Lingyun Cheng
· ProfessorVerifiedUniversity of California, San Diego · Ophthalmology
Active 1998–2025
About
Lingyun Cheng is a faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology at UC San Diego, located at 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA. His research activities and funding focus on porous silicon particles for sustained intravitreal drug delivery, supported by NIH/NEI R01EY020617. His work involves the development of controlled and targeted ocular drug delivery systems, including intravitreal microparticles, multilayered polymer films, and long-lasting delivery systems with real-time monitoring capabilities. Cheng's publications cover topics such as inflammatory cytokines in highly myopic eyes, drug adsorption loss in syringe filters, clinical implications of intraocular drug applications, and various controlled release systems for ocular therapeutics. His research aims to improve drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic outcomes in ophthalmology.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Chemistry
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
- Materials science
- Biology
- Endocrinology
- Surgery
- Combinatorial chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
Selected publications
British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2025-05-16
articleOpen accessAIMS: To determine the effect of continuing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections on the progression of macular atrophy (MA) during remission of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 59 eyes with nAMD with at least 6-month remission (disease inactivity) were analysed and were grouped into two. In group 1, anti-VEGF injections were stopped after remission (holiday). In group 2, injections were continued despite inactivity (maintenance).Using blue autofluorescence images via Heidelberg Spectralis, MA area was measured at initial injection, remission onset and the latest available remission point. The absence of subretinal haemorrhage, intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid or subretinal hyper-reflective material associated with fluid on serial spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans was used to confirm the inactivity of the disease (remission). The rate of progression of MA during the period of remission was measured for the two groups. RESULTS: In group 1, 30 eyes received a mean of 16.97 injections over 39.2 months, followed by 21 months of drug holiday. In group 2, 29 eyes received a mean of 27.1 injections over 62.16 months, followed by a mean of 11.59 injections over 19.32 months for maintenance. The MA in the maintenance group progressed faster than the holiday group during remission (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance injections for nAMD in remission significantly increase progression of MA.
Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery · 2025-06-18
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingPURPOSE: To quantify the effect of the significant ocular bio-parameters and the nomograms for an optimal Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) vault. SETTING: Regional eye hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Consecutive 103 patients (200 eyes) with implantation of ICL V4c were analyzed to find the important anterior eye parameters and the nomograms to achieve the optimal vaults (250 to 750 µm). RESULTS: The study found that anterior chamber width (ACW, β = 5.17, p = 0.0003), angle-to-angle (ATA, β = -3.1, p = 0.0084), and crystalline lens rise (β = 0.0044, p = 0.0007) are the significant parameters for predicting optimal vaults. For the ACW, a 10 µm increase from its mean (11.76 mm) would lead to 1.76 times higher odds for an optimized vault while holding all other variables constant. In contrast, a 100 µm increase from the ATA mean (11.63 mm) was associated with a 9.5% reduction in odds to achieve an optimal vault. CASIA2-NK or the Dougherty nomogram had similar higher odds to achieve an optimal vault than that by OCOS (odds ratio = 5.8, p = 0.0069; odds ratio = 3.3, p = 0.024). The magnitude of the difference between ACW and ATA was significantly associated with the odds of optimal vault. CONCLUSIONS: The ACW and the ATA are both significant predictors for achieving an optimal vault; their size difference may bear significant value for ICL optimal vaults. CASIA2, along with its integrated formula, may be a stand-alone handy option for ICL size selection for the East Asian population.
Research Square · 2025-12-08
preprintOpen accessRetina · 2025-07-25
articleCorrespondingPURPOSE: Although many studies have analyzed macular choroidal neovascularization (CNV) using optical coherence tomography angiography, few have focused on peripapillary CNV, which comprises approximately 10% of CNV cases. This study examines optical coherence tomography angiography vessel changes in patients with treated and untreated peripapillary CNV to better understand disease progression. METHODS: Nineteen eyes with peripapillary CNV secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration were retrospectively analyzed. Treated eyes (n = 13) received anti-VEGF injections after a modified pro re nata regimen, whereas untreated eyes (n = 6) without macular involvement were closely observed. Median follow-up was 11.9 months (treated) and 8 months (untreated). High-quality optical coherence tomography angiography scans centered on the CNV lesions were selected and analyzed using validated software (ImageJ and AngioTool). RESULTS: Treated eyes showed significant reductions in CNV lesion size, vessel density, and lacunarity after anti-VEGF therapy (ImageJ: P < 0.001; AngioTool: P = 0.0004). Untreated eyes exhibited significant lesion enlargement (ImageJ: P = 0.0356; AngioTool: P = 0.0013). None of the patients in the untreated group developed macular exudation during the study. CONCLUSION: Peripapillary CNV without macular involvement may be considered for short-term observation in selected cases, as these lesions appeared indolent and stable over the limited follow-up period in our cohort. The vessels in optical coherence tomography angiography in the treated group showed regression in size after anti-VEGF therapy. These findings will potentially help clinicians better understand this entity.
