Experts InSight

Drs. Maura Di Nicola and Basil Williams join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss the latest ongoing ocular oncology clinical trials for the treatment of uveal melanoma and associated complications of radiation therapy. Their review begins with the DRCR Retina Network's Protocol AL, which is studying the use of anti-VEGF agents or corticosteroids to reduce the occurrence of radiation retinopathy and co...

Drs. Emmanuel Chang and Eric Nudleman join host Dr. Ben Young to review Stickler syndrome, when to suspect, and how to diagnose this condition that can lead to significant systemic manifestations and severe vision loss. The panel also discusses the role and evidence for prophylactic treatments to reduce the rate of retinal detachment, which can occur in up to 65% of affected patients. For all epis...

Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Dr. Gareth Lema to discuss his group's recent study published in  Ophthalmology  that quantified the amount of eye drop waste in ophthalmic clinics and the implications for practice. When handled appropriately, argues Dr. Lema, eye drops can be used until the FDA-regulated expiration date, and thus help reduce both their carbon footprint and costs while still providin...

Dr. Tamara Fountain joins host Dr. Ben Young to discuss strategies to avoid medical mistakes, how to recognize cognitive biases that can lead to diagnostic error, and what we can learn from the airline industry to improve patient safety. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the new G2211 add-on code to address the resource cost and effort to build patient relationships with those impacted by chronic and complex conditions. Use of this new add-on code is dependent on ophthalmologists building strong long-term relationships with patients to benefit their longitudinal care. Drs. Lee Alward and Young Kwon join...

Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) is a constellation of findings that often present in astronauts who have undergone long-duration space flight in microgravity environments. Astronauts with SANS may have disc edema, choroidal folds, cotton wool spots, nerve fiber layer thickening on OCT, globe flattening, and hyperopic shift. In today's episode, neuro-ophthalmologist and NASA con...

Episode Description Drs. Avni Finn and Yoshi Yonekawa join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss the current state of retinal reimbursements and the impact that the cost of certain diagnostic and surgical procedures is having on the delivery of patient care. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

With increasing awareness that a retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a type of stroke, ophthalmologists must be able to plan the next steps of care when an RAO is identified on exam. Drs. Amanda Henderson and Michael Carper join host Dr. Amanda Redfern to guide us through their recommendations and various tricky scenarios, notably whether or not to advise use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). F...

How do ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) work, and how might ophthalmologists harness their power for use in clinical practice? Drs. Peter Campbell and Travis Redd join host Dr. Amanda Redfern to discuss the advent of generative AI and its current and future implications for the practice of ophthalmology.  For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.o...

Dr. Chris Leffler, pediatric ophthalmologist and medical historian, joins host Dr. Andrew Pouw to discuss his study of the history of ophthalmology, ranging from the origin and use of the term "glaucoma," to the evolution of cataract surgery from antiquity to the modern era. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Annie Wishna and Royce Chen join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss their experiences teaching trainees with surgical anxiety. Throughout the episode, our guests share their personal anecdotes, measures to overcome surgical anxiety, and how to foster a culture that supports psychological improvement. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Rupa Wong and Dagny Zhu join host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share their experience and expertise using social media to successfully promote their ophthalmic practices and enhance their professional careers. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Meghan Berkenstock, Stella Kim, and Lauren Dalvin join the show again to teach us about immune checkpoint inhibitors: game changers in oncology, but with a host of ocular side effects. All eye providers will be seeing more patients on this class of medication, and our panel teaches us what to look for and how to manage it. Additional resources: the National Comprehensive Cancer Network offers...

Drs. Fasika Woreta and Ekjyot Gill join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss the literature and their experiences surrounding socioeconomic determinants of corneal pathology, and how social risk factors impact access to necessary corneal treatment and surgery. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Dr. David Huang joins the show to share his story of developing optical coherence tomography (OCT), for which he, Dr. James Fujimoto, and Eric Swanson won the National Medal of Technology, the highest award for innovators in the United States, as well as the 2023 Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award , often called "America's Nobel Prize." For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selec...

Host Dr. Jay Sridhar invites Drs. Sneha Kannan and Zirui Song to discuss their research group's recent publication in  JAMA analyzing the association between private equity ownership and the rate of hospital adverse events, and what the results could indicate for ophthalmologists and other physicians. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

 Host Dr. Andrew Pouw and Dr. Chris Johnson, a leading authority on visual field research, discuss the advent of virtual reality (VR) visual field perimetry, its advantages over conventional bowl perimetry, and how this new diagnostic technology will impact the care for patients with glaucoma. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .

Drs. Natalie Homer and Andrea Tooley share some major can't-miss diagnoses in the lids and orbit that carry significant morbidity and mortality, including sebaceous cell carcinoma, orbital tumors, and infectious processes such as mucormycosis and necrotizing fasciitis. Strategies for imaging, histopathology, and management are also discussed. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected ep...

A surgical team from NYU Langone Health recently made history when it performed the world's first whole-eye and partial-face transplant in a patient who survived a high-voltage electrical accident. In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young welcomes Dr. Vaidehi Dedania, a retina specialist and the primary ophthalmologist involved in the case, to discuss the surgery, the patient's progress, and the pot...

Adhering to an eye drop regimen can be difficult—especially for elderly patients with glaucoma. Those same patients often face an unexpected additional barrier to care when they run out of their medication and are denied early refills by a pharmacy or coverage by their insurance carrier. In today's episode, Dr. Kevin McKinney talks about how his own advocacy efforts at the state level helped prote...

How do you advise patients who need an intraocular tamponade but also plan to travel into areas of high altitude or by air? When should the surgeon opt for silicone oil instead of gas or air? Drs. Sarah Read and Jack Stringham share their experiences and pearls for managing retinal surgery in these challenging cases. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org...

Where do guide dogs come from? How are they trained, and how do they functionally support patients with visual impairment or blindness? What steps should you follow to "prescribe" a guide dog? Which patients qualify, and how much does it cost? In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young invites Jake Koch and his dog Forli from Guide Dogs for the Blind to share everything the ophthalmologist needs to kn...

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are new chemotherapeutic agents that can cause significant ocular side effects. Drs. Meghan Berkenstock, Lauren Dalvin, and Stella Kim review this new class of drugs and how they can affect the eye, providing essential tips for what to look for, when to screen, and how to treat the side effects.  Prescribing information mentioned in this episode: Elahere (mirvetuxim...

Drs. Maura Di Nicola and Basil Williams sit down with host Dr. Jay Sridhar to review how retinoblastoma treatments have evolved, including discussion of intra-arterial and intravitreal chemotherapy and liquid biopsy using aqueous humor samples. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit  www.aao.org/podcasts .