OUWB M3 Shayaan Aqil recently presented research in Prague that could help retina specialists better treat patients living with two of the most common causes of age-related vision loss.
The World Ophthalmology Congress drew more than 6,000 attendees from around the globe and featured a highly competitive abstract selection process.
Aqil’s research was selected for a podium presentation following peer review, allowing him to present his work to physicians and researchers from around the world.
The study focused on patients with both wet and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), two conditions that frequently occur together in the same eye and are among the leading causes of vision loss in older adults. While new treatments for the advanced dry form of the disease have become available only in recent years, little research has examined how those therapies affect patients who are already receiving treatment for wet AMD.
"Our study looked at whether adding one of these newer treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration increased the treatment burden for the wet form," said Aqil. "We found that it did not appear to increase the treatment burden, which provides reassuring real-world evidence for retina specialists treating these patients."
The findings address an important gap in clinical knowledge, particularly because many patients experience both forms of the disease simultaneously. Although the medications examined are currently approved in the United States, many countries have not yet approved them, making the research relevant to physicians preparing for future treatment decisions worldwide.
The project was completed in collaboration with Viet Chau, M.D., and Jeremy Wolfe, M.D., with additional internationally recognized retina specialists from Associated Retinal Consultants contributing to the manuscript. The research team is preparing the study for submission to Ophthalmology, the flagship journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Aqil credits Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and its partnerships with Corewell Health and Associated Retinal Consultants for making opportunities like this possible.
As part of OUWB's clinical research opportunities, students work alongside practicing physicians and specialists, allowing them to contribute to meaningful projects while still in medical school.
Aqil became involved in ophthalmology research after expressing an interest in the specialty during his first year.
"I've been incredibly fortunate to have mentors who were willing to teach me, involve me in meaningful research and trust me with opportunities like presenting internationally," said Aqil. "That has had a tremendous impact on my medical education and has helped shape the kind of physician I hope to become."
Although OUWB did not directly fund this specific international trip, Aqil said the school's research curriculum, mentorship, and support for conference travel and publications have been instrumental in developing the skills that led to the opportunity.
Beyond presenting his own research, the conference also gave Aqil the chance to learn about emerging ophthalmic technologies and the latest research from around the world. He attended presentations on new surgical techniques and innovations, including advancements such as the Unity surgical platform, while also interacting with internationally recognized experts in the field.
His presentation session was moderated by Tao Ma, M.D., and Wafa Amri, Ph.D., two respected leaders in ophthalmology who engaged with his research during the discussion period.
For Aqil, the experience represented more than an academic milestone. It reinforced his interest in ophthalmology while exposing him to the global collaboration that drives medical innovation.
"As a medical student, being able to contribute to research that could help physicians make treatment decisions is incredibly rewarding," he said. "Meeting experts from around the world and seeing how international collaboration advances patient care has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience."
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