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American Academy of Ophthalmology

Practical, topical conversations with experts across the spectrum of ophthalmology. Subscribe for the latest information, evidence-based practice standards, and innovations in eye care, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

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Today · 38 min
Medical Misinformation and Glaucoma
Now more than ever, patients and the lay public educate themselves about medical diagnoses and treatments through online resources. But high view counts and production quality don't equate to medical accuracy. In today's episode, host Dr. Andrew Pouw welcomes glaucoma specialist Dr. Soshian Sarrafpour to discuss the alarming rise of dangerous medical misinformation targeting patients on social media and through AI. Because glaucoma is characterized by chronic uncertainty and fear, patients are particularly vulnerable to misleading claims and algorithmic search biases. Dr. Sarrafpour stresses that ophthalmologists must avoid being patently dismissive of information patients may bring to their visits. Instead, validate their concerns with empathy to maintain trust and steer them toward credible medical information and treatment. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
October 29 · 46 min
Retina Clinical Trial Update 2026
Retina is producing Phase 3 results faster than ever, but FDA approval doesn't necessarily convey how a drug will fit into practice. Dr. Ehsan Rahimy joins host Dr. Jay Sridhar to unpack recent and somewhat puzzling trial results involving tyrosine kinase inhibitors, IL-6 inhibition, and the Wnt signaling pathway. They then confront the harder problem: When every trial uses a different population, comparator, and dosing scheme—and none tests against today's second-generation anti-VEGF agents—real-world practice is often shaped by anecdote rather than evidence. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
October 15 · 43 min
AI in the Clinic: Where We Are and Where We're Heading
Artificial intelligence is rapidly recasting how we interact with our world and our patients. In today's epside, host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes Dr. Chris Kelly, Chief Health Information Officer at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), to provide an inside look at tools available in the clinic today, what's on the horizon, and why he's bullish about the future of health care in the AI era. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
October 1 · 45 min
Maternity and Ophthalmology: Practicing While Pregnant
What's a mom-to-be to do if she's also an ophthalmologist? In part 2 of this two-part series, host Dr. Ben Young invites Dr. Fei Cai, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and obstetrician, to review the essentials of pre- and postnatal care, what to be mindful of if practicing while pregnant, and how your residency or fellowship training program can be expected to support you. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
September 18 · 36 min
Maternity and Ophthalmology: The Challenge of Surgery
Can becoming a mother be compatible with being an ophthalmic surgeon? In part one of this two-part series, Host Dr. Ben Young invites Dr. Jaya Kumar to discuss the challenging fertility and maternal health outcomes for female surgeons, her tips for how she practiced while pregnant and then returned successfully to work, and how physicians can support one another in the operating room. Referenced during the episode: MotherToBaby Dr. MILK (Mothers Interested in Lactation Knowledge) Pregnancy Discrimination and Pregnancy-Related Disability Discrimination (US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) ACGME Common Program Requirements Tools for Responding to Patient-Initiated Verbal Sexual Harassment (Eyerounds.org) For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
September 3 · 40 min
We Know It When We See It: Defining Glaucoma
For hundreds of years, ophthalmologists have known what glaucoma is—and yet, we still can't agree on its diagnostic criteria. In today's episode, Drs. Benjamin Xu and Sophia Wang join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to talk about the latest efforts to define glaucoma and the implications for both research and clinical decision-making. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
August 21 · 42 min
Another Consecutive Year of Medicare Cuts
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced more concerning proposals that will affect access to care and reimbursement. Host Dr. Andrew Pouw reconvenes last year's guests from the Academy's DC office—Dr. John McAllister, Brandy Keys, and Rebecca Hyder—to unpack the proposed 2027 Physician Fee Schedule and explain how the changes will disproportionately burden surgical specialties. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
August 6 · 25 min
How the NEI Was Saved
In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young is joined by Dr. Stephen McLeod, Academy CEO, and Rebecca Hyder, Vice President of Governmental Affairs. The panel discusses why we have a National Eye Institute (NEI), how it was successfully preserved as an independent, stand-alone entity within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and what threats to the institute remain on the horizon. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
July 23 · 25 min
A Paradigm Shift in the Clinical Course of TED
In today's episode, host Dr. Amanda Redfern welcomes Dr. Madhura Tamhankar to discuss a new study using IRIS Registry and Komodo Health claims data that upends Rundle's 1940s biphasic model of thyroid eye disease (TED). Drawing on more than 34,000 patients with 5-year median follow-up, Dr. Tamhankar's study found that even among patients with initially mild disease, 1 in 3 progress within 5 years, with rates climbing from 12% at year 1 to 38% by year 8. Dr. Tamhankar reviews the study's methodology and its implications for patient care, including surgical timing, informed consent, and specialist referral. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
