The MOD Pod

Walt Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO, joins Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, to discuss patient communication strategies. The two share techniques for how to educate patients about their conditions, treatment options, and management by being direct and relatable. They also stress the value of making it a team effort with the patient when it comes to improving their condition. 

Staying ahead in patient care and business growth requires the right knowledge and tools. In the first installment of the EMPOWER: Business + Optometric Specialty Care series, Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO; Diana Chu, OD; and Ashley Tucker, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Dipl ABO, explore the critical role of corneal health and how specialty lenses can transform patient outcomes.

This month on The MOD Pod, host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, welcomes guests Josh Davidson, OD, FAAO, FSLS, and Marlon Monelyon-Demeritt, OD, MBA, FAAO. Dr. Koetting and Dr. Davidson discuss the relationship between sleep and risk level of dry eye disease, with Dr. Davidson citing studies that support this connection. Dr. Monelyon-Demeritt shares simple and effective ways to keep staff engaged. 

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DipABO, and Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, convened to discuss the current state of ocular surface disease, including the progressive nature, patient communication and symptoms, new and upcoming therapies, and more. 

Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, invites John Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAO, FCLSA, to review risk factors and red flags that all optometrists should know for detecting the early signs of keratoconus. Dr. Gelles shares insights from a study on pediatric keratoconus and highlights the importance of screening and treating patients before the disease progresses. 

This month on The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, invites Kriti Bhagat, OD, FAAO, to talk about key signs of keratoconus and the importance of screening family members. Dr. Bhagat also explains her strategy for encouraging patients to try specialty contact lenses. Continuing the keratoconus conversation, Dr. Koetting has Mitch Ibach, OD, FAAO, and Samantha Rivet, OD, join her to discuss the early detection of keratoconus as well as advances in corneal cross-linking procedures, as they consider the potential for optometrists to take a larger role in delivering these treatments in the future.

In part two of this podcast, Darryl Glover Jr., OD, invites Britt E. Gustafson, OD, and Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, to share considerations when presenting contact lens options to patients—focusing on chair time, comfort, and cost. They explain how Alcon WaterInnovations™ technology allows them to address patient needs and focus on comfort in contact lens wear.

Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, invites Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, to discuss the role of optometrists in diagnosing and referring patients with geographic atrophy, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions. They will also discuss the integration of artificial intelligence and at-home monitoring technology to help manage these patients.

On this month's episode of The MOD Pod, hear Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO, talk to host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, about treatment compliance and ocular surface disease in patients with glaucoma. Also in this episode, Dr. Koetting invites Nora Lee Cothran, OD, FAAO, to discuss the different relationships involved in the comanagement of patients undergoing MIGS procedures. 

Darryl Glover Jr., OD; Britt E. Gustafson, OD; and Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, discuss contact lenses as an integral pillar of their practice success. They review how technology, such as Alcon's WaterInnovationsTM portfolio, helps them differentiate their practice from competitors by customizing fit and comfort to each patient. They also explain how to present this new technology and educate patients about their options. US-DT1-2400098 Sponsored by Alcon 

Collaborative Corner has changed formats in 2025 and continues to offer expert insights and guests in optometry. Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, kicks off the first episode of this new podcast with guest Casey Krug, OD. The two discuss the recent devastation from Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, where she practices. Dr. Krug describes the storm's aftermath, how the community came together, and how her practice persevered to continue providing eye care to patients.

In The MOD Pod's first episode of 2025 Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, chats with her former resident Brooke Hyde, OD, FAAO, about what it's like dealing with ocular emergencies. Dr. Hyde explains how treating these cases can be a practice-builder and shares helpful tips to keep in mind when dealing with an ocular injury. Dr. Koetting also speaks with Thomas Chwe, OD, to get key takeaways from his recent article on the role of nutrition in glaucoma care. 

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, closes out The MOD Pod's last episode of 2025 with a discussion on aberrations in refractive cataract surgery with Nick Bruns, OD, FAAO. With modern technology, Dr. Bruns emphasizes that understanding the effect of higher-order aberrations helps optometrists better achieve optimal outcomes. Listen to the episode now.

Check out the latest episode of The MOD Pod to hear host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, talk about the use of retinal imaging in hematologic disorders and the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric uveitis with guests Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO, FNAP, and Carlo J. Pelino, OD, FAAO, respectively.

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.

In this special episode of The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, interviews a diverse group of attendees from MOD Live 2024. She speaks with program chairs, faculty, newcomers, and returning attendees, capturing a wide range of perspectives from the event.

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, invites guest Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS, to the episode to talk about nutrition's role in the medical field and how it affects patients' ocular and systemic health. Dr. Koetting also speaks with Thomas Kislan, OD, on the topic of inflammatory dry eye. They cover diagnosis tactics, management options, and more.

