Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its complications such as diabetic macular edema continue to remain a major cause for legal blindness in the developed world. While the introduction of anti-tVEGF agents has significantly improved visual outcomes of patients with DR, unpredictable response, largely due to genetic polymorphisms, appears to be a challenge with this therapy. With advances in identification of various genetic biomarkers, novel therapeutic strategies consisting of gene transfer are being developed and tested for patients with DR. Application of pharmacogenetic principles appears to be a promising futuristic strategy to attenuate diabetes-mediated retinal vasculopathy. In this comprehensive review, data from recent studies in the field of pharmacogenomics for the treatment of DR have been provided.

PurposeTo present the case of a 12-year-old female with an epibulbar osseous choristoma.ObservationsThe patient presented with right-sided conjunctival mass, which caused her discomfort. Slit lamp examination revealed a 5×5-mm, firm nodule in the superotemporal quadrant of the bulbar conjunctiva. The nodule had feeder vessels, adhered firmly to the sclera, and lacked signs of malignancy. The patient underwent excisional biopsy under general anesthesia. During this procedure, great care was taken to avoid perforation of the globe. The pathologic sections were significant for well-circumscribed osseous tissue without atypia.Conclusions and importanceWe describe diagnosis and successful surgical management of osseous choristoma the rarest subtype of ocular choristoma. With only 65 cases reported since mid-19th century, the condition remains poorly described. This report provides additional information on diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition.

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Diabetic macular edema (DME) is an accumulation of fluid in the central retina, secondary to vascular-leakage from diabetic vascular damage. DME and other ophthalmic sequela of diabetes are the leading cause of blindness in 20 to 74-year-olds. The development of VEGF-inhibitors (anti-VEGF) has revolutionized DME treatment improving the clinician's ability to remove excess fluid from the macula, improving visual-acuity. Aflibercept is an anti-VEGF agent made of a recombinant fusion protein (consisting of VEGF receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains) fused with the Fc-portion of human-IgG1, which binds both VEGF isoforms A and B, and placental growth factor. Phase III clinical trials and published scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept injection in the treatment of DME.

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