The Fast Track to Neuroprotection: Highlights from Glaucoma 360
Glaucoma Research Foundation’s New Horizons Forum continues to be the premier gathering for doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Co-chaired by Adrienne Graves, PhD, and Andrew Iwach, MD, New Horizons Forum is uniquely structured to bridge the gap between patient needs and the change-making companies who can fulfill those needs.
At the heart of this year’s New Horizon’s Forum was a focus on neuroprotection – future treatments that could not only protect retinal cells in glaucoma, but possibly even restore vision. The program opened with a lecture from Eugene de Juan Jr., MD, who argued that because many patients continue to lose vision despite reaching target intraocular pressures (IOP), the field must look beyond pressure-lowering treatments. He highlighted new therapies showing dramatic early results in glaucoma models and predicted that AI will soon play a role in bringing those treatments to at-risk patients faster.
Leading industry representatives took the opportunity to present their potential neuroprotective therapies in sessions like “Breaking Barriers in Glaucoma” “The Perfect Dose,” and “Devices Changing the Game.” Other topics included forward-looking leaps in how glaucoma may be diagnosed, the need for more accessible clinical trial outcome measures, the status of GRF’s Treatment Accelerator program, and a touching “Patient Perspective” from visually impaired Paralympian Amy Dixon, PLY. This impactful meeting was closed by Ruth Williams, MD, who reminded the audience that neuroprotection is not merely a clinical goal, but a shared commitment to improving patients’ quality of life.
The earliest and most exciting potential new treatment options are presented annually at New Horizons Forum. This year’s 15th annual meeting on January 30th in San Francisco featured more new companies and more novel therapies than ever before, highlighting GRF’s unending commitment to finding a cure for glaucoma through innovative research.
Posted on April 6, 2026. Article by Cynthia Steel, PhD, MBA. Pictured: Eugene de Juan Jr., MD delivered the keynote lecture at New Horizons Forum.
Cynthia Steel, PhD
Cynthia Steel, PhD is the Chief Scientific Officer for Glaucoma Research Foundation. With more than a decade of experience dedicated to the science and strategy behind ophthalmic therapies, her work is grounded in a commitment to improving patient outcomes and translating cutting-edge science into meaningful clinical applications.