Eyes For Ears

Eyes for Ears is finally back! We are re-opening with a great lesson about Duane Syndrome by Dr Srav Vegunta, who is both a pediatric ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah.

Ben and Andrew review the seven rings of ocular trauma, a closed globe injury phenomenon.

Amanda and Ben do a rapid fire, oral boards style review of entropion.   To those taking oral boards this week, the whole team wishes you the best of luck!

Ben and Amanda do a rapid review of what to think about when encountering pseudostrabismus on oral boards or in the clinic.   This is part of our oral boards review series, which is designed for review in the style of oral boards, and may not be as in-depth as our regular episodes.

Amanda and Ben review differential diagnosis and management if you're presented with a patient with unilateral disc edema, either for oral boards or in the clinic.   This is part of our oral boards review series for rapid review, and won't go into as full depth as our more focused episodes.

Today, we do a fast-paced review of pediatric exotropia for the oral boards or the clinic.

We review the rapid rundown of what to remember about pediatric esotropia for the oral boards or the clinic.   As a reminder, these oral board review episodes will not extensively review the topic, but rather review it at the pace we feel is helpful as a refresher.

Today we review five causes of peripheral corneal thinning we should all know, and how to differentiate between them.

Kellogg resident Dr Otana Jakpor takes us through a challenging case of transient monocular vision loss, and possibly exposes host Ben Young as a liar!

This week we run through a challenging pupil emergency with PGY4 resident Nikhil Bommakanti, and learn something new about anisocoria and the art of medicine.   We also mention a great, free and easy to use data visualizing app that Nikhil developed to get a better grasp of how your ACGME surgical case log is progressing: https://github.com/nbommakanti/surgical_case_dashboard  

We review the causes of acquired astigmatism in this brief episode, oral boards review style.

Amanda and Ben do an oral-board style review of the differential of hyperopic shifts.

We go through four common but tricky neuro-ophthalmology clinical scenarios with Dr. Jonathan Trobe, head of neuro-ophthalmology at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, who discusses his tips on how to succeed, and common traps he's seen throughout his career.   If you enjoyed this episode, check out Dr Trobe's free open-access medical educational website, Neuro-Ophthalmology at Your Fingerips. There, he has videos, reviews and quizzes to teach you practical, high yield pearls at any level: Fingertips (umich.edu)

This week, Amanda and Ben do an oral boards style focused review of the differential for acquired myopic shifts. 

Amanda and Ben discuss their experience with studying for oral boards, and share their study tips and what they wish they had done differently. Please note that the advice and opinions expressed are our own, and do not in any way represent the ABO. Further, any case examples discussed in this episode are theoretical, and do not represent what Ben or Amanda experienced on their test days.

We review pigment dispersion syndrome, which can cause pigmentary glaucoma, one of the most common secondary open-angle glaucomas.

This week, find out what's so pseudo about pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, one of the most common causes of secondary open-angle glaucoma.

Learn what you need to know to prevent and prepare for medical malpractice lawsuits, and what it's like to be on the other side as an expert witness with Dr Jonathan Trobe, head of neuro-ophthalmology at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, as well as frequent expert witness in medico-legal cases.

For our 100th episode, we get Amanda, Andrew and Ben together to reflect on their residency and fellowship training to discuss what they thought was important and what they think is actually important in training and for their rank list. These thoughts are our own, and do not reflect the opinions of any institution we have trained or worked at. Thank you to all of our supporters and listeners on the way to episode 100!    Amanda Redfern did her residency at Yale, her neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, and is now faculty doing both neuro-ophthalmology and comprehensive ophthalmology at the Casey Eye Institute at OHSU. Andrew Pouw did his residency at Yale, his glaucoma fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and is now faculty at the University of Iowa. Ben Young did his residency at Yale, is currently doing his vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, and is signed to join the faculty at the Casey Eye Institute at OHSU.

This week, we explore a mystery case of missing vision presented by the excellent University of Michigan resident, Nikhil Bommakanti.   Also, if you're a medical retina, surgical retina, or pediatric ophthalmology fellow, we are very interested in your thoughts and attitudes towards retinopathy of prematurity. It would be a huge help if you take the brief survey below:   https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tFZWIwIilSd54y   And here's a link to the paper referenced in the episode (warning: spoilers for the final diagnosis!): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3055391/

After a hiatus, we're back this week to talk about corneal grafts, starting with selection criteria. Learn what disqualifies a donor cornea from being a transplant candidate, the preservation times and transport media, and the basics of the Cornea Donor Study.

