PODCAST · health
Experts InSight
by American Academy of Ophthalmology
Practical, topical conversations with experts across the spectrum of ophthalmology. Subscribe for the latest information, evidence-based practice standards, and innovations in eye care, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Episodes
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AI in the Clinic: Where We Are and Where We're Heading
Artificial intelligence is rapidly recasting how we interact with our world and our patients. In today's epside, host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes Dr. Chris Kelly, Chief Health Information Officer at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), to provide an inside look at tools available in the...
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Maternity and Ophthalmology: Practicing While Pregnant
What's a mom-to-be to do if she's also an ophthalmologist? In part 2 of this two-part series, host Dr. Ben Young invites Dr. Fei Cai, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and obstetrician, to review the essentials of pre- and postnatal care, what to be mindful of if practicing while pregnant, and...
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Maternity and Ophthalmology: The Challenge of Surgery
Can becoming a mother be compatible with being an ophthalmic surgeon? In part one of this two-part series, Host Dr. Ben Young invites Dr. Jaya Kumar to discuss the challenging fertility and maternal health outcomes for female surgeons, her tips for how she practiced while pregnant and then…
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We Know It When We See It: Defining Glaucoma
For hundreds of years, ophthalmologists have known what glaucoma is—and yet, we still can't agree on its diagnostic criteria. In today's episode, Drs. Benjamin Xu and Sophia Wang join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to talk about the latest efforts to define glaucoma and the implications for both research…
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Another Consecutive Year of Medicare Cuts
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced more concerning proposals that will affect access to care and reimbursement. Host Dr. Andrew Pouw reconvenes last year's guests from the Academy's DC office—Dr. John McAllister, Brandy Keys, and Rebecca Hyder—to unpack the…
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How the NEI Was Saved
In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young is joined by Dr. Stephen McLeod, Academy CEO, and Rebecca Hyder, Vice President of Governmental Affairs. The panel discusses why we have a National Eye Institute (NEI), how it was successfully preserved as an independent, stand-alone entity within the…
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A Paradigm Shift in the Clinical Course of TED
In today's episode, host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes Dr. Madhura Tamhankar to discuss a new study using IRIS Registry and Komodo Health claims data that upends Rundle's 1940s biphasic model of thyroid eye disease (TED). Drawing on more than 34,000 patients with 5-year median follow-up, Dr....
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The American Board of Ophthalmology: New Leadership and a Look Ahead
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Dr. Steven Gedde, the incoming CEO of the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), to discuss his outlook on medical education and the evolving board certification process. As medical knowledge now doubles approximately every 60 days, Dr. Gedde envisions the ABO…
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Examining Reapplication to the Ophthalmology Residency Match
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes ophthalmology program directors Drs. Chris Alabiad and Alice Zhang to discuss the ophthalmology residency match, the rising pool of reapplicants to the field, and how to mentor and advise students pursuing reapplication. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for...
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Central Retinal Artery Occlusions Revisited: Thoughts on TenCRAOS
Do the benefits really outweigh the risks when it comes to the use of thrombolytic drugs for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)? Drs. Amanda Henderson and Michael Carper weigh in on the recently published Tenecteplase in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Study (TenCRAOS) and how...
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Challenges in DME: the Evolution of Fluid Management
With an abundance of therapeutic options for managing diabetic macular edema (DME), what patient characteristics inform your treatment decisions? Does the number of loading doses influence long-term macular fluid outcomes? How are you managing insurance-mandated step-therapy in your patients? In...
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Of MIPS and Medicine: The Game of Cost Control and Reimbursements
Is the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) fulfilling its intended purpose, or is it just causing headaches? Dr. George Williams and Joe Reyes join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to share their expertise and experience with MIPS, including its evolution from prior medical cost control policies and...
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Improving the Scientific Peer Review Process
Drs. Durga Borkar and Katherine Talcott join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to brainstorm ideas for how to maintain and improve the current scientific peer review process in ophthalmology. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts
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Interferon Alpha for Cystoid Macular Edema
Drs. Eric Suhler and Nick Butler join host Dr. Ben Young to discuss an old treatment for cystoid macular edema (CME) that may be new to many of us: interferon alpha. They review its use, side effects, and success thus far. Relevant papers discussed in this episode: Treatment of refractory cystoid...
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Epiphora from Infancy to Adulthood
Dr. Scott Goldstein joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share his approach to managing nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in kids and his 3-step test for evaluating epiphora in adults, including how to identify complicating factors that may warrant surgical or procedural intervention. For all...
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Advocating for Advocacy
In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young welcomes 3 core members of the Academy's Advocacy team: Dr. John McAllister, Secretary for Federal Affairs; Dr. John Peters, Secretary for State Affairs; and Rebecca Hyder, Vice President of Government Affairs. The panel discusses why routine patient care…
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Nicotinamide Neuroprotection for Glaucoma
Host Dr. Andrew Pouw welcomes Drs. Gustavo De Moraes, Aakriti Shukla, and Simon John to discuss their team's work spanning the full arc of nicotinamide as a neuroprotection candidate for glaucoma, from bench to clinical trials. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit...
