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CRST: The Podcast

Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today

Join CRST: The Podcast at the intersection of patient care and innovation in ophthalmology and listen as experts in the field engage in thought-provoking discussion on anterior segment surgery. This podcast curates content and mini series that help progressive cataract and refractive surgeons take their practices to the next level. CRST: The Podcast is produced by Bryn Mawr Communications and the medical trade publication Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today.

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  • 21 episodes
  • Avg 29 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • Monday · 23 min

    Going on Offense With Epioxa

    In this episode of Best Practices in Keratoconus Management, Bradon D. Ayres, MD is joined Parag Majmudar, MD, and Neel S. Vaidya, MD, MPH, to discuss their early experiences with Epioxa now that it is available for the treatment of progressive keratoconus. Discover how they are incorporating Epioxa into their practices, their initial treatment successes, and what they have learned from their initial wave of patients. They also explore how this new treatment option may influence their approach to crosslinking and help them take a more proactive approach to keratoconus management. [Test Your Knowledge HERE]

  • September 2 · 31 min

    Sustainability in Ophthalmology

    Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, are joined by Radhika Rampat, MBBS, BSc(Hons), FRCOphth, for an exploration of sustainability in ophthalmology. They discuss the AECOS Green Working Group, waste reduction, and how to champion sustainability locally.

  • August 31 · 25 min

    Individualizing the Surgical Consultation Without Sacrificing Efficiency

    What does it take to make every surgical consultation feel individualized amid increasing pressure for efficiency? George O. Waring IV, MD, speaks with Alexandra Dean, Director of Practice Development at Waring Vision Institute, about building a counseling continuum that starts before the patient arrives and uses intake forms, previsit outreach, and cohesive handoffs to connect clinical recommendations with individual goals. Dean also shares practical guidance on training nonclinical counselors, using technology without losing the human touch, and creating an experience patients remember for how it made them feel. Related article: “Individualization at Every Touchpoint,” in Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today, June 2026

  • August 5 · 32 min

    Rethinking the Drop with iDose TR: Patient Conversations

    Listen as host Savak Teymoorian, MD, speaks with Courtney Bovee, MD, and David Stephens, MD, about their experiences with iDose TR (Glaukos), a procedural pharmaceutical. They specifically address patient education with iDose TR and the role it plays in their glaucoma journey.

  • July 8 · 35 min

    Rethinking the Drop with iDose TR: Practice Implementation

    In this podcast episode, Christine Funke, MD, is joined by Zarmeena Vendal, MD, and Lisa Feulner, MD, PhD, to discuss how surgeons can operationalize the use of iDose TR (Glaukos) and integrate this procedural pharmaceutical into their glaucoma treatment armamentarium. The discussion covers the barriers to implementation and next steps for integrating interventional glaucoma in practice.

  • June 30 · 41 min

    UNITYtime Podcast Episode 1: Real-World Experience with UNITY® VCS | CS

    Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC; and Matthew Rauen, MD Join Dr. Ashley Brissette and Dr. Matthew Rauen for the first episode of the UNITYtime Podcast—a new series focused on the real impact of extraordinary experiences with UNITY® VCS |CS. In this inaugural episode, they share early impressions of UNITY® VCS | CS, including insights on workflow, team experience, and considerations when transitioning from established platforms. Through a candid, peer-to-peer conversation, they offer practical perspectives on adopting new technology into everyday clinical practice. Whether you're evaluating new surgical platforms or looking to learn from your peers, this episode provides a thoughtful, real-world look at the UNITY® VCS| CS experience.

  • June 4 · 21 min

    Refractive Lens Exchange and the Evolving Surgical Management of Presbyopia

    George O. Waring IV, MD, FACS, speaks with Dagny C. Zhu, MD, about refractive lens exchange and her same-day bilateral refractive lens exchange workflow in an office-based surgery setting. Dr. Zhu discusses how refractive lens exchange fits into her cash-pay refractive practice, how her team screens and evaluates candidates, and the steps involved when patients proceed from consultation to surgery on the same day. She also shares her approach to diagnostic testing, patient counseling, premium IOL selection, oral sedation, femtosecond laser sequencing, refractive accuracy, and IOL calculations in eyes with a history of corneal refractive surgery.

  • June 3 · 25 min

    Rethinking the Drop with iDose TR: Patient Access

    In this special podcast episode, I. Paul Singh, MD, speaks with Deborah Ristvedt, DO, and Kevin Talbot, MD, regarding the use of iDose TR (Glaukos), a procedural pharmaceutical, as an interventional glaucoma approach. They outline who the optimal patients are for this procedure, how to educate patients about drug delivery technology, and share pearls on reimbursement.

