The MOD Pod

Sumit (Sam) Garg, MD, and Brandon Ayres, MD, discuss how they use AvaGen™, The Genetic Eye Test, to inform patients about their genetic risk of developing keratoconus and other corneal dystrophies, and the role it plays in helping them decide appropriate treatment.

Join this season’s expert panel of Laura Periman, MD; Carly Rose, OD; and Edward Jaccoma, MD, as they showcase a selection of interesting cases across the ocular surface spectrum. 

Tune in to hear Nate R. Lighthizer, OD, FAAO, examine the evolving role of laser in eye care (00:55). Then, listen as Thomas Cheezum, OD, CPC, addresses some common billing and coding questions related to the care of glaucoma patients (11:31) and Jerry Robben, OD, talks about discussing out-of-pocket expenses with patients (17:20). 

Tune in to hear Roxanne Achong-Coan, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, walk through the different considerations when first fitting medically necessary contact lenses (00:48). Then listen as Jason Schmit, OD, fills you in on what you need to know to manage thyroid eye disease (10:15) and Patricia Fulmer, OD, FAAO, offers helpful approaches that can prevent or navigate common misunderstandings that arise whe...

Myranda Partin, OD, discusses the most commonly used therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction and relevant CPT codes associated with each (0:43). Christopher Kuc, OD, FAAO, then shares his five rules of thumb for managing the ocular surface (9:03), and Hardeep Kataria, OD, FAAO, and Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, wrap up the episode with some effective education strategies for nonadherent patients (19:0...

Dive into this episode with Jason Chin, OD, FAAO, who offers some vital information you should take into consideration if you're thinking about getting involved in clinical trials (0:56). Leslie O'Dell, OD, FAAO, draws things to a close by explaining how to capture and interpret images to determine meibomian gland health (7:44).

The newest season includes a new expert panel featuring Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO; Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO; and William B. Trattler, MD, as they share unique cases of meibomian gland dysfunction, neurotrophic keratitis, and the impact of ocular surface disease on cataract surgery planning.

Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO, leads off this episode with tips on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of vestibular oculomotor dysfunction after a traumatic brain injury (0:48). Molly Ann R. Clymer, OD, FAAO, follows with an explanation of when and how optometrists should order an MRI (10:29).

John D. Gelles, OD, FIAO, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA, talks with guest Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, about how AvaGen, The Genetic Eye Test, for keratoconus and corneal dystrophies can guide one's myopia management decisions and potentially help save vision for patients over their lifetime.

In this short episode of The MOD Pod, Rebecca Braunsdorf, OD, explains why patient education, prompt referral, and careful comanagement are keys to success with superficial keratectomy (00:55). Lori Latowski Grover, OD, PhD, then reviews principals and practices of telemedicine for doctors, patients, and the profession to consider (11:47).

Don’t miss this season in which our new expert panel of Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO; Emilie Seitz, OD; and Ivan Mac, MD, MBA, discuss unique and challenging cases involving ocular surface disease and dry eye.

In this episode of The MOD Pod, Rachael Wruble, OD, FAAO, talks about harmful loopholes in contact lens legislation (00:55) and Tim Poirier, OD, explains the difference between neurotrophic keratitis and neuropathic pain (9:07).

To start off the episode, Rasika Whitesell, OD, talks about how optometric legislation, particularly that affecting scope of practice, can be changed without OD knowledge or approval (00:48). Vittorio Mena, OD, MS, and co-author Katie Connolly, OD, FAAO, then discuss guidelines for managing myopia (8:48), and Hardeep Kataria, OD, FAAO, closes out the episode by explaining how intense pulsed light...

Join this season’s new expert panel of Cecelia Koetting, OD; Walt Whitley, OD; and Marjan Farid, MD, as they deliberate on a myriad of interesting cases across the ocular surface spectrum. 

Rachael A. Wruble, OD, FAAO, leads off the episode with a discussion on how presbyopia-correcting drops will fit into the treatment toolbox (00:45). Daniel Epshtein, OD, FAAO, and co-author Patricia Fulmer, OD, FAAO, follow with a survey of new and next-generation technologies and devices in their piece on innovations in glaucoma diagnostics (08:44). Stephanie Frankel, OD, closes out the episode b...

How have innovations in surgical instrumentation created an environment in which surgeons are more comfortable performing vitrectomy for vitreous opacities? In the final episode of the miniseries “Modern Management of Vitreous Opacities,” a panel comprised of Walt Whitley, OD, MBA; Alison Early, MD; John Kitchens, MD; and Christina Weng, MD, MBA, discuss the specific innovations that have improved...

Which elements of examination must optometrists perfect in order to provide an effective referral for patients with vitreous opacities? On this second episode of the miniseries “Modern Management of Vitreous Opacities,” the panel comprised of Walt Whitley, OD, MBA; Alison Early, MD; John Kitchens, MD; and Christina Weng, MD, MBA, review which elements of examination are most relevant for this cond...

 In the first of this episode's two articles, author Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, presents best practices for managing acute ocular pain (1:13). Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, ends the episode by separating the myths from the facts in a discussion on platelet-rich plasma eye drops for the treatment of dry eye disease (9:40).

How can optometrists properly document history for patients presenting with symptomatic vitreous opacities? On this debut episode of the miniseries “Modern Management of Vitreous Opacities,” a panel comprised of Walt Whitley, OD, MBA; Alison Early, MD; John Kitchens, MD; and Christina Weng, MD, MBA, review the specifics of recording symptoms and establishing a timeline for patients with symptomati...

This month's episode of The MOD Pod features two articles on the posterior segment. First, hear Jessica Haynes, OD, FAAO, describe the true effect of lapses in care as she talks about how COVID kept retina patients out of her office and led to poorer outcomes for many (1:10). Then, Inrava Khasnabish, OD, FAAO, offers some guidelines for managing patients with diabetic retinopathy, including a revi...

The season finale of The MOD Pod’s mini series Genetics and Eyecare Today features Nicole Fram, MD, and Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA. Dr. Fram explains what corneal collagen crosslinking is and shares her protocol for administering the therapy. She also describes the typical situation in which she uses genetic testing using AvaGen™, The Genetic Eye Test (Avellino). Dr. Barnett speaks to...

In this month's episode, Lori Latowski Grover, OD, PhD, explains why comprehensive eye examinations remain the best approach to improving population health (1:21). Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO, shares a patient case with a twist that taught him that sometimes obvious findings lead you down the wrong diagnostic path (14:27).

How can retina surgeons work with optometrists to create a framework that best manages the cases of patients with vitreous opacities? To answer this question, John Kitchens, MD, turns to Tarek Hassan, MD, and Walt Whitley, OD, MBA. The panel discusses how collaboration can transition patients smoothly to surgical consultation, the anatomy of a referral, and if some patients are better suited for s...

Rebecca Miller, OD, shares her approach to being her patients' trusted source for answers about refractive surgery (00:52). Also, Thomas Chester, OD, FAAO, offers strategies for the successful preoperative management of ocular surface disease in order to avoid surprises after cataract or refractive surgery (6:40). And Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, discusses a new glaucoma management tool that measures...

In this special edition episode of The MOD Pod’s mini series Genetics and Eyecare Today, three well-known eye care practitioners discuss patient cases that involve the use of genetic testing with AvaGen™, The Genetic Eye Test (Avellino), and weigh in on how this information factors into decisions about each patient's course of treatment.