In Focus

In this episode of In Focus, host and board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Rupa Wong dives into a highly misunderstood aspect of women's health after being contacted by a writer for Real Simple magazine. Sharing her personal shift into her 50s and her own sudden intolerance to daily contact lenses, Dr. Wong uncovers the hidden link between chronic midlife eye discomfort and the hormonal shifts of p...

In this episode of In Focus, host Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with child psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Wakefield to unpack the quiet anxiety modern parents face while trying to keep their kids mentally well. Instead of leaning on clinical jargon, Dr. Wakefield explores the intense pressure of raising children in a hyper-connected world where every mistake can feel permanently recorded and magnified. The conv...

On this episode of InFocus, host Dr. Rupa Wong, a board-certified pediatric ophthalmologist and mom of three, pulls back the curtain on a struggle every high achiever knows all too well: the inability to actually unplug. Sharing her own relatable slip-ups, from running payroll while staring at an iPhone in Rome to the accidental blessing of completely forgetting her phone on a family trip, Dr. Won...

Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with fellow surgeon, mom, and neurosurgeon Dr. Rupa Juthani for a conversation that cuts through the noise surrounding modern parenting, technology, and health fears. What starts with a viral debate about Bluetooth headphones and brain cancer quickly expands into a bigger discussion about how we evaluate risk, navigate misinformation, and make practical decisions for oursel...

In this episode of In Focus, host Dr. Rupa Wong, a board-certified ophthalmologist and mother of three, pulls back the curtain on the multi-million dollar beauty industry to reveal how everyday luxury eye products are quietly sabotaging our health. Turning 50 sparked a personal realization for Dr. Wong about how aggressively modern women are targeted with "miracle" creams and serums designed to er...

We all live in a ubiquitous digital world, and while we can't change that reality, we can change how we navigate it with our kids. In this episode of In Focus, host Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with double board-certified pediatrics and preventative medicine specialist Dr. Stephanie Lee to look far beyond simple eye fatigue and vision strain. Together, they explore the profound, daily impact that digit...

When a midday email from her son’s kindergarten teacher revealed he had broken down in inconsolable tears over an art project, Dr. Rupa Wong faced a stark realization. She and her husband, both high-achieving ophthalmologists, had fallen into the modern trap of over-scheduling, mistakenly believing that constant opportunity equated to optimization. On this episode of InFocus, Dr. Wong shares how t...

Two board-certified pediatric ophthalmologists, Dr. Rupa Wong and Dr. Robert Clark, sit down to unpack the startling truth behind the modern explosion of nearsightedness in children. Moving past the outdated notion that blurry vision is just a minor inconvenience solved by a simple pair of glasses, they dive into the structural reality of why early intervention is a lifelong health priority. This...

Dr. Rupa Wong, a pediatric ophthalmologist and mother of three, opens up about the raw and often exhausting reality of medical compliance in the home. This episode dives into the "battle of wills" parents face when delivering essential treatments like eye drops or patches, acknowledging the guilt and trauma we feel when we have to restrain our own children. Dr. Wong bridges the gap between clinica...

Dr. Jennifer King—a board-certified sports medicine physician, former NFL cheerleader, and lead author of the AAP policy statement on cheerleading injuries—joins host Dr. Rupa Wong to dive into the invisible world of head injuries. This episode explores the human side of sports medicine, shifting the focus from rigid protocols to the nuanced reality of how a young athlete's brain actually heals. I...

In this episode of In Focus, Dr. Rupa Wong, a pediatric ophthalmologist and mother of three, pulls back the curtain on the "logistical disaster" of trying to do it all. She shares a raw look at a moment she found herself hiding in a car to maintain a professional facade while her family life swirled in chaos just outside the window. This conversation is for every parent who has ever felt the physi...

The eye is often the first place an autoimmune story begins, yet many people spend years dismissed by the medical system before getting an answer. In this episode, host Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with board-certified rheumatologist Dr. Hillary Norton to bridge the gap between vision health and systemic disease. Dr. Norton shares her unique perspective as both a specialist and a patient living with an...

Dr. Rupa Wong is standing at a major crossroads—her 50th birthday—and she’s marking the milestone by stripping away the fluff and getting honest about what actually works. After five years of hosting In Focus and decades spent as a pediatric ophthalmologist and mother of three, she’s synthesized her most downloaded advice into ten non-negotiable systems for modern life. This episode is a mastercla...

Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with cataract and glaucoma specialist Dr. Michael Chua to pull back the curtain on why viral eye myths are currently outperforming medical advice in our social media feeds. This conversation digs into the real-world friction between "Dr. Google" and the exam room, exploring how curiosity-driven care can bridge the gap between patients and providers. Whether it’s navigating...

Dr. Rupa Wong invites you into her kitchen—the real one, cluttered with size 12 Crocs and lingering mail—to dismantle the "never enough" trap that plagues high-achieving parents. After a sudden encounter with a neighbor’s pristine, magazine-ready home sparked a wave of inadequacy, Rupa realized how easily we weaponize someone else’s highlight reel against our own behind-the-scenes reality. This ep...

In this episode of In Focus, Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with Paige Brattin, a mother who turned a challenging medical diagnosis into a mission to help families everywhere. After her daughter was diagnosed with severe vision issues at age five, Paige navigated the grueling reality of long-term patching and the emotional toll it takes on a household. Their conversation dives into the "why" behind the s...

Dr. Rupa Wong sits down to unpack why our modern habit of continuous partial attention is wearing us out and tricking us into feeling productive when we are actually just busy. She looks at the friction between wanting our kids to focus on their homework while we simultaneously model a life of digital distraction at the kitchen island. By digging into the core principles of deep work, this episode...

Do you know the hidden emotional and physical toll of a wandering eye? Whether you are an adult managing it yourself or a parent terrified of putting your child through surgery, the physical misalignment is only half the story. In this episode of In Focus, board-certified ophthalmologist and strabismus surgeon Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with her former patient, Emma, who underwent eye surgery at exac...

Dr. Rupa Wong invites you into a "no-shame zone" to discuss a silent struggle every modern parent faces: the magnetic pull of the smartphone during floor time. Drawing from a massive 2025 JAMA Pediatrics study involving 15,000 children, this episode explores why those "quick glances" at a notification are reshaping child development more than we realized. Dr. Wong shares her own vulnerable history...

How much is all that scrolling actually messing with our kids' heads? In this episode of In Focus, Dr. Rupa Wong has an honest conversation with 16-year-old high school junior Ashlyn Hirota. Ashlyn shares the results of her "Quest Project" - a deep dive into how social media is impacting her peers' self-esteem. From running her own school surveys to making art out of actual makeup, Ashlyn gives us...

Ever feel like you’re running in low power mode all day? In this episode of In Focus, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Rupa Wong reveals why your eyes are the ultimate control center for your energy. Moving beyond "aesthetic" morning routines, Dr. Wong explains how to leverage your biology to stop the 2 p.m. crash and fix the "tired and wired" cycle. Learn how to use your eyes as a gateway to b...

Perfect for proactive parents and health-conscious professionals, this episode provides a simple guide to catching the "silent thief of sight" before vision loss occurs.  Dr. Rupa Wong, pediatric ophthalmologist and mom of three, sits down with glaucoma specialist Dr. Vicki Chan to explain the "flow in, flow out" mechanics of eye pressure. Learn how to move from reactive worry to intentional preve...

Perfect for busy parents and professionals, this episode provides a step-by-step Sunday system to eliminate the "Sunday Scaries" and reduce decision fatigue.  Dr. Rupa Wong, pediatric ophthalmologist and mom of three, breaks down the practical routines her family uses to move from reactive chaos to intentional alignment. Learn how to protect your mental bandwidth and transform your household into...

Dr. Rupa Wong sits down with coach and speaker Erin Treloar to talk about raising kids in a filtered, image‑obsessed world. They explore how social media and screens shape body image, where early warning signs can hide in plain sight, and how parents can start simple, honest conversations that protect confidence without fear or shame. Key Topics: 1. Growing Up in a World of Filters and Comparisons...

In this reassuring episode, pediatric ophthalmologist and mom of three Dr. Rupa Wong takes on a headline that has scared parents for decades: do night lights actually ruin your child’s vision? She walks through how one old study spread fear, what newer research really shows, and why a tiny glow in your child’s room is not the villain it’s been made out to be. This conversation is about calm, guilt...