Our holistic ophthalmology vision: From prevention to vision restoration

For most people, the sense of sight is critical to navigating our world. Yet eye diseases represent a significant societal burden and are affecting millions of patients and families, straining healthcare systems, and preventing people from living longer, healthier lives. For example, worldwide, 8 million people suffer from unaddressed age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and almost 4 million from diabetic retinopathy. These conditions cause progressive vision loss,  depriving people of their independence, limiting their ability to work, and significantly impacting their quality of life and mental health. 

Recognising this need, scientists at Roche are taking a data-driven, patient-centred approach focused on the highest-burden eye diseases and the largest unmet medical needs. They are addressing some of the most challenging threats to vision loss,  from deep in the eye to its surface, and along every step of disease progression, from early prevention to restoring lost sight.

Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies have focused on retinal diseases such as neovascular (wet) AMD (nAMD) and other retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic macular edema and uveitic macular edema, where blood vessels in the eye begin leaking excess fluid that damages vision. In particular, Roche and others have developed injectable medications targeting VEGF, a molecule that controls blood vessel formation.

While these medicines have made an impact, they often don’t work sufficiently. They are also burdensome to take, requiring sometimes monthly trips to the doctor for injections over the years. Roche scientists are taking a multi-pronged approach to increase the durability and efficacy of medications. Two options are already available in the clinic: an implant in the eye that allows for less frequent injections by providing a steady flow of medicine over a longer period of time, and medicine that helps to control blood vessel leakage.

Key to developing these medicines is the wealth of data Roche has gathered. “We have hundreds of thousands of images, showing the differences between a typical response, who doesn’t respond to treatment, and why,” Sascha explained. Additionally, Roche has collected fluid samples during injections to investigate possible biomarkers for disease and treatment response. This rich data is ideal for gaining key insights through integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the drug discovery process to identify retinal features, predict disease progression, enable personalised treatment selection, and accelerate the identification of promising new treatment options.

Another key part of the Roche vision in ophthalmology is to make it possible to treat disease both earlier and later than the therapies currently available. By better understanding the asymptomatic early phases of AMD, such as the presence of drusen or retinal pigment epithelium changes before central vision is affected, for example, “we could offer safe, less invasive drugs to prevent vision loss earlier,” Sascha explained. And for people who are already experiencing advanced vision loss from geographic atrophy or neovascular AMD, Roche is working to restore lost sight to patients by repairing damage to the retina. What sounds like sci-fi is already heading to the clinic, using a genetic therapy that restores light-sensitive photoreceptor function in people who are blind or near-blind, enabling them to regain functional vision.

While retinal diseases have a major impact on sight, other common eye diseases remain understudied and undertreated. One of these conditions is dry eye disease, an inflammatory disease of the eye surface that affects more than 107 million people in the US, the five largest EU countries, and Japan alone, yet lacks effective treatment options. 

For patients, chronic dry eye can severely limit daily activities—reading, screen work, and social engagement—and significantly diminish quality of life. At the population level, the burden on healthcare systems is substantial, with frequent clinic visits, lost productivity, and caregiver strain affecting families and workforces. Roche researchers are developing a deeper scientific understanding of this disease, which will enable more comprehensive, science-driven treatment options that address inflammation and pain at their root causes—potentially restoring people's ability to engage fully in work, hobbies, and meaningful social connections, while reducing the broader healthcare and societal burden.

Taken together, Roche's work in eye health is bringing new hope to millions of people living with vision problems. By pioneering treatments that work better, last longer, and reach more patients, from those experiencing early warning signs of disease to those who've already lost sight, Roche is working to help people see clearly and live the lives they want to live.