On The MOD Pod this month, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, hosts Erich A. Hinel, OD, MS, FAAO, and Luke B. Lindsell, OD, MD, to talk about their upcoming article in Modern Optometry on considerations for patients with cataracts and retinal disease. Specifically, the two give tips on what to keep top of mind when comanaging these patients. Dr. Koetting wraps up the episode with Hardeep Kataria, OD, FAAO, as the two discuss a very important topic Dr. Kataria tackles in the first of a series of articles: mental health and the private practice optometrist.

This month on the The MOD Pod, host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, connects with Kaeleen Franson, OD, about the prevalence of myopia and some of the top takeaways from Dr. Franson's article on managing the condition, which appears in the July/August issue of Modern Optometry. Dr. Koetting then speaks with Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, who explains that when you manage glaucoma, you also have the same mindset of managing ocular surface disease—those two thoughts just have to be married together. He shares this and other insights from his own upcoming article on the topic. 

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, is joined by guest Steven Sorkin, OD, FSLS, on this episode of The MOD Pod, where they talk about the article on topical and systemic drugs that can affect the cornea that Dr. Sorkin recently wrote for Modern Optometry with his co-author, Nicolle Wah, OD. In the second half of the episode, Dr. Koetting gets into conversation with Jen Wademan, OD, about some of the latest eye makeup trends and how they could affect a patient's eye health and/or vision, which is the topic of her upcoming article in Modern Optometry.

Check out the latest episode of The MOD Pod, where Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, has an engaging conversation with Jason E. Compton, OD, FAAO, and Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, about their article on eyelash enhancements, which appears in the May/June issue Modern Optometry. In the second half of the episode, Dr. Koetting has a candid chat with Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO, on the do's and don'ts of IPL therapy, which she covers in her own upcoming article.

Performing surgery for symptomatic vitreous opacities (SVO) was once verboten in retina medicine, but the field has seen a sea-change in mindset over the past decade. In this podcast, optometric thought leader Alison Bozung, OD, is joined by an esteemed panel of retina surgeons to discuss why more retina surgeons are willing to perform vitrectomy for SVO, what it means for their patients, and how optometrists can help evaluate and identify patients for referral. 

This month on The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, invites Damaris Raymondi, OD, FAAO, and Jason Besecker, OD, MS, to discuss their recent articles in Modern Optometry. Have a listen as Dr. Raymondi shares extra details about the patient experience that opened her eyes to the transformative effect that offering at-home visits can have on a patient's life. Dr. Besecker then explains why being receptive to OD-to-OD referrals enables clinicians to do what they do best—whether that be specialize in scleral lenses or dry eye or provide full scope care—while serving the best interests of their patients and establishing important relationships with colleagues in their communities. 

Check out this month's episode of The MOD Pod, where host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, chats with Bryce St. Clair, OD, about the importance of providing empathetic, patient-centered care across diverse communities. The two discuss how to learn about patient culture or religion without seeming insensitive and more. Dr. Koetting also speaks with Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO, FNAP, about a condition known as neurologic dry eye, which bridges two areas she is passionate about: neuro and dry eye. They cover diagnosis, management, personalized medicine, and so much more.

In this episode of The MOD Pod, host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, welcomes guests Chris Kruthoff, OD, FAAO, and Brittany Wright, OD, MS, FAAO, who recently authored articles in the January/February issue of Modern Optometry. Dr. Koetting probes Dr. Kruthoff for more details on his piece about glaucoma and systemic health (00:37) and digs deeper on the meaning of some terms related to equitable eye health and vision care with Dr. Wright, while discussing how to identify and address barriers for the good of the public and the profession (14:50).

Happy New Year! Enjoy The MOD Pod's new format. You'll still get a recap of selected articles from the latest issue of Modern Optometry, but instead of hearing them being read by the authors, you get a lively discussion between the podcast's new host, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, and the author. In the first episode of 2024, Dr. Koetting catches up with Chris Kuc, OD, FAAO, then the two discuss his article on the latest technologies and treatments available that provide more timely patient care in the management of ocular diseases (1:32). In the second half of the episode, Dr. Koetting speaks with colleague Jessica Schiffbauer, OD, FAAO, and the two dive into more detail on managing postoperative glaucoma complications (23:13).

Julie Rodman, OD, MSc, FAAO, FORS, offers tips for differentiating between vitreomacular interface disorders (1:04); Christopher Lopez, OD, shares advice for making planning for future less overwhelming (13:37); and Ryan Corte, OD, explains how to optimize comfort and performance with multifocal contact lenses (22:58).

Jason E. Compton, OD, FAAO, discusses the importance of managing astigmatism in contact lens wearers (0:58). Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, talks about the effects of long-term exposure to preservatives when treating chronic ocular conditions (8:37).

In this month's episode of The MOD Pod, learn about managing micro cyst-like epithelial keratopathy related to cancer therapy from Sarah Connolly, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, and Grace Lytle, OD, MS (1:04). Then, hear John Womack, OD, and Harmin Chima, OD, read their article about changing the perception of the retail optometrist (10:13).

