GT: The Podcast

In this episode, two Glaucoma Today contributors dive into the topic of career paths in ophthalmology, comparing different options and offering pearls from their own experiences. Zahra Ali, MD, recaps her article, “Career Change: Making the Vision Come to Life,” which chronicles her personal transition from general ophthalmologist to glaucoma specialist. Then, Devang L. Bhoiwala, MD, recaps his article, “Private Practice Versus Academia,” which outlines the pros and cons of these two distinct career paths.

Flora Hui, PhD, and Pete A. Williams, PhD, recap their article, “Metabolic Dysfunction in Glaucoma: From Bench to Bedside (and Back Again),” which was featured in the January/February issue of Glaucoma Today. IOP lowering treatments are a mainstay of glaucoma management, but, while effective treatments exist, they do not target the neurodegenerative components of the disease. This article discusses the role of metabolic dysfunction in glaucoma and reviews nicotinamide treatment for neuroprotection.

On this episode of Survey Says, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, is joined by guests Manjool Shah, MD, and Ticiana De Francesco, MD, to review a real case from his practice. They discuss the patient's treatment history and how it informs which procedures to consider for the future and which ones to rule out. The guests share how they would proceed before finding out what Dr. Singh did and how their colleagues would approach the case, based on results of a social media poll of GT's audience.

Catherine Johnson, MD, MPH, recaps her article, “Impact of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty on Diurnal IOP Fluctuation,” which was written with Barbara Wirostko, MD, FARVO, and featured in the November/December issue of Glaucoma Today. Home tonometry data are shedding light on SLT's effect on IOP spikes in the months following laser treatment. This article reviews diurnal IOP fluctuation before and after SLT and discusses the implications of home tonometry in research.

N. Troy Gurney, MD, and Richard K. Lee, MD, PhD, recap their article, “Pearls for Effective Laser Cyclophotocoagulation of the Glaucomatous Eye,” which was featured in a recent issue of Glaucoma Today. They make the case that transscleral cyclophotocoagulation should be considered earlier in the glaucoma treatment algorithm and review the proper technique and indications to maximize effectiveness and minimize complications.

On this episode of Survey Says, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, is joined by guests Lorraine M. Provencher, MD, and Brian Shafer, MD, to review a real case from his practice. They discuss details of the case, including patient risk factors and possible treatment goals, and weigh their options for managing the case in the most effective manner while still leaving options on the table for future treatment. Later, the panelists find out how their colleagues would manage the case, based on results of a social media poll of GT's audience.

This episode features two articles recently published in Glaucoma Today. First, Shannan Moore, BS, recaps her article—“Is There a Link Between Chronic Stress, Autonomic Dysregulation, and Glaucomatous Progression?”—which was written with Garrick Chak, MD, and makes the case that it may be worthwhile to incorporate questions about chronic emotional stressors into patient encounters. Then, Mona Kaleem, MD, recaps her article—“Advances in Eye Drop Aids”—which was written with Delcora Huggins, BS, and reviews four available solutions to help overcome the challenges associated with eye drop administration.

Jason Xiao, BS, recaps his article, “Improving the Affordability of Glaucoma Medications,” which was written with Jin Choi, MD; Pathik Amin, OD; Alaina Tarantino, PharmD, BCPS; and Mary Qiu, MD, and featured in the May/June issue of Glaucoma Today. Their article explores strategies to address the financial barriers to glaucoma medication adherence and reviews an initiative by the University of Chicago Medicine to help reduce patients' out-of-pocket pharmacy costs.

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 providers could improve the quality of care.

On this episode of Survey Says, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, is joined by guests Monica Ertel, MD, and Mark Gallardo, MD, to review a case from Dr. Singh's practice. The guests share their perspective on a patient with slowly progressive disease and a history of failed trabeculectomy, and they offer their thoughts on IOP goals and potential treatments. Later, the panelists find out how their colleagues would approach the case based on results of a social media poll of GT's audience.

Jay Patel, MD, recaps his article, “Masqueraders of Normal-Tension Glaucoma,” coauthored with Amanda D. Henderson, MD, and featured in the May/June issue of Glaucoma Today. The article outlines several types of nonglaucomatous optic neuropathy that should be considered in patients with gradually progressive optic neuropathy.

Francesca Cordeiro, MD, PhD, MRCP, FRCOphth, recaps her article, “DARC: From Bench to Bedside,” which was featured in the March/April issue of Glaucoma Today. In her article, she reviews a novel retinal biomarker—the Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells (DARC)—and its potential to function as a surrogate endpoint in glaucoma and other neurodegenerative conditions.

