EyePod

Eichenbaum Acorns is an editorially independent series powered by Modern Retina and hosted by David A. Eichenbaum, MD, FASRS, partner and director of research at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida. This podcast series explores the overlooked corners of the retina profession through candid conversations with thought leaders. Eichenbaum is the Yiddish translation for acorn tree, and the aim of this series is to plant acorns of insight that grow into oaks of understanding.In this special cross-brand episode with Optometry Times, Eichenbaum speaks with Jeffry D. Gerson, OD, FAAO, about career development, mentorship, and collaboration between optometry and ophthalmology in retinal care. Gerson practices in a collaborative OD-MD setting at Grin Eye Care in Olathe and Leawood, Kansas, where his work includes primary care as well as secondary care with an emphasis on retinal disease.

In this podcast, eye care expert Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, FRCS, reviews premium intraocular lens (IOL) options, including presbyopia-correcting IOLs and toric IOLs for patients with astigmatism.

In this podcast, Philadelphia cornea and glaucoma surgeon Brian Shafer, MD, discusses the procedures and processes involved in interventional glaucoma, which offers earlier options such as laser, drug-releasing implants, MIGS, and MIBS, with less reliance on topical medications in appropriate patients.

In this latest episode of the Ophthalmology Times® “Beyond The Walls” podcast, host Deborah Ristvedt, DO, of Vance Thompson Vision, sits down with William B. Trattler, MD, to explore the experiences, influences, and philosophies that have shaped his career in ophthalmology. The discussion covers early inspirations, approaches to teaching, mentorship initiatives, clinical collaboration, and the evolving role of technology in patient care.Trattler traces his introduction to medicine to his father, an ophthalmologist, whom he describes as “just such an incredible role model.” During medical school, Trattler coauthored Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple, motivated by a desire to simplify complex material. “We should just make it ridiculously simple,” he explains, highlighting his use of visual aids and associations to enhance learning. This philosophy carries into his clinical practice, where he emphasizes simplifying the interpretation of diagnostic tools by distinguishing “what’s normal, versus abnormal,” while recognizing the variability in findings and the importance of repetition and experience.Mentorship is a central theme, reflected in Trattler’s development of the Rising Stars in Ophthalmology program. The conversation also includes reflections on balancing professional and personal life, ongoing practice growth, generational transitions, and the future of ophthalmology.

IOLs: What Every Surgeon Needs to Know is an editorially independent video and podcast series from Ophthalmology Times, hosted by Douglas D. Koch, MD, Professor and Allen, Mosbacher, and Law Chair in Ophthalmology at the Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. In each episode, Koch will be joined by different expert guests to discuss cutting-edge advancements in intraocular lens (IOL) technology and cataract surgery. In this inaugural episode, Koch is joined by Liliana Werner, MD, PhD, Benning Presidential Endowed Chair and co-director of the Intermountain Ocular Research Center at the Moran A. Eye Center at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, to explore IOL biomaterials.🎧 Listen as Douglas D. Koch, MD, and Liliana Werner, MD, PhD, discuss IOL biomaterials and emerging lens technologies.

In this podcast, experts Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, FASRS; Jed H. Assam, MD, MS; Diana V. Do, MD; and Dante Pieramici, MD, FASRS; discuss the diagnosis, clinical features, and evolving management strategies for patients diagnosed with macular telangiectasia (MacTel) type 2.

Eichenbaum Acorns is an editorially independent series powered by Modern Retina and hosted by David A. Eichenbaum, MD, FASRS, partner and director of research at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida. This Q&A-style article and podcast series explores the overlooked corners of the retina specialist profession through candid conversations with thought leaders. Eichenbaum is the German translation for acorn tree, and the aim of this series is to plant acorns of insight that grow into oaks of understanding.In this installment, Eichenbaum talks with Jayanth Sridhar, MD, who saw an opportunity to bring retina education into the daily commute of ophthalmologists. What started as a simple idea during a long drive grew into Sridhar’s Straight From the Cutter’s Mouth: A Retina Podcast. Sridhar explains how the podcast began, the early challenges he faced, and what he learned along the way.Sridhar is associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in Miami, Florida, and serves as chief of ophthalmology for the Olive View Medical Center, part of Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, in Los Angeles, California.

In this podcast, expert Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO, discusses the burden, diagnosis, and management of Demodex blepharitis, highlighting a recently approved targeted treatment option.

Joel Schuman, MD, of Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, sits down with Sheryl Stevenson, executive editor of the Eye Care Network, for a discussion about emerging technologies that may influence glaucoma care as clinicians look toward 2026.Schuman highlights artificial intelligence for imaging and risk prediction, noting that “the performance really rivals expert readers and the regulatory pathways are clear.” He also reviews remote monitoring, sustained-release drug delivery, and procedural innovations such as direct selective laser trabeculoplasty. Addressing adoption challenges, Schuman outlines evidence, workflow, economics, and interoperability as key factors, noting that “The winners don’t have to be the flashiest tools in 2026. They’ll be the ones that make a busy clinic run better.”