Christopher Lopez, OD, explains how using advanced technology and treatment options can benefit a practice (00:55); Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO, and Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, share insights on delivering difficult diagnoses (11:13); then Lori Latowski Grover, OD, PhD, makes the case for the need to define advocacy within optometry (19:15).

Comanaging patients undergoing refractive IOL surgery? M. Nabila Gomez, OD, FAAO, shares a pre-surgery checklist to ensure optimal results (00:56). If you manage patients with myopia, Ashley Tucker, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Dipl ABO, reviews what myopia treatment options are available now and those likely to become available in the future (13:03). And if you've ever wondered whether an externship program was right for your practice, Osama Said, OD, offers the pros and cons to help you decide (21:17).

Join this season's expert panel of Kourtney Houser, MD; Mitch Ibach, OD; and Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, as they showcase a selection of fascinating cases across the ocular surface spectrum. 

Looking for ways to grow your practice? It's easier than you think, according to Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS, who emphasizes the importance of making every contact lens sale count (0:39). In this episode, you'll also hear about a helpful way to accurately identify abnormal torsion (11:50) from Christopher J. Borgman, OD, FAAO, and Sathi Maiti, OD, shares her experience as a volunteer vision director in a community eye clinic (24:29).

Interested in ocular aesthetics? Hear from ODs who have incorporated this service in their practices. Melanie Denton Dombrowski, OD, MBA, FAAO, gives some tips for integrating ocular aesthetics into a practice (0:57), while Shane Swatts, OD, draws from his experience to offer a full picture of what this endeavor entails to those considering it (11:38). To end the episode, Naureen M. Haroon, OD, MPH, FAAO, shares best practices for interacting with patients born into Generation Z (26:43).

Settle in for an enjoyable audio session with Caitlin Morrison, OD, FAAO, FSLS, third-year optometry student Easy Anyama, and Sulman Hans, OD, MS, FAAO, as you hear them offer reasons to consider fitting specialty contact lenses (1:02), their perspective on the changing landscape of optometry (6:34), and suggestions on how to support your optometric technicians (16:51).

Check out the newest episode of The MOD Pod to learn strategies for making the most out of your contact lens business from Christopher Lopez, OD (0:46), and how blepharitis interferes with contact lens wear from Ashley O'Dwyer, OD (10:25).

When is dry eye more than just dry eye? Find out as Helen Kendra Lee, OD, and Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, explains the role of eyelid malposition in ocular surface disease and how to address it (1:12). Next, hear Olivia Burger, OD, discuss important clinical pearls for differentiating true papilledema—a concerning finding to encounter during a routine ocular examination—from pseudopapilledema (17:06).

How can retina surgeons work with optometrists to create a framework that best manages the cases of patients with vitreous opacities? To answer this question, John Kitchens, MD, turns to Tarek Hassan, MD, and Walt Whitley, OD, MBA. The panel discusses how collaboration can transition patients smoothly to surgical consultation, the anatomy of a referral, and if some patients are better suited for surgery than others. This editorially independent podcast is supported with advertising.

Don't skip this episode, because there's a lot to learn about! First, Lori Latowski Grover, OD, PhD, helps us understand physician burnout (00:49), then Jon Pederson, OD, FAAO, discusses glaucoma through a legislative lens, taking stock of the changing times and change in scope of practice for ODs (14:12). Then we learn about disparities in care for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities from Katie Connolly, OD, FAAO (23:12).

Carlo J. Pelino, OD, FAAO, hosts this special edition of the MODPod and speaks with guests Carolyn Majcher, OD, and Mohammad Rafieetary, OD, FAAO, FORS, Dipl ABO, ABCMO. The panel of expert optometrists discusses how to approach patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the early and intermediate stages of the disease. They also emphasize the value of imaging technology such as OCT and OCTA to recognize biomarkers for AMD, and they share approaches to diagnosing geographic atrophy (GA). This podcast is sponsored by ZEISS.

This month on The MOD Pod Alissa Coyne, OD, MS, FAAO, FASOS, provides an overview of monoclonal antibodies commonly encountered by optometrists, including side effects to be on the lookout for (1:16). Keeping with the pharmaceutical theme, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, closes the episode with a review of the potential harms and benefits associated with hormone replacement therapy, which is becoming increasingly more common (13:20).

This retina-focused episode starts off with an informative piece by Fraser McKay, OD, who offers tips for comanaging patients following vitrectomy from the early postoperative period on (00:43). Next, Taia DeLano, OD, FAAO, explains how using prism can redirect how light hits the retina and improve visual function (20:49). Naureen M. Haroon, OD, MPH, FAAO, takes us off topic to end the episode, with her guide for identifying eye- and vision-related changes in pregnant and postpartum patients and supporting their needs (30:17).