PED wall. Present in about 1 of 6 eyes. Benign, no association with worse outcomes or sequelae. Retrospective, 52 eyes.
Delayed-Onset Endophthalmitis Associated With Glaucoma Drainage Implant
Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 May:285:184-190. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2026.02.010.
Glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) delayed-onset endophthalmitis – Most cases from tube or plate exposure. VA outcomes generally poor. Retrospective, 45 eyes.
Microaneurysm Reflectivity as a Prognostic Biomarker for Intravitreal Treatment Response in Diabetic Retinopathy
Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 May:285:39-48. doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2026.01.027.
DME Anti-VEGF Microaneurysm: Complete fluid resolution in 51% of OCT hyperreflective MA phenotype vs 7% hyporeflective MA phenotype. Retrospective, 66 treatment-naive patients.
Cancer-Associated Retinopathy After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy
Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2026 May 1;20(3):355-359.doi: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001737.
Case of CAR immediately following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy. Suggests CAR pathophysiology may not be purely antibody-mediated.
Differentiation of macular atrophy secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration vs. de novo geographic atrophy: a multimodal analysis
Eye (Lond). 2026 May;40(7):966-971. doi:10.1038/s41433-026-04331-5.
AMD: MA Atrophy secondary to nAMD (vs de novo MA) larger initial atrophic areas with faster progression. Retrospective, 44 patients.
Subretinal Fluorescein Injection for Intraoperative Identification of Occult Retinal Breaks in Retinal Detachment Surgery
Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2026 May 1;20(3):462-465. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001846.
Surgical technique: Intra-operative sub-retinal fluorescein injection helps identify occult retinal breaks.
Two-year outcomes of half-fluence photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal aflibercept for treatment-naïve pachychoroid neovasculopathy
Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2026 Mar;70(2):325-334. doi:10.1007/s10384-025-01303-2.
Tx-naive Pachy NV: PDT+Eylea maintained dry lesion at 2 years in 44% of eyes. Retrospective, 61 eyes.
Nonexudative Macular Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2026 May 1;144(5):405-413. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2026.0459.
AMD Non-exudative MNV (neMNV) is present in 20% of fellow eyes with nAMD. Prevalence of neMNV is only 40% in eyes with double-layer sign; DLS poor surrogate for neMNV. EYENEON, Prospective, UK, 550 eyes. With editorial.
Visual Outcomes of Plasma Exchange for Acute Optic Neuritis: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology. 2026 May;133(5):680-689. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.12.027.
AAO report: Plasma exchange for acute optic neuritis. Levels II and III evidence suggest improved VA outcomes, but RCTs are needed for confirmatory level I evidence.
Rate and Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy with Semaglutide Use for Diabetes and Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ophthalmology. 2026 May;133(5):589-598. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.12.022.
Systematic review and meta-analysis. NAION Semaglutide Absolute rate RCTs showed no increased risk given low event rates. Data suggests possibly increased risk in DM but not for weight loss groups.
Evolution of the vertebrate retina by repurposing of a composite ancestral median eye
Curr Biol. 2026 Feb 23;36(4):R153-R170. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.12.028.
Review: Evolution of the vertebrate retina by repurposing composite ancestral median eye.
Unexplained long-term increase in intraocular pressure during the treatment of macular disease with intravitreal anti-VEGF
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 May;264(5):1337-1343. doi:10.1007/s00417-025-07100-4.
Retrospective. Long-term IOP increase in nAMD anti-VEGF therapy in prior normotensive eyes can be conservatively controlled in 94%.
Timing of Preoperative Anti-VEGF for Vitrectomy in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A Competing-Risks Analysis of a Large Cohort
Ophthalmol Retina. 2026 May;10(5):532-542. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2025.12.019.
Preop anti-VEGF for PDR PPV: Fewer post-op VH, but no reduced TRD risk. Best results with injection 4-7 days pre-op. Retrospective, 608 eyes.
Four-Year Outcomes of Faricimab in Diabetic Macular Edema: Results from the RHONE-X Extension Trial
Ophthalmology. 2026 May;133(5):599-612. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2026.01.001.
RHONE-X Vabysmo DME 4-year Long-term safety, efficacy, and durability via treat-extend Phase 3 open-label. YOSEMITE RHINE extension.
Comparable Results of Subretinal Injection and Intravitreal Injection of Tissue Plasminogen Activator in the Treatment of Submacular Hemorrhage: A Meta-Analysis of Efficacy
Retina. 2026 May 1;46(5):819-828. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000004774.
Meta-analysis. Submacular heme TPA intravitreal (vs
subretinal) injection VA better at 3-months. Comparable VA, CRT, and heme displacement within 6 months.
Diagnostic Utility of Paton’s Folds and Quantitative OCT Metrics in Pediatric Papilledema
Ophthalmology. 2026 May;133(5):661-667. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2026.01.002.
Pediatric papilledema: Presence of Paton’s folds is specific for papilledema, BUT important to incorporate quantitative OCT metrics. Retrospective, 84 eyes.
Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Photobiomodulation in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (LIGHTSITE III: 24-Month Analysis)
Retina. 2026 May 1;46(5):783-795.
LIGHTSITE III 24-month analysis: Photobiomodulation for dry AMD – Letters change from baseline 4.8 PBM vs 2.4 sham. With editorials.
The Trouble With Photodynamic Therapy
Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 May:285:261-265. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2026.02.002.
Editorial: Issues with PDT being widely performed include insurance noncoverage and low reimbursements, despite
efficacy for chronic ICSC, PCV, and choroidal hemangioma.
Diabetic Retinopathy Severity on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography versus Color Photography and Association with Risk of Disease Worsening
Ophthalmol Sci. 2026 Apr 8;6(6):101182. doi: 10.1016/j.xops.2026.101182.
DRCR Protocol AA: DR severity UWF-FA better predicts future progression vs UWF photography. Exploratory analysis.
