Eye on Ocular Health features expert commentary on the management and prevention of debilitating eye problems, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, ocular traumas, and chronic dry eye. This series features commentary from renowned ophthalmologists discussing the most successful diagnostic and treatment options emerging in practice.
Reading the feed…
Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Jonathan Jonisch, MD Personalized care is playing a bigger role in geographic atrophy management, especially as emerging therapies are giving clinicians more opportunities to help slow disease progression. To choose the right approach, it’s important to consider various factors, such as lesion characteristics, treatment burden, and each patient’s individual goals and lifestyle. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share practical insights on tailoring treatment decisions and guiding patient conversations around geographic atrophy care is Dr. Jonathan Jon
Host: Alexandria May, PharmD, BCPS Guest: Hasenin Al-khersan, MD Geographic atrophy can progress silently before patients notice meaningful vision changes, making early detection critical to preserving long-term retinal health. Fortunately, advances in imaging and emerging biomarkers are helping clinicians identify higher-risk patients earlier and refine monitoring and referral decisions. Joining Dr. Alexandria May to discuss the evolving approach to geographic atrophy detection and management is Dr. Hasenin Al-khersan, a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist with Retina Consu
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Guest: Jaclyn Kovach, MD Geographic atrophy can develop long before traditional visual acuity testing reflects the true impact of disease, making early identification critical in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this discussion with Dr. Brian McDonough, Dr. Jaclyn Kovach reviews the imaging findings and biologic drivers associated with geographic atrophy progression and shares practical approaches to patient monitoring. Dr. Kovach is a Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and the Fellowship Director at the University of Miami Miller Sc
Host: Marlana Orloff, MD Guest: Gregory Daniels, MD, PhD Guest: Jesse Keller, MD Dive into what sets metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) apart from cutaneous melanoma and why that matters for clinical decision-making. Explore how HLA A*02:01 typing informs patient selection and how bispecific TCR therapy is changing the treatment landscape. Real-world cases and clinical trial data bring these concepts to life, with special attention to application in VA and academic settings. Whether you're a medical oncologist, ocular oncologist, ophthalmologist, or APP, this discussion is designed to sharpen you
Emerging evidence reveals that air pollution may be an overlooked contributor to worsening uncorrected visual acuity in children. In this AudioAbstract, Ryan Quigley explores a large machine learning–based study examining nearly 30,000 East Asian students that revealed lower levels of PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide are independently linked to better vision—especially in younger children with mild to moderate myopia.
Guest: Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD Many eye care professionals and parents still believe children must wait until their teenage years to wear contact lenses, but as Dr. Jeffrey Walline explains, modern daily disposable lenses offer improved safety, comfort, and ease of use, making them a viable option for children as young as 7 or 8. And beyond the clinical benefits of slowing myopia progression and preserving long-term eye health, contact lenses have also been shown to improve children’s self-esteem. Learn more with Dr. Walline, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at The Ohio State University Col
Guest: Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD Many parents hesitate to allow young children to wear contact lenses, fearing poor hygiene or increased risk of infection. But evidence shows that kids between the ages of 7 and 12 are not at higher risk than teens; in fact, they actually have fewer complications than college-age wearers, and long-term studies reveal no difference in eye health between those fit with contact lenses in childhood versus adolescence. Here to talk about the safety of contact lenses for myopic children is Dr. Jeffrey Walline, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at The Ohio State Unive
Guest: Ryan Quigley Myopia is more than blurred vision; it's a chronic condition requiring lifelong attention that could affect up to five billion people by 2050. In response to this growing crisis, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) has issued standard-of-care guidelines built around three pillars: Mitigation, Measurement, and Management. Tune in to learn about this evidence-based framework and how it can help you turn routine visits into proactive prevention opportunities. Reference: World Council of Optometry. The Standard of Care For Myopia Management by Optometrists. Accessed July 21, 2
Host: Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA Guest: Arghavan Almony, MD The production of biosimilar therapies is setting the stage for a shift in how we approach treating patients with wet AMD, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and other retinal diseases, but many questions remain regarding how their efficacy and safety compare to the reference products and how we can best talk to our patients about these treatment options. To help shed light on these and other FAQs, Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley speaks with Dr. Arghavan Almony, Adjunct Assistant Professor at Wallace School of Osteop
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Anne Negrin, MD Since eye issues are becoming increasingly common in patients with rheumatological conditions, it’s now more vital than ever that physicians are aware of their common symptoms. Joining Dr. Jennifer Caudle is Dr. Anne Negrin, an ophthalmologist in New York, to break down these symptoms and to focus on rheumatological concerns that ophthalmologists see in practice.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Jean Bennett, MD, PhD Guest: Albert Maguire, MD Power couple Drs. Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire discuss how their new therapy for the RPE65 gene, which causes retinal blindness, was recently approved by the FDA to become the first gene therapy treatment for a genetic disease in the United States and the first worldwide treatment for inherited blindness. Not only do they delve into the mechanics of the corrected gene injection, but they also explain what this milestone means for patient eligibility and how their marriage has played a role in the success of the
