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.