Co-Management Strategies in GA Care: Recognizing Geographic Atrophy Earlier

GA care functions optimally when detection, referral, and treatment operate as one continuous system.

By: Damon Dierker, OD, FAAO, Ankur M. Shah, MD, FASRS

Retinal Physician April 14, 2026

5 Key Takeaways

1

Geographic atrophy (GA) care requires a continuous system of detection, referral, and treatment for optimal outcomes.
2

Recent FDA approvals of complement inhibitor therapies necessitate earlier detection and proactive referral for GA.
3

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are crucial in identifying GA early, ideally before foveal involvement, to influence treatment eligibility.
4

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is essential for detecting early structural changes in GA, with dynamic review of scans being critical.
5

Early detection of GA is foundational to modern retinal care, emphasizing the need for refined imaging interpretation and collaboration.

Damon Dierker

Bio: Damon Dierker, OD, FAAO, is an optometrist whose clinical work and writing focus on dry eye disease and ocular surface disease in an OD-MD multispecialty practice setting. He has described practical approaches to screening patients for dry eye disease during comprehensive eye examinations, cataract and refractive evaluations, and ocular surface disease-focused visits. His published clinical commentary emphasizes efficient dry eye testing protocols, including symptom questionnaires such as OSDI, SPEED, and DEQ-5, along with ocular surface staining and tear breakup time to help identify patients who may need treatment without disrupting clinic flow.

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Retinal Physician

Co-Management Strategies in GA Care: Recognizing Geographic Atrophy Earlier

5 Key Takeaways

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