Eichenbaum Acorns is an editorially independent series powered by Modern Retina® and hosted by David A. Eichenbaum, MD, FASRS, partner and director of research at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida in Tampa. This Q&A-style article and podcast series explore the overlooked corners of the retina specialist profession through candid conversations with thought leaders. Eichenbaum is the German translation for oak tree, and the aim of this series is to plant acorns of insight that grow into oaks of understanding.In this installment, Eichenbaum chats with Jordan M. Graff, MD, FACS, of Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss the realities of early adoption in retina care. Graff’s experience with the port delivery system (PDS) (Susvimo; Genentech), first as an investigator and later as one of the most active commercial utilizers in the US, provides insight into the opportunities and challenges of early adoption. He has navigated both the initial excitement of innovation and the realities of setbacks, including Genentech’s October 2022 voluntary recall following septum dislodgement issues. With the July 2024 reintroduction of a revised product, Graff offers a perspective on resuming adoption post-recall.

My Eyes, an Australian film created by actor, writer, and producer—and practicing optometrist—Tsu Shan Chambers, highlights the real-world challenges faced by families managing inherited eye disease and vision impairment. The Eye Care Network sat down with Chambers to discuss the film’s development and its role in raising awareness of eye health, particularly in relation to genetic conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa. Note: The film initially premiered in markets including Australia and New Zealand and is now widely available on Amazon Prime Video. Updates on future screenings can be found by following FanForce.

In this inaugural episode of the Ophthalmology Times® “Beyond The Walls” podcast, host Deborah Ristvedt, DO, of Vance Thompson Vision, welcomes Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, FACS, a trailblazer in refractive surgery, dry eye research, and ophthalmic leadership. The conversation traces McDonald’s journey from childhood experiences with severe myopia to her pioneering role in laser vision correction, as well as ongoing research and advice for the next generation of eye care professionals. McDonald is clinical professor of ophthalmology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York and Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, and in practice at OCLI Vision in Oceanside, NY.

Welcome to “Eichenbaum Acorns,” an editorially independent series powered by Modern Retina® and hosted by David A. Eichenbaum, MD, FASRS, partner and director of research at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida in Tampa Bay. This series explores the overlooked corners of the retina specialist profession through candid conversations with thought leaders. Eichenbaum is the German translation for oak tree, and the aim of this series is to plant acorns of insight that grow into oaks of understanding.In this inaugural installment, Eichenbaum sits down with Rishi P. Singh, MD, FASRS, to unpack the art and strategy behind building enduring continuing medical education (CME) programs.

In this podcast, experts John D. Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA; and John Hovanesian, MD, FACS; discuss the importance of comprehensive strategies when performing corneal sensitivity testing in patients suspected of having neurotrophic keratitis (NK).

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and affects approximately 80 million people globally, with projections to exceed .111 million by 2040. We know that the elevated intraocular pressure is the key modifiable risk factor which is why reducing intraocular pressure is central to treatment strategies. In this podcast, expert faculty from the featured symposium at the 2025 EnVision Summit share insights about interventional glaucoma co-management. Those faculty include ophthalmologists Rachel Simpson from Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City, UT; James Murphy from Connecticut Eye Physicians in New Haven, CT; Mary Qiu from the Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute in Cleveland, Ohio; and optometrist Jessica Steen from the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Thyroid eye disease (TED), a rare autoimmune condition, can be sight-threatening, debilitating, and disfiguring, severely impacting patients’ quality of life and daily functioning. Traditional management approaches for TED have centered on immunomodulatory therapy and surgical interventions. In January 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved teprotumumab, the first therapy specifically indicated for TED. As treatment options evolve, there is an increasing need for a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach, which is essential to address individual patient needs throughout the disease course. This PER On Air Ophthalmology Times podcast provides an in-depth review of some of the key highlights from a satellite symposium that took place at the Envision Summit 2025 meeting in February 2025. This unique and engaging activity focuses on the practical aspects of managing patients with thyroid eye disease, putting recent clinical trial data into clinical context. The program is designed for those who did not attend the live meeting and to help reinforce learnings for those who did.

Recently approved anti-VEGF agents that target additional pathways and offer innovative delivery methods with longer-lasting effects may provide advantages over older anti-VEGF agents in managing patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). In this podcast, expert faculty discuss the roles of ophthalmologists and optometrists in managing nAMD and DME in an evolving treatment landscape, from screening and diagnosis to referral and ongoing patient care.