David Solá-Del Valle, MD, recaps his article—“Is Glaucoma Policy Short-Sighted?”—which was written with Sara Riaz, MSc; Blake Oberfeld, MD; Hani El Helwe, MD; and Henisk Falah, BS, and featured in the March/April issue of Glaucoma Today. In their article, the authors discuss the shortfalls of health care policies that guide glaucoma care and propose redefining innovation to keep an eye on patient access.

Slow down, take a breath, and get back to basics with glaucoma care. Join moderator I. Paul Singh, MD, and panelists Sarah Van Tassel, MD, and Joseph Panarelli, MD, as they review their priorities for their patient encounters in Glaucoma. Which imaging modalities are most effective? How do their workflows function? And, as new patients become returning patients, how can software solutions such as the ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace help keep your clinic flowing smoothly?

On this episode of Survey Says, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, is joined by guests Jella An, MD, MBA, and John Berdahl, MD. Dr. Singh presents a real patient case from his practice, and the guests share their initial reactions to the case, what they would do next, and what their goals would be for the patient. Later the guests find out how their colleagues would approach the case based on results of a social media poll of GT's audience.

In this special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, invites Christine Funke, MD, and Pradeep Ramulu, MD, PhD, to talk about the Hydrus Microstent (Alcon), discussing data from the HORIZON trial as well as sharing real-world experiences with the MIGS device in their practices. They further explain how the data help one to decide and understand where the Hydrus fits into the glaucoma treatment paradigm, and they also share insertion pearls for the procedure to achieve successful microstent placement.

Emily Schehlein, MD, recaps her article, “Establishing a Glaucoma Practice Fresh Out of Fellowship,” which was featured in the March/April issue of Glaucoma Today. When ophthalmology training ends, the work of building a practice officially begins. In her article, Dr. Schehlein, a glaucoma specialist at Brighton Vision Center in Brighton, Michigan, offers insights and strategies for young ophthalmologists in building a successful, specialized practice.

Christine Larsen, MD, recaps her article, “Advanced Cataract Technologies in Glaucomatous Eyes,” which was featured in the November/December issue of Glaucoma Today. For patients undergoing cataract surgery who are estimated to have some form of glaucoma, it's important to identify their goals and expectations and then evaluate the options that can help meet them. Dr. Larsen discusses this and then outlines the advanced technologies available for these patients and how to approach patient selection.

Jessie Wang, MD, and Mary Qiu, MD, recap their article, “Learning and Teaching MIGS,” which was featured in the November/December issue of Glaucoma Today. With the growing prevalence of MIGS, it has become increasingly vital for graduating ophthalmologists to be comfortable performing this class of surgeries. In this article, Drs. Wang and Qiu offer their perspectives as a senior resident learning MIGS and an attending surgeon teaching it, respectively.

On this episode of Survey Says, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, is joined by guests Zarmeena Vendal, MD, and Joseph F. Panarelli, MD. They share their perspectives on how glaucoma care has evolved in recent decades and how these changes have affected their decision-making process. Later, the guests weigh in on the case at hand, sharing their preferred treatment options for the patient. Then, they review how their colleagues would proceed, based on results of a social media poll of GT's audience.

In this special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, invites Christine Funke, MD, and Pradeep Ramulu, MD, PhD, to talk about the Hydrus Microstent (Alcon), discussing data from the HORIZON trial as well as sharing real-world experiences with the MIGS device in their practices. They further explain how the data help one to decide and understand where the Hydrus fits into the glaucoma treatment paradigm, and they also share insertion pearls for the procedure to achieve successful microstent placement.

Nathan Radcliffe, MD, moderates a discussion with Deborah Ristvedt, DO, and John Kitchens, MD, about the future of geographic atrophy (GA) treatment and management, the history of GA care, considerations for managing cataracts and glaucoma, and more. 

Shivani Kamat, MD, recaps her article, “Management of Tube Erosion,” which was featured in the September/October issue of Glaucoma Today. Tube erosion through the conjunctiva is a complication of glaucoma drainage device implantation that carries the potential risks of infection and vision loss. Dr. Kamat's article reviews this complication, including its proper identification and treatment to prevent recurrence and infection.

Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD, moderates a discussion with Deborah Ristvedt, DO, and John Kitchens, MD, about the future of geographic atrophy (GA) treatment and management, the history of GA care, considerations for managing cataracts and glaucoma, and more. 

Section Editor Richie Kahn, MPH, recaps his article—“Patient Experience Data Collection”—which was written with Jenn McNary and recently featured in GT. The article covers what patient experience data is and how the information can provide regulatory authorities, payers, providers, and patient communities with a more holistic view of a therapy's impact. 

Matt Schlenker, MD, MSc, recaps his article, “Prioritizing Processes Over Goals,” which was featured in the May/June issue of Glaucoma Today. In this article, Dr. Schlenker makes the argument that results have more to do with the systems we follow as opposed to the goals we set. He explains the limits of goal setting and delves into the importance of habit forming as a way to achieve real progress in surgery and surgical training.