July 9 · 41 min
The American Board of Ophthalmology: New Leadership and a Look Ahead
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Dr. Steven Gedde, the incoming CEO of the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), to discuss his outlook on medical education and the evolving board certification process. As medical knowledge now doubles approximately every 60 days, Dr. Gedde envisions the ABO shifting its focus from testing facts to assessing skills like communication, professionalism, and the use of technology. Although current surgical assessments focus on knowledge and decision-making, future evaluations may leverage AI and virtual reality to test technical competence. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
June 25 · 36 min
Examining Reapplication to the Ophthalmology Residency Match
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes ophthalmology program directors Drs. Chris Alabiad and Alice Zhang to discuss the ophthalmology residency match, the rising pool of reapplicants to the field, and how to mentor and advise students pursuing reapplication. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
June 11 · 14 min
Central Retinal Artery Occlusions Revisited: Thoughts on TenCRAOS
Do the benefits really outweigh the risks when it comes to the use of thrombolytic drugs for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)? Drs. Amanda Henderson and Michael Carper weigh in on the recently published Tenecteplase in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Study (TenCRAOS) and how ophthalmologists should proceed in their management of CRAO with tenecteplase (TNK) or another tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
May 28 · 30 min
Challenges in DME: the Evolution of Fluid Management
With an abundance of therapeutic options for managing diabetic macular edema (DME), what patient characteristics inform your treatment decisions? Does the number of loading doses influence long-term macular fluid outcomes? How are you managing insurance-mandated step-therapy in your patients? In today's episode, host Dr. Jay Sridhar invites Drs. Durga Borkar and Carl Danzig to share how they've integrated new anti-VEGF therapies into clinical practice. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
May 14 · 42 min
Of MIPS and Medicine: The Game of Cost Control and Reimbursements
Is the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) fulfilling its intended purpose, or is it just causing headaches? Dr. George Williams and Joe Reyes join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to share their expertise and experience with MIPS, including its evolution from prior medical cost control policies and how ophthalmologists can use the IRIS Registry to meet reporting requirements. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts
April 30 · 32 min
Improving the Scientific Peer Review Process
Drs. Durga Borkar and Katherine Talcott join host Dr. Jay Sridhar to brainstorm ideas for how to maintain and improve the current scientific peer review process in ophthalmology. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts
April 16 · 24 min
Interferon Alpha for Cystoid Macular Edema
Drs. Eric Suhler and Nick Butler join host Dr. Ben Young to discuss an old treatment for cystoid macular edema (CME) that may be new to many of us: interferon alpha. They review its use, side effects, and success thus far. Relevant papers discussed in this episode: Treatment of refractory cystoid macular edema with pegylated interferon alfa-2A: a retrospective chart review Interferon alpha 2b in the treatment of uveitic cystoid macular edema For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts
April 2 · 37 min
Epiphora from Infancy to Adulthood
Dr. Scott Goldstein joins host Dr. Amanda Redfern to share his approach to managing nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in kids and his 3-step test for evaluating epiphora in adults, including how to identify complicating factors that may warrant surgical or procedural intervention. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
March 19 · 35 min
Advocating for Advocacy
In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young welcomes 3 core members of the Academy's Advocacy team: Dr. John McAllister, Secretary for Federal Affairs; Dr. John Peters, Secretary for State Affairs; and Rebecca Hyder, Vice President of Government Affairs. The panel discusses why routine patient care and advocacy go hand in hand, and how ophthalmologists can be better advocates for our patients at the clinic, local, state, and federal level. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
March 6 · 39 min
Nicotinamide Neuroprotection for Glaucoma
Host Dr. Andrew Pouw welcomes Drs. Gustavo De Moraes, Aakriti Shukla, and Simon John to discuss their team's work spanning the full arc of nicotinamide as a neuroprotection candidate for glaucoma, from bench to clinical trials. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.
February 20 · 33 min
The Hospital-Based Ophthalmologist and Focused Practice Designation
Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Dr. Sarwar Zahid to unpack a recent American Journal of Ophthalmology perspective essay on the growing segment of hospital-employed ophthalmologists. They examine the appeal of the hospitalist model—shift-based work, reduced administrative burden, and work-life balance—alongside potential drawbacks, including income ceilings, RVU pressure, and burnout. The conversation broadens to declining physician ownership, the challenges of hospital call coverage, and the downstream threat to residency training. The episode finally shifts to whether a focused practice designation (FPD) could help define subspecialty expertise, improve patient care, and give ophthalmologists a stronger seat at the bargaining table. Discussed in this episode: Thomson M, Browning DJ. The Hospital Employed Ophthalmologist: A Growing Segment of the Profession. Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 Jan 18;284:208-215. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

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