Aim: Angioid streaks (ASs) are a rare retinal condition and compromise visual acuity when complicated with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). They represent crack-like dehiscences at the level of the Bruch’s membrane. This objective narrative review aims to provide an overview of pathophysiology, current treatment modalities, and future perspectives on this condition. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed using “PubMed”, “Web of Science”, “Scopus”, “ScienceDirect”, “Google Scholar”, “medRxiv”, and “bioRxiv.” Results: ASs may be idiopathic, but they are also associated with systemic conditions, such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum, hereditary hemoglobinopathies, or Paget’s disease. Currently, the main treatment is the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) to treat secondary CNV, which is the major complication observed in this condition. If CNV is detected and treated promptly, patients with ASs have a good chance of maintaining functional vision. Other treatment modalities have been tried but have shown limited benefit and, therefore, have not managed to be more widely accepted. Conclusion: In summary, although there is no definitive cure yet, the use of anti-VEGF treatment for secondary CNV has provided the opportunity to maintain functional vision in individuals with AS, provided that CNV is detected and treated early.
Objectives: To assess the mismatch between the clinical observation of vitreous alterations and self-reported symptoms in young patients complaining of symptomatic vitreous opacities (SVO). Methods: The ophthalmic medical records of young patients presenting primarily with SVO were retrospectively evaluated. Symptoms severity was assessed using a questionnaire. The status of the vitreous body was examined with indirect ophthalmoscopy at the slit-lamp and classified according to an ad hoc severity scale. Results: Sixty eyes of thirty otherwise healthy patients (median age: 32.5 (IQR: 29.0–37.0) years old) complaining of SVO (median duration: 38 months; interquartile range: 18–84 months) were enrolled. SVO was rated as severe by 50% of participants, affecting all the activities explored in the questionnaire. Twenty-three patients (76.6%) reported SVO-related depression and/or anxiety, for which eleven patients (36.6%) were or had been using medication. Fifty-eight eyes (96.6%) showed no evidence of (or minimal) vitreous opacity, while two eyes (3.3%) were found to have significant vitreous opacity. No significant inter-gender differences (p > 0.05) and no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the severity of vitreous opacity and patients’ reported symptoms nor with their psychological status and medication use. Conclusions: Severe discomfort related to the perception of vitreous floaters exists in young patients whose vitreous gel examination is unremarkable or shows only minor alterations. We believe this discrepancy can be explained by optical anisotropy; significant forward-scattering of light, which results in floater symptoms; and reduced back reflection, which limits the clinical observation.
Age-related macular degeneration (AΜD) remains a leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Ιn neovascular AΜD (nAΜD), frequent intravitreal anti-VΕGF injections create substantial treatment burden, while approved therapies for geographic atrophy (GA) provide modest slowing of progression. Ocular gene therapy aims to achieve sustained intraocular expression of therapeutic proteins after a single administration. Τhis review summarises the biological rationale, vector platforms, and delivery routes relevant to AΜD, with emphasis on adeno-associated virus (AAV) systems, capsid engineering, and compartment-specific administration (intravitreal, subretinal, and suprachoroidal). We synthesise the clinical landscape for sustained anti-VΕGF expression approaches in nAΜD and complement-modulating strategies for GA, and highlight how trials increasingly prioritise injection-burden reduction, anatomical endpoints, and biomarkers of target engagement. Κey challenges include intraocular inflammation and neutralising antibodies (particularly with intravitreal dosing), variability and durability of transgene expression, surgical risks associated with subretinal delivery, and practical constraints related to manufacturing scale, cost, and long-term safety surveillance for non-removable therapies. Overall, gene therapy offers a plausible route towards durable, mechanism-targeted AΜD management, but its clinical role will depend on robust controlled trials and multi-year follow-up.