Introduction: A New Chapter in Macular Degeneration Care

Not long ago, a diagnosis of macular degeneration often carried a heavy silence. Patients would ask, “Can anything be done?” and too often the answer was, “We’ll do our best to slow the inevitable.” For many, that meant preparing for a gradual loss of independence—reading glasses left unused, hobbies abandoned, and the unsettling thought of life without clear central vision.

But 2025 is a different moment in ophthalmology. Today, breakthroughs are shifting that narrative. Injections that once demanded monthly hospital visits now stretch safely to every three or four months. Tiny implants release medication continuously, freeing patients from the calendar of endless needles. For the first time in history, people with geographic atrophy—a form of advanced dry macular degeneration once considered untreatable—have real options to slow the disease. And on the horizon, gene therapies and at-home AI-guided retinal scans hint at a future where treatment is both lighter and smarter.

At Global Ubal Eye Center in Incheon, we witness this transformation daily. Our philosophy is simple: cutting-edge care, delivered with human understanding. The latest technology means little unless it serves the person in front of us—the retiree hoping to keep reading, the office worker striving to maintain productivity, the grandparent who wants to keep seeing the faces of their grandchildren clearly.

Wet AMD: From Monthly Needles to Longer, Smarter Intervals

For many patients, the fear of AMD has as much to do with the treatment burden as the disease itself. Monthly injections are effective, but exhausting. In 2025, durability—not just efficacy—is the keyword.

High-Dose Anti-VEGF: Longer Control Without Sacrifice

The approval of Aflibercept 8 mg (Eylea HD) has given ophthalmologists a tool that stretches dosing intervals to 12–16 weeks in many patients. In practical terms, this means that instead of monthly visits, a patient may only need injections four times a year. The durability is real, and it matters most to those who work, care for family, or travel long distances for treatment.

Dual-Pathway Therapy: Faricimab’s Promise

Faricimab (Vabysmo) is the first drug to block both VEGF-A and Ang-2. This dual mechanism allows many patients to maintain stability with 12–16 week dosing. For those juggling multiple health issues—or who simply want more freedom—this is a meaningful improvement.

Susvimo Implant: Continuous Release, Twice-Yearly Refills

The Susvimo port delivery system has re-emerged after earlier refinements, offering sustained release of ranibizumab with refills only twice a year. While it requires minor surgery and carries unique risks, for carefully selected patients it can reduce the relentless cycle of monthly appointments.

At Global Ubal Eye Center, we often say: “Durability isn’t just a scientific term—it’s about giving patients back their time.” And that is perhaps the most human breakthrough of all.

Dry AMD & Geographic Atrophy: Real Options, Honest Expectations

For decades, those with dry AMD—specifically the advanced form known as geographic atrophy (GA)—were told there was no treatment. Today, two new therapies are shifting that narrative.

Pegcetacoplan (Syfovre): Targeting C3

By inhibiting C3, pegcetacoplan slows the enlargement of GA lesions. Some data now suggest benefits not only in imaging but also in functional outcomes such as reading ability and low-light vision. It requires regular injections, often monthly or every other month, and carries rare but notable risks of inflammation.

Avacincaptad Pegol (Izervay): Targeting C5

This C5 inhibitor has shown consistent slowing of GA progression over two years, and in early 2025 its label was expanded, making longer-term use possible.

These drugs do not restore lost vision. Instead, they preserve what remains for longer—a subtle but life-changing difference. Being able to continue reading, recognizing faces, or navigating familiar streets for even a few extra years can profoundly affect independence and quality of life.

What’s Next: Pills and Cell Therapy

• Danicopan, an oral Factor D inhibitor, is in advanced trials. If effective, it could reduce the need for frequent injections.

• Gildeuretinol (ALK-001), a modified form of vitamin A, shows potential in slowing GA by addressing toxic byproducts of normal vision.

• Cell therapies like OpRegen aim not just to slow loss but to replace damaged retinal pigment cells—a tantalizing step toward regeneration.

For now, the conversation we have with patients is practical: “Will these injections help you live the life you want, with the vision you still have?” Sometimes the answer is yes; sometimes it’s no. The power lies in having the choice.

Gene Therapy: Toward a “One-and-Done” Approach

For years, the dream in retinal medicine has been simple: instead of endless injections, could we teach the eye to treat itself? That is the promise of gene therapy.

The most advanced candidate today, RGX-314, uses an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to deliver anti-VEGF genes directly into retinal cells. The concept is elegant—once those genes are expressed, the eye begins producing its own therapy continuously, potentially eliminating or dramatically reducing the need for injections.

Early trials have shown encouraging safety profiles and signs of long-term durability. Some patients have gone more than a year without additional injections, while maintaining control over fluid and vision. The delivery methods are also evolving: from traditional subretinal surgery to less invasive suprachoroidal injections that could be performed in a clinic setting.

Still, gene therapy is not ready for routine practice. There are open questions about durability beyond a few years, long-term safety, and what happens if a patient still needs supplemental treatment later. At Global Ubal Eye Center, we follow these trials closely because they represent the next horizon—but we remind our patients: a therapy is only a breakthrough once it is proven, safe, and available for you.

Home Monitoring and AI: Care Beyond the Clinic

If gene therapy represents the future of fewer procedures, AI and home monitoring represent the future of smarter care.

In 2025, the first AI-enabled home OCT devices have entered real-world use. With these, patients can scan their retinas at home daily, producing images similar to those captured in the clinic. The system then uses artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes—such as new fluid or thickening of the retina—and alerts the care team.

The value of this shift cannot be overstated. Instead of rigid schedules (“injection every month, no matter what”), we can now move toward truly personalized care:

• Earlier detection if fluid returns between visits.

• Fewer unnecessary injections when the retina is stable.

• Peace of mind for patients who often worry about silent disease activity.

At Global Ubal Eye Center, we see home OCT as an extension of the clinic into the patient’s living room. It doesn’t replace careful examinations, but it empowers patients to become partners in their own monitoring—something many find reassuring.

The Human Side of 2025 AMD Care

It is easy to focus on numbers, lesion sizes, and trial data. But the true measure of success in AMD treatment is not only in millimeters on a scan—it is in the lived experience of patients.

• Did a grandmother keep reading bedtime stories to her grandchildren?

• Did an office worker remain productive at the job he loves?

• Did an artist continue painting, finding joy in colors and forms, for a few more years?

These are the outcomes that matter most.

At Global Ubal Eye Center, we tailor treatments to the person, not just the retina. For some, that means the newest high-dose injection. For others, it’s complement therapy to slow atrophy. And sometimes, the most meaningful care is regular monitoring, honest reassurance, and emotional support.

Because at the heart of all these innovations is one truth: technology serves people, not the other way around.

Conclusion: From Hopelessness to Hopeful Stewardship

In 2025, macular degeneration is no longer defined by inevitability. For wet AMD, extended-interval injections and implants mean patients can live more freely, without monthly disruption. For dry AMD and geographic atrophy, the first generation of treatments now slows progression, preserving independence and quality of life. Gene therapy and oral agents are on the horizon, while AI-guided monitoring is already reshaping how care is delivered.

But the real breakthrough is not in the drugs or devices—it’s in the partnership between patient and doctor. At Global Ubal Eye Center, our philosophy is simple: precision with empathy. We tailor treatments not just to the retina, but to the person.

If you or someone you love has been struggling with vision loss, this is the moment to reconsider. Book a comprehensive retinal evaluation with us in Incheon. Ask your questions. Share your concerns. We’ll bring the science, the technology, and—most importantly—the listening ear.