The Lens Pod

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Pre-exposure prophylaxis nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors found to be associated with an increased risk of primary open angle glaucoma. New study finds additional systemic drugs that could increase patient risk of macular toxicity. Retinopathy of prematurity is found to have a...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss… Corticosteroids and DMARDs together were found to be superior to corticosteroids alone in treating non-anterior sarcoid uveitis.  Thousands of Americans have come to the ED over the past few years for pickleball-related ocular traumas, suggesting eye protection could be beneficial in this sport.  Glauc...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss… A cohort study of NASA astronauts found that those who developed spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome during one long-duration mission were highly likely to develop it again on subsequent missions. Strabismus surgery is undervalued by Medicare, as evidenced by a surgical cost analysis underscor...

In this episode, Dr. Sandra Lora Cremers joins us to explore the rising prevalence of dry eye disease and its impact on patients. We discuss how modern lifestyles and screen use are changing ocular surface health, the early warning signs not to overlook, simple and effective prevention strategies, and the innovative treatments shaping the future of dry eye care.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Cultured corneal endothelial cell transplants maintained clear corneas and vision for up to 10 years, offering a scalable alternative to donor tissue. Long-term atropine use for myopia control showed no increased risk of cataract, glaucoma, or maculopathy in a nationwide cohort. Patients with giant cel...

In this episode, Dr. David J Palmer, MD joins us as we dive into the topic of sustainability in ophthalmology. We explore three of the most environmentally pressing issues in ophthalmology today and hear about various studies, organizations, and resources that support efforts to make ophthalmology greener. 

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: The incidence of ocular surface squamous neoplasia in the US nearly tripled from 2014 to 2021. Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C fails more often in Hispanic patients. Ocular and orbital trauma in intimate partner violence identifies high-risk patients with elevated mortality, underscoring the need for e...

In this episode, Dr. Puente joins us for a conversation about disability in ophthalmology from a clinical perspective - exploring successes, identifying gaps, and sharing lessons that can help shape more accessible eye care for the future.

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode, we discuss: Asymmetric Multi-point Defocus Technique (AMDT) lenses reduced myopia progression in children compared with single-vision lenses There was no improvement in vision with the addition of corticosteroids or corneal cross-linking in the treatment of bacterial keratitis Tear cell-based assays had a greater...

Too busy to read The Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Genetic predisposition determined by polygenic risk score can predict glaucoma risk and visual field loss pattern. Patients receiving GLP-1 Receptor Agonists had a lower risk of developing uveitis. One-third of corneal perforations still required penetrating keratoplasty after glue treatment.

In This Week's Issue: A cross-sectional study looking at patients after globe removal from US service members showed higher rates of suicidal ideation, alcohol use disorder, anxiety/depression, among other behavioral health diagnoses. As compared to European populations, Hispanic populations had lower success rates and higher bleb leaks with trabeculectomy. A post hoc analysis found that younger a...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss… Ocular vascular occlusion is a rare complication of soft tissue filler injections that can cause vision loss Semaglutide may be associated with various ocular adverse effects, most notably increased risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy Glaucoma development is linked to po...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss… In patients undergoing retinal detachment repair, patients with cannabis use had significantly less proliferative vitreoretinopathy compared to patients without.  Chronic oral nitrate use may be protective against open angle glaucoma through vascular and neuroprotective mechanisms. Intravitreal injecti...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: CorNeat EverPatch shows high exposure and revision rates compared to human donor cornea grafts. Diversified segmental defocus optimization lenses show promise in preventing development of myopia in children. Screening and stroke workups in the ED for patients with central retinal artery occlusion have...

Too busy to read The Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Implantable devices such as EYEMATE-SC show promise in safely and accurately measuring intraocular pressure without the assistance of a clinician.  There is promise in using machine learning algorithms in glaucoma risk assessment as an objective tool for measuring retinal nerve fiber layer thickness fr...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week's episode we discuss... Certain systemic medications for T2DM may increase DME risk, while others are protective, suggesting medication choice impacts retinal health. Daily low-dose valacyclovir reduces herpes zoster ophthalmicus-related recurrence at 18 months, supporting utility in long-term suppression. RVO incidence ros...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss… Pathogenic mismatch repair gene variants commonly linked to Lynch syndrome were found in a subset of uveal melanoma patients. Glaucoma is linked with circadian rhythm sleep disorders and other sleep-wake disturbances. Physical activity acutely increases IOP in glaucoma patients, returning near baseline...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch (brook) membrane is associated with both age-related macular degeneration progression and higher genetic risk scores.  Early glaucoma diagnosis may increase emotional distress in patients, even without noticeable vision loss. Patients with diabetes may...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Male sex, worse high contrast visual acuity, and older age at presentation for acute optic neuritis were associated with worse visual outcomes at 6 months. Individuals with >6 months of GLP-1 agonist use had increased incidence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Female ophthalmologists...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Both high and low levels of HDL were associated with increased risk of AMD, though the mechanism for this remains unclear. A majority of ophthalmic subspecialists practice in urban areas, and this trend has increased over the last decade. Study compares 5 modern toric IOL formulas for cataract patients...

In this episode, we kick off season 5 of the Lens Pod with an educational episode about Keratoconus: a corneal ectasia! Resources for this episode include: https://eyewiki.org/Keratoconus https://www.aao.org/education/content/ophthalmology-okap-board-review American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2023). External Disease and Cornea (Section 8, Basic and Clinical Science Course). American Academy of Oph...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week’s episode we discuss: Virtual reality-based infrared pupillometry differentiates long COVID from post-COVID and controls, a promising noninvasive long COVID screening tool. Pandemic-related lifestyle changes are associated with a significant rise in the prevalence and severity of pediatric astigmatism. TriNetX study finds n...

Too busy to read The Lens? Listen to our weekly newsletter summary here! In this week's episode, we discuss: Orbital masses and red eyes are correlated with worse prognosis in retinoblastoma.  Comprehensive study suggests women in ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residencies attain lower surgical and procedural volumes than their male counterparts. Healthy lifestyle factors implicated in improve...

Too busy to read the Lens? Listen to our weekly summary here! In this week's issue we discuss: Epigenetic aging alone, as established by DNA methylation studies, correlates with faster glaucoma progression independent of IOP.  Repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy can delay myopia progression and axial elongation in children, but new research shows it can lead to ganglion cell damage and con...

In this week’s episode, our medical student host interviews Dr. JP Dunn, a uveitis specialist at Wills Eye Hospital. He teaches us about uveitis, ocular inflammation, and the delivery of multidisciplinary care within uveitis. After listening to this episode, you will have a better understanding of how to approach a patient presenting to clinic with ocular inflammation and the different conditions...