In this episode, we present four neuro-ophth cases to Dr. Jonathan Trobe, division head of Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Kellogg Eye Center, where he dissects them to find the seemingly small details that can get us and our patients into big trouble if missed. Join along in his case analysis, and see if you can find where mistakes were made so you can avoid them yourself!   Dr. Trobe went to Harvard Medical School, did his residency at Wills Eye, a neuro-ophth fellowship at Bascom Palmer, then a full neurology residency at the University of Miami. He's also served in the US Air Force, and is a tireless supporter of medical education, having won the teaching award at the University of Michigan countless times. 

Learn the fundamentals of vitreous composition and anatomy; important facts to know for beginning trainees, and higher level facts to memorize for senior trainees studying for boards.

Learn about the board testable exotic conditions that can affect the eye and surrounding bones: Unifocal eosinophilic granuloma of the bone, Multifocal eosinophilic granuloma of the bone (previously called Hand-Schuller-Christian disease) Diffuse soft tissue histiocytosis (previously called Letterer-Siwe disease)

Learn about the unusual condition juvenile xanthogranuloma, the four adult xanthogranulomas (Adult xanthogranuloma, Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, Adult xanthogranuloma with asthma and periocular involvement, and Erdheim-Chester disease), and basics about histiocytes and giant cells.

Haven't read about PPS Maculopathy? Just because it isn't in your BCSC yet doesn't mean you won't need to learn about this newly described disease. We learn about it here from the man who first discovered it, Dr. Nieraj Jain, vitreoretinal surgeon and ophthalmic genetics expert at the Emory Eye Center. Learn how he came to realize he was seeing a previously undescribed disease associated with a commonly used drug, how you can recognize it, and some of the techniques Dr. Jain used to show the strength of the association.

This week, we return to acute angle closure and discuss how to manage this challenging disease. All residents will eventually need to know how to tackle this in the ED!   We reference this video during the episode, a demonstration of the Argon Laser Peripheral Iridoplasty technique, by Dr. Christopher Teng: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2NYixE_0xQ   He also has videos demonstrating the traditional Laser Peripheral Iridotomy technique as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVicnPkZ6WA&pbjreload=102

Learn about angle closure, from fundamentals, to a deep dive into mechanisms of what makes angle closure occur. Plus, intro and intermediate gonioscopy tips!

This week we review the Age-related Eye Diseases Studies (AREDS) which resulted in the AREDS and AREDS2 vitamin supplements for patients with age-related macular degeneration. Learn the finer points of when to actually prescribe them, the evidence behind them, and what to do in those odd edge cases.

With the massive changes in non-urgent patient care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ophthalmology was one of the most affected specialties in the US and the World, with significant drops in patient volume with the initial shutdowns, and difficulty adapting as many other specialties did by delivering care remotely; ie with telemedicine. Dr. Grayson Armstrong is the first and only telemedicine fellow in ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, and so has made it his job of trying to solve the problem of teleophthalmology. Join us as he takes on a tour of where we're at now, tips on how to do effective tele-ophtho starting today, and where we're headed in the near future. 

We discuss the Minorities in Ophthalmology Mentorship (MOM) Program, an academic program supported by the AAO and AUPO, with executive committee members: Dr. Keith Carter, past president of AAO and AUPO, Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa, and Chair of MOM Executive Committee Dr. Paul Lee, president elect of AUPO, Research Liaison for MOM, and President of NAEVR/AEVR and Chair of the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan We discuss some of the challenges of diversity within academic ophthalmology, and the benefits and mentorship that the MOM program offers to students looking to apply to our very competitive field. If you are interested, or if you know a medical student you think would be a good candidate for the MOM program, submit your application by April 12th, 2021 for early decision at: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6052522/AAO-AUPO-Minority-Ophthalmology-Mentoring-Program-Class-of-2021 If you'd like to learn more, go to: https://www.aao.org/minority-mentoring  

This week we delve into orbital lymphatic malformations, also commonly called lymphangiomas. Learn the diagnostic pearls to identifying this potentially dangerous pediatric orbital tumor, and what's so tricky about their management.