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The Hospital-Based Ophthalmologist and Focused Practice Designation
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Dr. Sarwar Zahid to unpack a recent American Journal of Ophthalmology perspective essay on the growing segment of hospital-employed ophthalmologists. They examine the appeal of the hospitalist model—shift-based work, reduced administrative burden, and work-life...
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Practicing Glaucoma in a Private Setting
Host Dr. Andrew Pouw welcomes glaucoma specialists Drs. Karam Alawa and Pujan Dave to discuss the sometimes bumpy transition from academia to private practice. The guests highlight clinical operations hurdles, such as navigating clunky EMR systems and prior authorizations, and managing finite…
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Pearls for Resident Cataract Staffing
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar is joined by Drs. Naomi Gutkind and Ekjyot (Joey) Gill to discuss staffing ophthalmology residents in surgical training. The early-career faculty share insights on tailoring instruction to resident skill level, delivering feedback at the right moment, and handling…
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Challenges in Managing Retinal Vein Occlusion
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Drs. Michael Ip and Sophie Bakri to discuss the challenges in caring for patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The panel reviews the current approach to treatment using anti-VEGF agents and factors that may suggest a need for more...
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How Screen Time Affects Children's Vision Health
Drs. Roni Levin and Laura Enyedi join host Dr. Ben Young to review what we know about screen time for kids and its impact on visual development and general health. Today's episode draws largely from the EyeNet article, "Screen Time and Kids' Eye Health," which appeared in the December 2025 issue....
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Good Days Chronic Disease Fund Updates
Drs. Priya Vakharia and Sarwar Zahid join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss the history, major recent changes, and future of the Good Days Chronic Disease Fund as it pertains to medical management of patients with retinal disease. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit...
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Uncovering the Patient Experience of Thyroid Eye Disease
Although severe thyroid eye disease (TED) is easily recognizable, mild TED may go undiagnosed for months if not longer. In today's episode, Dr. Vivek Patel joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share how he uncovers subtle signs and symptoms of TED that can lead to a quicker diagnosis and the…
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CMS Cuts Rock Ophthalmology: Act Now!
The unprecedented payment cuts that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) proposed over the summer were finalized on October 31. The disastrous impact on cataract surgery reimbursements alone will amount to an 11% reduction in payment. In today's emergency episode, host Dr. Andrew Pouw...
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A Roadmap to Improving Emergency Treatment of Ocular Trauma
In this call to action, Drs. Robert Mazzoli, Stuart Seiff, and Jon Perlstein share the scope of issues surrounding ophthalmic trauma care in the United States and a roadmap for improving it, including how we can translate experiences from the military into our own set of Damage Control...
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Pediatric Cataract Surgery
Drs. Michelle Cabrera and Alejandra de Alba join host Dr. Ben Young to discuss the finer points of what makes pediatric cataract surgery so challenging—because it's not "just" scaled-down adult cataract surgery. Referenced article: Management of Infantile and Childhood Retinopathies: Optimized...
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When We Err: The Ethics of and Approaches to Medical Disclosure
Dr. Thomas Gallagher joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share how to ethically and effectively disclose medical errors to patients. During the past 20 years, Dr. Gallagher's research has explored the intersection of healthcare quality, accountability, and communication. He has led a variety…
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Micropulse Laser Therapy for Glaucoma
Drs. Marc Toeteberg-Harms and Soshian Sarrafpour join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to discuss micropulse transscleral laser therapy for glaucoma, a less invasive procedure compared with traditional continuous-wave cyclophotocoagulation. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit...
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Is this GCA? What to Look for on Temporal Artery Biopsies
Host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes Dr. Claudia Prospero Ponce, a neuro-ophthalmologist and ocular pathologist, to share her unique perspective on how to diagnose giant cell arteritis (GCA) when temporal artery biopsies are not classically positive. For more information about pathological markers in...
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Impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on Physicians
Dr. Nisha Mehta, founder of Physician Side Gigs, and Dr. Jim Dahle, founder of The White Coat Investor, join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its implications for physicians and ophthalmologists in particular. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected...
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CMS Cuts Rock Ophthalmology and Medicine
In July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) proposed catastrophic changes to Medicare reimbursement systems that, if finalized, will significantly affect ophthalmology and all specialty care. The impact on cataract surgery reimbursements alone would amount to an 11% reduction in payment....
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A Journey Through Vision Loss
Drs. Prithvi Sankar and Sriram Balasubramanian discuss a personal journey through vision loss, from both the ophthalmologist and patient perspective. Host Dr. Ben Young invites these two friends to share their lessons of grief, denial, and ultimate acceptance of a difficult diagnosis—in this…
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Updates on Optic Disc Drusen
Dr. Bradley Katz joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share updates on the diagnostic imaging of optic disc drusen and current research efforts from the Optic Disc Drusen Consortium, an international alliance of researchers focused on optic nerve disorders. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for...
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Private Equity Acquisition and Access to Retinal Detachment Surgery
Drs. Durga Borkar and Yashaswini Singh join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss their recent publication regarding private equity (PE) acquisition and access to retinal detachment surgery. According to the study, physicians in PE-acquired practices decreased their number of retinal detachment repairs...
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Intraocular Pressure Variance
Drs. Elyse McGlumphy and Soshian Sarrafpour join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to talk about the range of and reasons for intraocular pressure (IOP) variance, as well as the studies debating its significance for glaucoma. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit...
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Updates in Amblyopia Treatment
Host Dr. Ben Young invites Drs. Roni Levin and Evan Silverstein to review the current state of amblyopia treatment, ranging from the mainstays of patching and atropine drops to novel advances such as dichoptic therapy. Below are some references regarding dichoptic therapy that were discussed in...
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Artificial Intelligence Applications for Patients and Physicians
Drs. John Kitchens and Andy Schimel join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss current and emerging applications for artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to both patients and physicians. The sweeping conversation covers resources for low-vision patients, as well as how large language models (LLMs)…
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Intraocular Inflammation Following Intravitreal Injections
Drs. Chris Conrady and Akbar Shakoor join host Dr. Ben Young to teach us about why intraocular inflammation (IOI) sometimes occurs after intravitreal injections, how to differentiate these cases from endophthalmitis, and how to manage this potentially blinding condition. For all episodes or to...
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Health Policy and Medicaid Funding
Advocacy and policy leaders Dr. Michael Repka and Rebecca Hyder join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to share their experiences and perspectives about the Academy's work engaging with policy stakeholders. The conversation reviews recent government healthcare funding debates that may affect Medicaid and the...
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Updates in the Treatment of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
In today's episode, host Dr. Amanda Redfern invites Dr. Nancy Newman to share updates in the treatment of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), covering several clinical trials underway that involve idebenone and gene therapy. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes…
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Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Management, and Study of Autoimmune Retinopathy
In today's episode, host Dr. Jay Sridhar is joined by Dr. Bobeck Modjtahedi to discuss the American Academy of Ophthalmology's new guidelines on autoimmune retinopathy (AIR), recently published in Ophthalmology Retina. A member of the Academy's task force on AIR and lead author, Dr. Modjtahedi...
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Interventional Valve-Enhancing Trabeculotomy (iVEnT)
Drs. Davinder Grover and Ronald Fellman join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to discuss their latest innovative surgical advancement: interventional valve-enhancing trabeculotomy (iVEnT), an angle-based minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedure. Compared with a traditional goniotomy, this...
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Eye Care for Patients With Intellectual Disability
Dr. Michael Puente joins host Dr. Ben Young to share his experience founding the first eye clinic specifically for adult and pediatric patients with intellectual developmental delay. Dr. Puente provides practical tips for all ophthalmologists to improve their care for this vulnerable population....
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Dilute Hypochlorous Acid for the Treatment of Periorbital Necrotizing Fasciitis
Drs. Louise Mawn and Jonathan Siktberg sit down with host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share their work on a groundbreaking paradigm shift in the treatment of periorbital necrotizing fasciitis with dilute hypochlorous acid. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit...
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2025 Retina Update, Part 2: Photobiomodulation, OCT and OCTA Reimbursement, and Surgical Advances
Drs. M. Ali Khan and Ajay Kuriyan join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss updates in the retina space, including the FDA approval of photobiomodulation for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), OCT and OCTA reimbursement changes, and surgical technology advances. For all episodes or to claim…
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2025 Retina Update, Part 1: Injectables in the Medical Retina Space
Drs. Ashkan Abbey and Ehsan Rahimy join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to discuss recent developments in the medical retina and injectable space, including faricimab versus high-dose aflibercept, biosimilars for ranibizumab and aflibercept, off-label bevacaziumb shortages, dry age-related macular...
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Botulinum Toxin in Strabismus
Pediatric ophthalmologists Drs. Michelle Cabrera and Alejandra de Alba join host Dr. Ben Young to discuss the pros and cons of using botulinum toxin (Botox) for treating patients with strabismus, and whether every pediatric ophthalmologist—or even general ophthalmologist—should have this…
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Making Sense of Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans (also known as "Part C") are rapidly increasing in use, and beneficiaries' co-pay and claims denials are becoming more frequent. In today's episode, host Dr. Andrew Pouw talks with Academy billing and advocacy experts Joy Woodke and Brandy Keys to learn more about MA...
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Best Practices When Prescribing Opioids for Postoperative Pain
Host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes oculoplastic surgeons Drs. Davin Ashraf and Natalie Hoesly to discuss their approaches to postoperative pain management, with the help of a pain and addiction medicine specialist, Dr. Pat Liu. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Practical, topical conversations with experts across the spectrum of ophthalmology. Subscribe for the latest information, evidence-based practice standards, and innovations in eye care, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
HOSTED BY
American Academy of Ophthalmology
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