[Read the Article] Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes, resulting in up to 24,000 cases of blindness each year in the United States. Laser therapy has been the most common treatment used to help reduce severe vision loss, but the procedure has many side effects including permanent loss of peripheral vision and swelling of the retina. A group of researchers from across the US tested an alternative treatment using an injectable medication called ranibizumab, to see if it would be as effective as the laser therapy. They studied more
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Patrick Spencer, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. Their discussion centers on primary care manifestations of sickle cell retinopathy, from early to late-stage presentations and the gold standard treatment approaches along this disease course.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Dr. Brian McDonough welcomes Dr. Gail L. Torkildsen, staff ophthalmologist at Andover Eye Associates and one of the leading Dry Eye Principal Investigators in the world. Dr. Torkildsen has served as P.I. on over 20 client-sponsored Dry Eye studies since 2002. In this discussion she takes listeners on a tour of common eye problems faced in primary care, and how clinicians can better prepare themselves to address issues such as Meibobian gland disorders, blepharitis, dry eyes, and conjunctivitis with greater confidence.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP A clinical pearl in the arena of eye care is that serious eye problems tend to manifest serious symptoms and signs, which makes vision loss one of the key findings in a diagnostic workup. Yet vision testing is commonly neglected in primary care practice even when patients present with eye-related complaints. What are the most important steps a clinician can take when assessing eye problems, and where does the primary care practitioner fit into the ophthalmologic care continuum? Dr. Brian McDonough welcomes Dr. Sumitra Khandelwal, Assistant Professor of Ophth
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP On average, more than 90% of adults spend more than two hours each day using a digital device, and for 60% of the population, that daily use pattern extends beyond five hours. Regardless of the reasons why, all that time can take a toll on the eyes and lead to digital eye strain. Speaking on the health implications of digital eye strain is Dr. Dora Adamopolous, optometrist in practice in Alexandia, VA.
Guest: Stephen Orlin, MD This Excerpt from the Podium comes from Prova Education's "From Guidelines to Practice" program in New York City and features Dr. Stephen Orlin, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Orlin speaks on the various types of conjunctivitis, their common etiologies, and their respective management approaches.
Guest: Stephen Orlin, MD This Excerpt from the Podium features Dr. Stephen Orlin, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, speaking on the patient workup for red eye at Prova Education's "From Guidelines to Practice" program in New York City.
Guest: Stephen Orlin, MD The classic "red eye" presentation by your patient may be a common sighting in your clinical practice, but are you truly up to date on the various causes, treatments, and pitfalls that clinicians encounter when confronting ocular problems? Discussing this issue is Dr. Stephen Orlin, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of the Cornea Department, and Co-Director of the Refractive Surgery Service at the University of Pennsylvania.
Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: Jean Bennett, MD, PhD Host Dr. Lee Freedman and Dr. Jean Bennett, the FM Kirby Professor of Epistemology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, explore how the study of molecular genetics of inherited retinal degenerations can help develop treatments for congenital eye disorders, as well as adult-onset diseases and possibly disorders that affect the body outside the eye.
Host: Steven Edelman, MD Guest: Azza El-Remessy, PhD, RPh Retinopathy is one of the most common complications for patients living with diabetes but there are few treatment options and no early-stage interventions. How is research helping to pinpoint potential targets for early intervention and a possible oral treatment? Join host Dr. Steven Edelman and his guest, assistant professor and director of clinical and experimental therapeutics at the University of Georgia, Dr. Azza El-Remessy, as they discuss the latest research into the potential of statins to prevent diabetic-related blindness.
Host: Roy Levit, MD Guest: Alan Ruby, MD The standard treatment for proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is laser photocoagulation, but novel methods, including injectable steroids or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, are also showing promise. What tests can help opthamologists determine the area of leakage in the eye that needs treatment? How soon after surgery will patients see a change in their vision? Dr. Alan Ruby, opthamologist and clinical assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Eye Research Institute at Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, di
Host: Roy Levit, MD Guest: Alan Ruby, MD The eyes can yield clues to vascular issues elsewhere in the body. How can the two forms of diabetic retinopathy, which are non-proliferative and proliferative, affect vision, and how might retinopathy be associated with somatic effects resulting from diabetes? Dr. Alan Ruby, opthamologist and clinical assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Eye Research Institute at Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan, discusses the correlation between diabetic retinopathy and complications throughout the body. Can tight control of diabetes affect the
Host: Roy Levit, MD Guest: Saad Shaikh, MD Although floaters in one's vision are common, this symptom can be a key indicator of a retinal tear or detachment. What is the incidence of retinal detachment in the U.S., and when should a primary care physician suspect this condition? Dr. Saad Shaikh, associate professor and member of the teaching faculty at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, and assistant professor at the University of South Florida, College of Medicine and at the Florida State College of Medicine, discusses the development of retinal detachments, ris
Host: Steven Edelman, MD Guest: Paul Tornambe, MD Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. Join host Dr. Steven Edelman and his guest, ophthalmologist Dr. Paul Tornambe, an instructor in the departments of ophthalmology and family practice at the University of California, San Diego, as they discuss early diagnosis, tele-health and the exciting new VEGF inhibitors treatment of diabetic macular edema.