On this episode of “Survey Says” With I. Paul Singh, MD, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, Dr. Singh is joined by guests Oluwatosin Smith, MD, and Jason Bacharach, MD. The panel delves into the benefits and challenges of having a wide array of treatment options for glaucoma and how they approach decisions about surgical intervention. Later, they weigh in on the case in question, offering their thoughts on the target IOP and treatment goals for a patient with moderate primary open-angle glaucoma. Then, they review how their colleagues would proceed based on results of a social media poll of Glaucoma Today's audience.

Jessica Randolph, MD, recaps her article, “Suprachoroidal Hemorrhage,” which was written with Melissa Suggs, MS, MS, and featured in the March/April issue of Glaucoma Today. This article reviews the fundamentals of managing suprachoroidal hemorrhage, a rare but serious complication of intraocular surgery that can cause significant vision loss. 

Marko Oydanich, MD, discusses the growing environmental burden of the health care sector, as featured in an article he wrote with Albert Khouri, MD, and Jasmine Mahajan, BS, for a recent issue of Glaucoma Today. Dr. Oydanich offers strategies for reducing waste in ophthalmology ORs, much of which results from single-use equipment and devices. Later, David Chang, MD, shares the mission of EyeSustain.org, a web-based resource center for sustainability in ophthalmology, as covered in an article written with Cassandra Thiel, PhD, and featured in GT.

Richie Kahn, a rare ophthalmic disease patient and co-founder and principal of Canary Advisors, recaps his article—“Patients on Reddit”—from the March/April issue of Glaucoma Today. In this article, Kahn discusses the usefulness of the forum-style social media platform Reddit for allowing patients to connect, share stories, and ask questions. While the platform facilitates connection and support, the credibility of the information shared may be lacking. 

Ticiana De Francesco, MD, shares an update on the first-in-human experience with femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculotomy, or FLIGHT (ViaLase), as covered in an article she coauthored with Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC, for an upcoming issue of Glaucoma Today. Dr. De Francesco describes the new procedure and how it could help expand options for safe and effective glaucoma intervention.

Susan Liang, MD, assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and clinical director at New England Eye Center, Framingham, recaps her article—“Remote Monitoring of Glaucoma”—from the November/December issue of Glaucoma Today. In this article, Dr. Liang outlines existing and developing technologies designed to enable high-quality virtual care today and in the future.

Christopher K.S. Leung, MD, MB ChB, chairperson and clinical professor for the Department of Ophthalmology at The University of Hong Kong School of Clinical Medicine, recaps his article—“Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Optical Texture Analysis”—from the November/December issue of Glaucoma Today. In the article, Dr. Leung describes RNFL Optical Texture Analysis, an algorithm to uncover the optical texture and trajectories of individual axonal fiber bundles, which may help to identify RNFL defects in early and advanced glaucoma.

In this episode of GT: The Podcast, Roshun D. Sangani, MD, recaps his article, “Incidental Glaucoma Screening Using Teleophthalmology at a Tertiary Care Ophthalmology Center,” written with Albert Khouri, MD, and featured in the September/October issue of Glaucoma Today. A novel approach to the detection and management of glaucoma in a busy emergency department aims to minimize the number of visits before intervention, treat patients earlier, and encourage follow-up.

On this episode of “Survey Says” With I. Paul Singh, MD, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, Dr. Singh is joined by guests Shamil Patel, MD, MBA, and Manjool Shah, MD. The panel will discuss how they would approach procedure and IOL selection for a real patient case, and later, they find out how their colleagues chose to proceed based on the results of a social media poll of Glaucoma Today's audience. 

In this episode of GT: The Podcast, Zaiba Malik, MD, recaps her article, “Leading Through Uncertainty,” written with Michael Onuscheck, and featured in the September/October issue of Glaucoma Today. Change and disruption are inevitable in medicine, and good leadership requires the ability to embrace uncertainty. Dr. Malik discusses different types of uncertainty and the necessary tools to overcome challenges and maintain strong leadership.

In this episode of GT: The Podcast, Leonard K. Seibold, MD, recaps his article, “Physician Burnout in Ophthalmology,” written with Jessica A. Sedhom, MD, and featured in the September/October issue of Glaucoma Today. The article discusses burnout syndrome and its increasing prevalence among physicians, as well as results of a survey to determine burnout rates among ophthalmologists and identify the major risk factors for burnout syndrome.

In this episode of “Survey Says” With I. Paul Singh, MD, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, Dr. Singh is joined by guests Analisa Arosemena MD, from Aran Eye Associates in Miami, Florida, and Lorraine Provencher, MD, from Cincinnati Eye Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. The panel discuss how they would treat the patient in question and, later, they find out how their colleagues would approach treatment, based on the results of a social media poll of Glaucoma Today's audience. In terms of target IOP and preferred treatment, how do the different opinions match up?

