VISION 2024

Less than three years ago, Daryl Johnson was diagnosed with eye cancer that threatened not just his eyesight, but potentially his life. Thanks to the expertise of Jason Liss, MD, his oculofacial plastic surgeon at Duke Health, today Johnson enjoys spending peaceful afternoons on his back porch in La Grange, NC.

Duke University researchers created a computer program that determines, with 94% accuracy, if a person's age-related macular degeneration will worsen within a year.

The deep learning algorithm, featured in an Oct. 19 study in JAMA Ophthalmology, analyzes detailed eye scans to predict if the common eye condition will progress to a more severe stage known as geographic atrophy (GA).

This faster foresight could streamline clinical trial recruitment and aid rollout of targeted treatments designed to preserve the vision of older adults.

Pioneering early detection of pediatric retinal disorders

In pediatric ophthalmology, early detection of retina-related disorders is the key to unlocking a future full of possibility for young patients. Yet, all too often children do not recognize, or are unable to, articulate their vision problems and our current screening methods may not recognize retinal issues. This leads to delayed diagnoses and long-term negative impacts on their eyesight.

Looking back, Mark Stavish knows how fortunate he was. Just as Mark and Wendy Stavish moved into their new home in Raleigh in the summer of 2022, the vision in Mark’s right eye began fading in and out. As someone with a history of benign floaters, he initially didn’t think much of it, but did seek out an ophthalmology recommendation from one of his new neighbors who happened to be a Duke primary care physician.