Straight From The Cutter's Mouth: A Retina Podcast

Drs. Kat Talcott and Akshay Thomas join for a journal club podcast discussion:‍‍ Mark Cuban Cost Plus Ophthalmology Medications ( https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(26)00378-7/fulltext) Resident Continuity Clinics ( https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/article-abstract/2848897) PDR Long-Term Outcomes ( https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article/S2468-6530(26)00218-6/abstr...

Drs. Safa Rahmani and Kat Talcott join to preview the July 2026 of Retinal Physician found online at http://www.retinalphysician.com . Topics covered include intraocular tamponades and elevation impact on surgical decision making.

Dr. Patrick Staropoli joins the program to discuss his NASCAR career, how he has balanced it with a career in surgical retina, and his decision to take a year from retina to compete full-time on the circuit.

Drs. Jeffrey Heier and Peter Kaiser of Ocular Therapeutix join to discuss the SOL-1 trial results investigating a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor for wet age-related macular degeneration. Conflicts of Interest: Dr. Sridhar has consulted on an advisory board in the past 24 months for Ocular Therapeutix. Dr. Heier and Dr. Kaiser are employed by Ocular Therapeutix.

Drs. Jordan Deaner and Avni Finn join to recap the 2026 Vit-Buckle Society Annual Meeting.

Dr. Kristen Nwanyanwu joins the program to discuss her research into diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment disparities in the United States and other research related topics.

Drs. Mohsin Ali and Akshay Thomas join to preview the May 2026 edition of Retinal Physician found online at http://www.retinalphysician.com . Discussion includes managemen t options for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, artificial intelligence screening for diabetic retinopathy, and the PRIMA subretinal implant. 

Nearly 10 years ago, Dr. Sridhar wrote down the blueprints on an airplane napkin for what would become one of the most influential ophthalmology podcasts of the modern era (according to ChatGPT). Today, Drs. Louie Cai and Justin Ma, host The Host, Dr. Jay Sridhar, in celebrating this milestone of 500 episodes, featuring questions from you, the listeners. From all of us here at Straight From The Cu...

Dr. Mitul Mehta joins to share career perspectives in retina and wearable technology for retinal disease, including his company Eyedaptic. Dr. Mehta does have a financial disclosure for Eyedaptic.

Dr. Adrian Fung joins the program to discuss retina careers in Australia and other parts of the world and is in interest in advancements in digital retina education. 

Drs. Akshay Thomas and Sarwar Zahid join for a journal club episode. Anti-VEGF and Vitreous Hemorrhage Surgery ( https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article/S2468-6530(26)00024-2/fulltext ) ILM Flaps Long-Term Outcomes ( https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article/S2468-6530(26)00048-5/abstract ) Protocol AC Post-Hoc Analysis ( https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article/S2468-6530(26)00054-0/abst...

Dr. Sunil Srivastava joins the podcast to discuss his new role as chair of the Cole Eye Institute and advice for aspiring academic leaders.  Listeners, as we approach our 500th episode, we will be having a Q&A session featuring questions and thoughts from you! It’s your chance to have your voice heard on the podcast. Please record an audio / video of your question and upload it to the lin...

Drs. Kat Talcott and Priya Vakharia join to discuss the March 2026 edition of Retinal Physician, including bicistronic gene therapy, photobiomodulation, uveitis fellowships, and polypoidal vascular choroidopathy.  Listeners, as we approach our 500th episode, we will be having a Q&A session featuring questions and thoughts from you! It’s your chance to have your voice heard on the podcast....

Drs. Zubair Ansari and Kat Talcott join to discuss the 2026 ophthalmology residency match, especially focusing on the declining match rate for first time applicants and what that means for future applicants and reapplicants.  Listeners, as we approach our 500th episode, we will be having a Q&A session featuring questions and thoughts from you! It’s your chance to have your voice heard on...

Drs. Kat Talcott and Nita Valikodath join for a journal club episode discussion of three recent publications: ‍ ‍   ‍ ‍ Hemorrhagic PVD Follow-Up ( https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(25)00791-2/fulltext ) ‍ ‍ GLP-1 Agonists and AMD ( https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article/S2468-6530(25)00597-4/abstract ) ‍ ‍ Preoperative Anti-VEGF for Diabetic Vitrectomy ( https://www.ophthalm...

Drs. Louie Cai and Ted Leng join to discuss the state of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology as of February 2026.

Drs. Kat Talcott and Nita Valikodath join for a journal club episode discussion of three recent publications: ‍ ‍   ‍ ‍ Racial/Ethnic Disparities and Diabetic Retinopathy ( https://www.ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(25)00593-8/abstract ) ‍ ‍ Physician Age and Quality Outcomes ( https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(25)00524-X/fulltext ) ‍ ‍ IRIS Registry IOFB Study ( https://www.ophthalmo...

Drs. Avni Finn and Yoshi Yonekawa join to discuss stats and their thoughts on retina fellowship supply and demand. 

Drs. Akshay Thomas and Sarwar Zahid join to discuss the January 2026 edition of Retinal Physician, including OCT angiography, wearables for retinal health, heads-up display for retinal surgery, and endogenous fungal endophthalmitis. 

‍ ‍ In this double-sided feature, first Dr. David Eichenbaum joins to discuss his thoughts on the biggest developments coming for the rest of the 2020s. Next, Katie Kormanik joins to discuss her book Adventures of a Chess Girl, available December 2025:  https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Chess-Girl-Depths-World-ebook/dp/B0FSP4FJ1Q .

Drs. Ajay Kuriyan and Will Parke return for everyone's favorite niche retina podcast format: Masterpiece Retina.

Drs. Priya Vakharia and Sarwar Zahid join to discuss their favorite discussions from AAO 2025, including geographic atrophy, pipeline products, practice consolidation, and whole eye transplantation. 

‍ ‍ Drs. Akshay Thomas and Sarwar Zahid join for a journal club episode discussion of three recent publications: ‍ ‍   ‍ ‍ Fellow Eye PVD ( https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/24741264251379842 ) ‍ ‍ Syfovre versus Izervay ( https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/24741264251379842 ) ‍ ‍ Litigation Involving Intravitreal Injections ( https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article...

Drs. Kat Talcott and Sarwar Zahid join to discuss the December 2025 edition of Retinal Physician, including an overview of TKIs for retinal disease, the fluorinated gas and sustainability question, best practices for research clinical trial sites, and fellowship selection advice.