In this episode, hear an interview with Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, who was nominated by the Glaucoma Today editorial advisory board to be featured in a recent issue as an influential innovator. In this interview, Dr. Ianchulev describes his journey into medicine, how he discovered his interest in glaucoma, what keeps him motivated to innovate, and what advances he hopes to see for the subspecialty in the future.

In this episode, hear an interview with Joel S. Schuman, MD, FACS, who was nominated by the Glaucoma Today editorial advisory board to be featured in the publication as an influential innovator. In this interview, Dr. Schuman shares what sparked his initial interest in glaucoma, discusses his role in the development of OCT imaging, and describes why he thinks a cure for high IOP in glaucoma could be on the horizon.

In this episode of “Survey Says” With I. Paul Singh, MD, a special edition of GT: The Podcast, Dr. Singh is joined by guests Deborah Ristvedt, DO, of Vance Thompson Vision, and Shamik Bafna, MD, of Cleveland Eye Clinic. The guests are presented with a real patient case and asked to weigh in on how they would manage it. Later, Dr. Singh shares the Glaucoma Today audience's preferred approach to the case, based on the results of a social media poll. How do the polling results match up against the thoughts of today's panelists? 

In this episode, hear an interview with Malik Y. Kahook, MD, who was nominated by the Glaucoma Today editorial advisory board to be featured in the January/February issue as an influential innovator. His desire to improve medical and surgical approaches in ophthalmology has led him to invent and develop numerous technologies over the years. Dr. Kahook discusses some of these innovations, shares why he's constantly looking for better solutions, and offers his advice to ophthalmologists who want to follow a similar path.

Richie Kahn, MPH, a clinical researcher and patient advocate, leads a discussion between physicians and patients on the use and value of home monitoring technology in ophthalmology. Kahn, who is also a patient with a rare and progressive form of optic atrophy as well as a clinical trial participant, is joined by Barbara Wirostko, MD, FARVO; Craig Chaya, MD; and Dorian De Maio, a long-time glaucoma patient of Drs. Wirostko and Chaya.

In this special edition of GT: The Podcast, I. Paul Singh, MD, presents real patients' cases from his practice and asks guests Joseph F. Panarelli, MD, and Sahar Bedrood, MD, PhD, to explain how they each would manage these patients. Dr. Singh then shares the results of social media poll questions in which the Glaucoma Today audience voted on its preferred approaches to these cases. Did the polling results match up with the proposed approaches of Drs. Panarelli and Bedrood? 

This double episode of GT: The Podcast features a pair of articles published in the November/December 2021 issue of Glaucoma Today. In part one, Finny T. John, MD, and Natasha Nayak Kolomeyer, MD, recap their article, “Lessons in Dissatisfaction,” which shares surgical insight gained from challenging encounters in the clinic and OR. Then, Alexandra Papp, MD, CAPT, USAF, MC, reads her article, “Not Your Grandma's Puff Test,” which reviews the importance of measuring corneal hysteresis (CH) to determine the risk of glaucomatous progression. 

Alexandra “Ola” Pietraszkiewicz, MD, reads her article, "A Holistic Approach to Glaucoma Care," from the September/October issue of Glaucoma Today. This article highlights the correlation between vision loss and mental health and discusses how a greater understanding of the psychosocial determinants of health can improve patient-physician relationships and clinical outcomes.

Daniel Laroche, MD, reads his article, "Reducing Pigment Particles in the Anterior Chamber," written with Jose Sinon for the September/October issue of Glaucoma Today. This article reviews the several interventions which can be used to reduce the number of pigment particles in adult patients with pigment dispersion syndromes.

Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD, and Davinder S. Grover, MD, MPH, join Inder Paul Singh, MD, for an in-depth discussion on IOP. The trio discuss their criteria for defining IOP ranges, how they use hysteresis to predict pressure fluctuations, and the complications which may arise when a patient's pressure creeps outside the defined ranges. 

Nikola Ragusa, MD, reads his article, "Is It Time to Rethink the Slit Lamp?" from the July/August issue of Glaucoma Today. This article reviews a practice-based survey that considers patient comfort during eye exams and challenges for the redevelopment of certain ophthalmic equipment to promote greater accessibility.

Brian M. Shafer, MD, reads his article, “The Contrast Sensitivity Story,” from the July/August 2021 issue of Glaucoma Today. In this article, Dr. Shafer looks at contrast sensitivity in patients with glaucoma and challenges what he says is the old dogma that physicians shouldn't implant multifocal IOLs in these patients.

Lorraine M. Provencher, MD, and Constance O. Okeke, MD, MSCE, join Inder Paul Singh, MD, to discuss new molecules and mechanisms of action. How do these new medications change the way physicians treat glaucoma?