Scientific Reports · 2025-12-18
articleOpen accessThe purpose of the study was to compare Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) scan speeds of 85 kHz and 125 kHz with respect to image quality, diagnostic reliability, and scan time in patients with retinal diseases. In this prospective cohort study, OCTA images were obtained at both scan speeds in 70 eyes from 40 patients with retinal diseases. Masked expert graders evaluated qualitative parameters including clinical utility, artifacts, and overall image quality. Quantitative parameters including scan time, Heidelberg Q-score, and OCTA-Q score were recorded. In 46 eyes with visible choroidal neovascular membrane in the avascular layer of OCTA, AngioTool (Image J) was used to assess vessel percentage area, vessel junction density, average vessel length, and E-Lacunarity. Acquisition speed of 125 kHz OCTA was significantly faster than that of 85 kHz. There were no statistically significant differences in AngioTool parameters between the two protocols. 125 kHz was significantly better than 85 kHz for image quality with fewer noise artefacts and vessel projection artefacts. In conclusion, 125 kHz SHIFT OCTA offers comparable to better image quality to the 85 kHz OCTA with significantly faster acquisition, potentially improving clinical workflow without compromising diagnostic reliability.
International Journal of Retina and Vitreous · 2025-06-17 · 8 citations
articleOpen accessBACKGROUND: To analyze the therapeutic response to faricimab 6 mg/0.05 ml in eyes with neovascular AMD (nAMD) with refractory intra- and/or subretinal fluid due to choroidal neovascularization (CNV), previously unresponsive to 4 mg monthly aflibercept and combination therapy with anti-VEGF and long-acting steroids. METHODS: A retrospective case series study of 22 eyes with unresponsive CNV, despite monthly intravitreal treatment (mean number of pre-faricimab injections: 35.52 ± 17.12). We evaluated therapeutic response in eyes with persistent intra/subretinal fluid (IRF/SRF) unresponsive to anti-VEGF double-dose (DD) monotherapy (4-mg aflibercept) and/or simultaneous DD anti-VEGF (4-mg aflibercept) with steroids (triamcinolone). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of central retinal thickness (CRT) were recorded for 7 follow-ups. Baseline and follow-up OCTs were examined by an AI-developed platform (Discovery OCT Fluid and Biomarker Detector, RetinAI AG, Switzerland) to measure the volume of IRF, SRF, and pigment epithelium detachment (PED) in nanoliters (nL) and CRT in micrometers (μm). Paired t-test compared these parameters at baseline and after treatment. OCTA analysis of CNV before and after treatment with faricimab was conducted using Angio-Tool software. RESULTS: Anatomic outcomes included mean CRT reduction of -25.3 μm (p = 0.0118) at month-1, -16.15 μm (p = 0.0414) at month-4, and -26.36 μm (p = 0.0129) after the 7th follow-up. AI-assisted software analysis showed a significant reduction of IRF, SRF, and PED volume at multiple time points after initiating faricimab. There was a non-significant improvement in BCVA. CONCLUSIONS: Switching to faricimab improved anatomy in highly treatment-resistant CNV eyes, indicating its potential when other therapeutic options have failed.
