The MOD Pod

Join Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, on this month's episode of The MOD Pod as she learns about how imaging and biomarkers can be used to diagnose, manage, and treat ocular and systemic conditions (aka oculomics) from Modern Optometry contributor Shane Kannarr, OD. Dr. Koetting's second guest is Nabila Gomez, OD, FAAO, who explains how intense-pulsed light therapy can be an excellent treatme...

Walt Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO, joins Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, to discuss patient communication strategies. The two share techniques for how to educate patients about their conditions, treatment options, and management by being direct and relatable. They also stress the value of making it a team effort with the patient when it comes to improving their condition. 

Staying ahead in patient care and business growth requires the right knowledge and tools. In the first installment of the EMPOWER: Business + Optometric Specialty Care series, Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO; Diana Chu, OD; and Ashley Tucker, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Dipl ABO, explore the critical role of corneal health and how specialty lenses can transform patient outcomes.

This month on The MOD Pod, host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, welcomes guests Josh Davidson, OD, FAAO, FSLS, and Marlon Monelyon-Demeritt, OD, MBA, FAAO. Dr. Koetting and Dr. Davidson discuss the relationship between sleep and risk level of dry eye disease, with Dr. Davidson citing studies that support this connection. Dr. Monelyon-Demeritt shares simple and effective ways to keep staff en...

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DipABO, and Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, convened to discuss the current state of ocular surface disease, including the progressive nature, patient communication and symptoms, new and upcoming therapies, and more. 

Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, invites John Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAO, FCLSA, to review risk factors and red flags that all optometrists should know for detecting the early signs of keratoconus. Dr. Gelles shares insights from a study on pediatric keratoconus and highlights the importance of screening and treating patients before the disease progresses. 

This month on The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, invites Kriti Bhagat, OD, FAAO, to talk about key signs of keratoconus and the importance of screening family members. Dr. Bhagat also explains her strategy for encouraging patients to try specialty contact lenses. Continuing the keratoconus conversation, Dr. Koetting has Mitch Ibach, OD, FAAO, and Samantha Rivet, OD, join her to discuss the e...

In part two of this podcast, Darryl Glover Jr., OD, invites Britt E. Gustafson, OD, and Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, to share considerations when presenting contact lens options to patients—focusing on chair time, comfort, and cost. They explain how Alcon WaterInnovations™ technology allows them to address patient needs and focus on comfort in contact lens wear.

Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, invites Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, to discuss the role of optometrists in diagnosing and referring patients with geographic atrophy, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions. They will also discuss the integration of artificial intelligence and at-home monitoring technology to help manage these patients.

On this month's episode of The MOD Pod, hear Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO, talk to host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, about treatment compliance and ocular surface disease in patients with glaucoma. Also in this episode, Dr. Koetting invites Nora Lee Cothran, OD, FAAO, to discuss the different relationships involved in the comanagement of patients undergoing MIGS procedures. 

Darryl Glover Jr., OD; Britt E. Gustafson, OD; and Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, discuss contact lenses as an integral pillar of their practice success. They review how technology, such as Alcon’s WaterInnovationsTM portfolio, helps them differentiate their practice from competitors by customizing fit and comfort to each patient. They also explain how to present this new technology and educate patien...

Collaborative Corner has changed formats in 2025 and continues to offer expert insights and guests in optometry. Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, kicks off the first episode of this new podcast with guest Casey Krug, OD. The two discuss the recent devastation from Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, where she practices. Dr. Krug describes the storm's aftermath, how the community came togeth...

In The MOD Pod's first episode of 2025 Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, chats with her former resident Brooke Hyde, OD, FAAO, about what it's like dealing with ocular emergencies. Dr. Hyde explains how treating these cases can be a practice-builder and shares helpful tips to keep in mind when dealing with an ocular injury. Dr. Koetting also speaks with Thomas Chwe, OD, to get key takeaways fr...

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, closes out The MOD Pod's last episode of 2025 with a discussion on aberrations in refractive cataract surgery with Nick Bruns, OD, FAAO. With modern technology, Dr. Bruns emphasizes that understanding the effect of higher-order aberrations helps optometrists better achieve optimal outcomes. Listen to the episode now.

Check out the latest episode of The MOD Pod to hear host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, talk about the use of retinal imaging in hematologic disorders and the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric uveitis with guests Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO, FNAP, and Carlo J. Pelino, OD, FAAO, respectively.

Which technologies are essential to conducting a thorough examination for new glaucoma patients? And which modalities and softwares are most useful for long-term care? Danica Marrelli, OD, and Anu Laul, OD, compare their approaches to initial encounters with glaucoma patients, swap notes on their preferred methodologies for tracking long-term treatment, and identify areas where primary eye care pr...

In this special episode of The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, interviews a diverse group of attendees from MOD Live 2024. She speaks with program chairs, faculty, newcomers, and returning attendees, capturing a wide range of perspectives from the event.

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, invites guest Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS, to the episode to talk about nutrition's role in the medical field and how it affects patients' ocular and systemic health. Dr. Koetting also speaks with Thomas Kislan, OD, on the topic of inflammatory dry eye. They cover diagnosis tactics, management options, and more.

On The MOD Pod this month, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, hosts Erich A. Hinel, OD, MS, FAAO, and Luke B. Lindsell, OD, MD, to talk about their upcoming article in Modern Optometry on considerations for patients with cataracts and retinal disease. Specifically, the two give tips on what to keep top of mind when comanaging these patients. Dr. Koetting wraps up the episode with Hardeep Katari...

This month on the The MOD Pod, host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, connects with Kaeleen Franson, OD, about the prevalence of myopia and some of the top takeaways from Dr. Franson's article on managing the condition, which appears in the July/August issue of Modern Optometry. Dr. Koetting then speaks with Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, who explains that when you manage glaucoma, you also have...

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, is joined by guest Steven Sorkin, OD, FSLS, on this episode of The MOD Pod, where they talk about the article on topical and systemic drugs that can affect the cornea that Dr. Sorkin recently wrote for Modern Optometry with his co-author, Nicolle Wah, OD. In the second half of the episode, Dr. Koetting gets into conversation with Jen Wademan, OD, about some of...

Check out the latest episode of The MOD Pod, where Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, has an engaging conversation with Jason E. Compton, OD, FAAO, and Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, about their article on eyelash enhancements, which appears in the May/June issue Modern Optometry. In the second half of the episode, Dr. Koetting has a candid chat with Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO, on the do's and...

Performing surgery for symptomatic vitreous opacities (SVO) was once verboten in retina medicine, but the field has seen a sea-change in mindset over the past decade. In this podcast, optometric thought leader Alison Bozung, OD, is joined by an esteemed panel of retina surgeons to discuss why more retina surgeons are willing to perform vitrectomy for SVO, what it means for their patients, and how...

This month on The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, invites Damaris Raymondi, OD, FAAO, and Jason Besecker, OD, MS, to discuss their recent articles in Modern Optometry. Have a listen as Dr. Raymondi shares extra details about the patient experience that opened her eyes to the transformative effect that offering at-home visits can have on a patient's life. Dr. Besecker then explains w...

Check out this month's episode of The MOD Pod, where host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, chats with Bryce St. Clair, OD, about the importance of providing empathetic, patient-centered care across diverse communities. The two discuss how to learn about patient culture or religion without seeming insensitive and more. Dr. Koetting also speaks with Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO, FNAP, about a con...