Experts InSight

Drs. Prithvi Sankar and Sriram Balasubramanian discuss a personal journey through vision loss, from both the ophthalmologist and patient perspective. Host Dr. Ben Young invites these two friends to share their lessons of grief, denial, and ultimate acceptance of a difficult diagnosis—in this case, retinitis pigmentosa—and what physicians can do to help their patients through these life-changing ev...

Dr. Bradley Katz joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share updates on the diagnostic imaging of optic disc drusen and current research efforts from the  Optic Disc Drusen Consortium , an international alliance of researchers focused on optic nerve disorders. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Durga Borkar and Yashaswini Singh join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss their recent publication regarding private equity (PE) acquisition and access to retinal detachment surgery. According to the study, physicians in PE-acquired practices decreased their number of retinal detachment repairs by nearly 20% after acquisition, potentially negatively impacting access to care and patient outcomes....

Drs. Elyse McGlumphy and Soshian Sarrafpour join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to talk about the range of and reasons for intraocular pressure (IOP) variance, as well as the studies debating its significance for glaucoma. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts .

Host Dr. Ben Young invites Drs. Roni Levin and Evan Silverstein to review the current state of amblyopia treatment, ranging from the mainstays of patching and atropine drops to novel advances such as dichoptic therapy. Below are some references regarding dichoptic therapy that were discussed in this episode: Xiao S, Angjeli E, Wu HC, Gaier ED, et al. Luminopia Pivotal Trial Group. Randomized contr...

Drs. John Kitchens and Andy Schimel join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss current and emerging applications for artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to both patients and physicians. The sweeping conversation covers resources for low-vision patients, as well as how large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Gemini can improve efficiency, creativity, and accuracy in a variety of clinical, prof...

Drs. Chris Conrady and Akbar Shakoor join host Dr. Ben Young to teach us about why intraocular inflammation (IOI) sometimes occurs after intravitreal injections, how to differentiate these cases from endophthalmitis, and how to manage this potentially blinding condition. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Advocacy and policy leaders Dr. Michael Repka and Rebecca Hyder join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to share their experiences and perspectives about the Academy's work engaging with policy stakeholders. The conversation reviews recent government healthcare funding debates that may affect Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episod...

In today's episode, host Dr. Amanda Redfern invites Dr. Nancy Newman to share updates in the treatment of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), covering several clinical trials underway that involve idebenone and gene therapy.  For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

In today's episode, host Dr. Jay Sridhar is joined by Dr. Bobeck Modjtahedi to discuss the American Academy of Ophthalmology's new guidelines on autoimmune retinopathy (AIR), recently published in Ophthalmology Retina . A member of the Academy's task force on AIR and lead author, Dr. Modjtahedi discusses a new diagnostic framework for categorizing AIR as probable, possible, or unlikely based on sp...

Drs. Davinder Grover and Ronald Fellman join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to discuss their latest innovative surgical advancement: interventional valve-enhancing trabeculotomy (iVEnT), an angle-based minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedure. Compared with a traditional goniotomy, this alternative approach may be less invasive, sparing tissue and offering faster visual recovery for glaucoma pat...

Dr. Michael Puente joins host Dr. Ben Young to share his experience founding the first eye clinic specifically for adult and pediatric patients with intellectual developmental delay. Dr. Puente provides practical tips for all ophthalmologists to improve their care for this vulnerable population. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Louise Mawn and Jonathan Siktberg sit down with host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share their work on a groundbreaking paradigm shift in the treatment of periorbital necrotizing fasciitis with dilute hypochlorous acid. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. M. Ali Khan and Ajay Kuriyan join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss updates in the retina space, including the FDA approval of photobiomodulation for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), OCT and OCTA reimbursement changes, and surgical technology advances. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Ashkan Abbey and Ehsan Rahimy join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss recent developments in the medical retina and injectable space, including faricimab versus high-dose aflibercept, biosimilars for ranibizumab and aflibercept, off-label bevacaziumb shortages, dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapies, private equity acquisitions, and the new drug pipeline. For all episodes or to cla...

Pediatric ophthalmologists Drs. Michelle Cabrera and Alejandra de Alba join host Dr. Ben Young to discuss the pros and cons of using botulinum toxin (Botox) for treating patients with strabismus, and whether every pediatric ophthalmologist—or even general ophthalmologist—should have this technique in their toolbox. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/p...

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans (also known as "Part C") are rapidly increasing in use, and beneficiaries' co-pay and claims denials are becoming more frequent. In today's episode, host Dr. Andrew Pouw talks with Academy billing and advocacy experts Joy Woodke and Brandy Keys to learn more about MA plans and their impact on patients and how ophthalmologists deliver care. To review the requirements p...

Host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes oculoplastic surgeons Drs. Davin Ashraf and Natalie Hoesly to discuss their approaches to postoperative pain management, with the help of a pain and addiction medicine specialist, Dr. Pat Liu. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Leading glaucoma experts Drs. Jamie Brandt and Pradeep Ramulu join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to talk about the burden of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of mild glaucoma, and mitigation strategies both in the clinic and at the policy desk. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes Dr. Sravanthi Vegunta, a pediatric and neuro-ophthalmologist, to explain how to select the right radiologic imaging when you suspect a neuro-ophthalmic disorder. Dr. Vegunta breaks down idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), papilledema, optic neuritis, optic atrophy, third and fourth cranial nerve palsies, Horner syndrome, and nystagmus.  For all episodes or...

Drs. Himani Goyal and Rahul Tonk sit down with host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss various diets (e.g., plant-based and Mediterranean) and nutritional supplements in the context of corneal and retinal disease, focusing on how to advise patients given what we know and what's supported by evidence and other medical specialties. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aa...

Dr. Thomas Johnson sits down with host Dr. Andrew Pouw to share exciting developments in regenerative stem cell research that may one day cure glaucoma. Learn more about Dr. Johnson's work in a recent presentation he delivered on behalf of the Glaucoma Foundation, and through the Retinal Ganglion Cell Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration ( RReSTORe ) Consortium.  F...

Drs. Jason Comander and Rachel Huckfeldt join host Dr. Ben Young to review management considerations for patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The discussion highlights the winding story of nutritional supplementation recommendations for vitamin A, and the importance of reanalyzing data behind established care patterns. While the latest findings confirm that vitamin E supplementation should sti...

Dr. Peter Quiros joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to discuss the recent JAMA Ophthalmology article "The Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Patients Prescribed Semaglutide," the first study to report a possible association between semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Novo Nordisk) and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Dr. Quiros provides an overview of what the...

Host Dr. Andrew Pouw welcomes Drs. Aakriti Shukla, Mahsaw Mansoor, and Alan Robin to discuss the latest sustainability initiatives in the ophthalmic OR and clinic that reduce waste, economic costs, and environmental impact. The participants gratefully acknowledge the joint support of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the inspiration...