A Study on the Collaborative Design Approach for Spacecraft Systems and Subsystems Using SysML
Lecture notes in electrical engineering · 2025-01-01
book-chapterSenior authorScientific Reports · 2025-02-01 · 9 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingDefocus incorporated multiple segment (DIMS) lenses and repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) are used to retard myopia progression. However, it is currently unknown if there is a synergistic effect of the two interventions. In the current study, 190 school-aged children with myopia (380 eyes) were studied for the change in axial length (AL) over nearly one year of follow-up. Of 380 eyes, 170 eyes wore DIMS lenses, 80 eyes had RLRL therapy, and 130 eyes had both interventions (DIMS_RLRL) for myopia control. AL changes were calculated at each follow-up visit by subtracting the baseline measurements and normalized to yearly changes in mm. AL changes as a primary outcome were analyzed in a generalized linear mixed model to compare effect sizes of myopia control among three interventions while adjusting for age, sex, baseline axial length, and follow-up length. Participants had a mean age of 9.84 ± 2.63 years old, mean AL of 24.49 ± 1.20 mm, mean SER of -2.90 ± 2.08 diopters, and mean follow-up time of 301 ± 91 days. By the end of the study, the adjusted mean yearly axial change with combination therapy was - 0.13 mm, -0.04 mm for the eyes with RLRL alone, and 0.16 mm for the eyes with DIMS lenses alone (p < 0.0001). Combination therapy of DIMS and RLRL has significantly greater effect size in controlling myopia progression than either RLRL alone (p = 0.0009) or DIMS alone (p < 0.0001).
PLoS ONE · 2025-02-06 · 4 citations
articleOpen accessCorrespondingPURPOSE: To determine the impact of severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on subjective treatment response in patients treated for dry eye disease. METHODS: A total of 203 eyes diagnosed with evaporative dry eye disease (DED) due to meibomian gland dysfunction were treated using the LipiFlow or MiBoFlo systems. From this cohort, 40 eyes with stable dry AMD (early, intermediate, or late stages) were included. Each participant completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness Questionnaire (SPEED) before treatment and at a 6-month follow-up. Changes in questionnaire scores were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess differences between AMD severity groups. RESULTS: Improvement in SPEED and OSDI scores, including vision related OSDI scores were observed across all AMD stages, with no significant differences between groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Managing DED improved quality of life (QOL) in patients with AMD, regardless of retinal disease severity. This highlights the importance of treating coexisting ocular surface conditions to enhance patient outcomes, even in the presence of significant maculopathy.
Scientific Reports · 2025-09-30
articleOpen accessMacular neovascularization (MNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains a therapeutic challenge, especially in eyes resistant to conventional anti-VEGF therapy. This study evaluates the anatomical and functional response to Faricimab in patients with persistent fluid despite intensified Aflibercept treatment and explores potential benefits of dose escalation. This cross-sectional study included 25 eyes from 23 patients with active MNV resistant to standard anti-VEGF therapy. All had persistent fluid on OCT despite monthly injections and received off-label double-volume Aflibercept 4 mg (0.1 ml) for at least three doses. Eyes with persistent fluid were switched to Faricimab 6 mg. In non-responders, Faricimab was further escalated to 12 mg (0.1 ml). Retinal fluid volumes and pigment epithelium detachment (PED) were analyzed using AI-based OCT segmentation. MNV activity was assessed using AI-based OCTA analysis. Faricimab 6 mg significantly reduced PED volume (p < 0.05), especially after the first two injections. However, changes in intraretinal and subretinal fluid were not significant. In the Faricimab 12 mg subgroup, no additional anatomical benefit was observed. OCTA showed a trend toward reduced vascular activity after switching to Faricimab 6 mg, but no further change with dose escalation. In MNV eyes resistant to high-dose Aflibercept, Faricimab 6 mg provides meaningful anatomical improvement, particularly in PED volume. However, escalating Faricimab to 12 mg offers no additional benefit, suggesting therapeutic saturation at the standard dose.
Recent grants
Porous Silicon Particles for Sustained Intravitreal Drug Delivery
NIH · $2.6M · 2011–2017
NIH · $17.7M · 2023–2028
Frequent coauthors
- 306 shared
William R. Freeman
Jacobs (United States)
- 78 shared
William R. Freeman
- 56 shared
Michael J. Sailor
University of California, San Diego
- 54 shared
Igor Kozak
- 51 shared
Giulio Barteselli
- 51 shared
Huiyuan Hou
- 51 shared
Dirk‐Uwe Bartsch
Jacobs (United States)
- 50 shared
Kristyn Huffman
University of California, San Diego
Labs
UCSD OphthalmologyPI
Education
- 2000
Ph.D., Ophthalmology
University of California, San Diego
- 1996
M.D., Ophthalmology
University of California, San Diego
- 1992
B.S., Biology
University of California, San Diego
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