  • May 29 · 41 min

    Vision Correction in Complex Corneas

    Neda Shamie, MD, and Neda Nikpoor, MD, are joined by Eva Kim, MD, for a practical conversation on vision correction in patients with keratoconus and postrefractive ectasia. They discuss the evolving role of CXL, strategies for assessing corneal stability after CXL, and how to approach refractive decision-making in complex corneas.

  • February 27 · 39 min

    Negotiating Contracts As Your Career Evolves

    In this episode, Drs. Neda and Neda invite Alyson Carrel, Clinical Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Codirector of its nationally-ranked Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice, to continue discussion on negotiation strategies as one’s career evolves. Listen as Professor Carrel shares tips for physicians on conflict resolution, negotiation of partnership contracts, and more.

  • February 25 · 35 min

    AI Beyond the Clinic

    Cathleen McCabe, MD, speaks with Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, about his recent article in CRST’s January issue, “AI Beyond the Clinic,” which provides a deep dive on how regulation and reimbursement accelerate AI and home monitoring beyond exam lanes and into patients' homes. Dr. Ianchulev shares insights into where AI currently impacts his clinic and the innovation he implements to elevate patient care. Related perspectives appear in the January issue of CRST.

  • February 16 · 30 min

    Evolving the Game Plan: Shifting to Epithelium-On Cross-linking for Keratoconus

    Brandon D. Ayres, MD, continues this series exploring the best practices in keratoconus management with the discussion of the recent FDA approval of Epioxa, an advancement in corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus. Kenneth Beckman, MD, explains what excites him about Epioxa and how it can improve patient comfort and minimize recovery time. The two surgeons also review the role of supplemental oxygen during the procedure and review the Phase 3 pivotal trial data behind Epioxa.

  • Dec 19, 2025 · 24 min

    Next-Gen LASIK, Phakic IOLs, and Vision Beyond 20/20

    Drs. Neda and Neda explore how modern refractive surgery is evolving beyond a one-size-fits-all LASIK model. They discuss next-generation laser vision correction based on highly personalized eye measurements, share real-world pearls on screening and counseling patients, and explain why they now frame patient visits as vision correction consultations rather than LASIK consults. They also touch on when lens-based options may be a better choice and how to build a truly comprehensive refractive practice.

  • Nov 19, 2025 · 23 min

    Diagnostics to Decisions: A Modern Refractive Surgery Mindset

    Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, reframe refractive surgery as a comprehensive vision-correction mindset rather than a single procedure, exploring how advanced diagnostics and disciplined risk stratification guide candidacy and smart decision-making across refractive options. They outline when to pivot—or defer—and emphasize expectation-setting, patient motivation, and screening for medical and psychosocial factors that influence satisfaction.

  • Nov 12, 2025 · 28 min

    Refractive Cataract Roundtables: Optimizing Ocular Surface and IOL Selection

    Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, FRCS, speaks with Christopher E. Starr, MD, FACS, and Brian Shafer, MD, in two short segments drawn from CRST's October cover focus, "Refractive Cataract Roundtables." Dr. Starr reviews a practical approach to preoperative ocular surface optimization—key exam steps, stop-rules before biometry, and simple readiness markers. Dr. Shafer outlines his IOL decision framework, balancing spectacle independence and image quality, who is not a candidate for diffractive optics, and options for residual refractive error. Related perspectives appear in the October issue of CRST.

  • Oct 29, 2025 · 22 min

    Boost Your Keratoconus Cross-linking Game: Oxygen as the MVP

    In this Best Practices in Keratoconus Management podcast episode, Brandon D. Ayres, MD, welcomes Tomas Navratil, PhD, to examine the crucial role of oxygen in corneal crosslinking. Dr. Navratil explains the underlying science of oxygen’s involvement in the crosslinking reaction and how varying oxygen levels can affect treatment efficacy. The discussion highlights emerging strategies and new technologies that aim to optimize oxygen delivery and enhance outcomes for patients with keratoconus.

  • Oct 28, 2025 · 30 min

    Getting Started With SMILE

    In this podcast, Audrey Talley Rostov, MD, and Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, discuss the following topics to help you get started with SMILE: What is SMILE Why they prefer SMILE How to get started with SMILE Common issues when getting started with SMILE: Centration, Identifying Surgical Planes, Difficult Dissections SMILE pre and post operative regimens Where each doctor positions SMILE in their practice

  • Oct 23, 2025 · 41 min

    Social Media That Converts for Refractive Surgeons

    Dagny Zhu, MD, joins Neda Nikpoor, MD, for a discussion on how a refractive surgeon can build an authentic, patient-facing brand on social media. They cover what actually drives consults—relatable education, selective personal storytelling, and platform fit—plus how to address anti-LASIK noise with evidence, handle trolls without grandstanding, and keep a sustainable cadence you’ll stick to.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes