Moorfields has announced it will explore a possible new treatment for retinal detachment surgery complicated by scar tissue from proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the most common cause of retinal detachment-repair failure.
The phase I trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of “a novel formulation of a known anti-inflammatory drug” in 50 patients. It is being led by Dr Mahi Muqit, a consultant vitreoretinal surgeon at Moorfields and honorary clinical lecturer at UCL.
The treatment has the potential to reduce the number of people with PVR retinal detachment losing their eyesight, leading to long-term patient benefit, said Dr Muqit. “Retinal detachment is our most common retinal surgical emergency and a new therapy to improve patient outcomes would be welcomed by the vitreoretinal community and above all by our patients.”