This week we cover the life and times of toxoplasmosis in the eye, including a breakdown of toxoplasmosis' complex life cycle, the many manifestations it may have in the eye, diagnostic tests, and management paradigms.

We return with Dr. Grayson Armstrong, recent chief resident at Mass Eye and Ear, where he ran the trauma service and did most of the globe repairs in New England, to learn surgical tips and tricks, run through a few globe cases, and how to handle intraoperative and post-operative challenges. Both clinically relevant and high yield board review material abound!   Grayson also tells us about an free app he helped develop to help new residents and trainees learn the maze of ophthalmic acronyms: https://ophthalmicedge.org/physician/ophthalmic-acronyms-app-available-now/#

This week we learn about the diagnosis and pre-operative management with Dr. Grayson Armstrong, who recently completed his chief residency at Mass Eye and Ear, where he ran the trauma service, and thus did many of the globe surgeries of New England. Even if you've managed a number of globes, you'll have a lot to learn with Grayson. Keep your eyes peeled for next week when we come back for part 2 to go through trauma cases and learn surgical tips!

This week we review Capillary Hemangiomas. By consequence, we also review related associations, PHACES syndrome, and Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome.

This week special guest host, Dr. David Zacks, professor at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship director answers questions about basic strategies to repair retinal detachments, and when/why to use a scleral buckle.

This week we talk both about normal corneal nerves, and how understanding enlarged corneal nerves can help you one day save someone's life, with our technique for remembering the myriad causes of enlarged corneal nerves. Plus, as a bonus, we learn the clinical utility of The Notebook.

This week we go with the flow, and explore all you need to know about the aqueous; production, content, drainage, and more. Plus, wait until the end of the episode to hear the finest eye joke of all time.

This week, keep your eyes on target with Dr. Anvesh Annadanam, a Kellogg Eye Center resident, as teaches us about a patient with no complaints but much ado. 

This week we cover the board/OKAP favorite peculiar cataracts caused by various drugs and metabolic conditions.

This week, we cover non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), as well as diagnostic pearls to differentiate optic neuropathies and retinopathies in general, and how to differentiate NAION from AAION.

We bring back Maternal-Fetal-Medicine Fellow Dr. Fei Cai to teach us about what we should know about pregnant patients with eye problems.  If you liked this content, check out or recommend to an OB/Gyn friend Fei's own podcast, CREOGs over Coffee! https://creogsovercoffee.com/   Disclaimer:In this episode, we use the term "pregnant women" throughout. We mean to use the term pregnant people or pregnant patient, and do not mean to exclude those that are pregnant that do not identify as women. 

This week, we talk about the various ways the capsular bag can become opacified after cataract surgery, and tips on how to use YAG to fix it. Also, if you applied to the Ophthalmology Fellowship Match this cycle, take the following survey from a team at Yale to enter a $50 Amazon Gift Card raffle. The study is IRB approved, and we hope it will provide fellowship programs with an understanding of the applicant perception of the virtual interview.   Information will remain strictly confidential and will not impact your standing with any fellowship program. https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_037uAs2j2tgE03r

We discuss the basic principles of ophthalmic lasers that guide how they work and how to use them. Plus we take brief asides into Archimedes lore and using Star Wars as a memory tool.

This week we unravel the peculiarities of the strabismic problem of dissociated vertical deviations (DVD)

Crack this mystery case with our repeat guest host, PGY4 and Yale's Chief Resident Michael Park!

Straighten out the alphabet soup of pattern strabismus in this episode.   We refer you to this excellent video by Dr. Tim Root to orient yourself to eye muscle actions, tropias and phorias: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRYBOBSyzAU   And we make reference to this aircraft during the episode if you are curious: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II    

Thinking about your first job or a new job? Amanda brings on Heidi Mason, JD, SHRM-CP, PHR to teach us about what we should be looking for in a contract, whether you really need to hire a lawyer (and what kind to get), how to negotiate, and much much more in this special episode!

This episode, we field all questions one might have about visual fields, from fundamentals to finer details.