As preservative-free eye drops become more common, one has to wonder why it is so important to reduce our use of preservatives.  What kind of toxicity do preservatives wreak on the eye?  And without preservatives, are eye drops still as effective and resistant to infection?  Especially in the realms of dry eye and glaucoma, how have preservative free drops started to change the landscape, and what can we expect moving forward? Denmark's Dr. Miriam Kolko joins the podcast. 

This episode is sponsored by Thea Pharma Canada - https://www.theapharma.ca

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Acanthamoeba keratitis can be one of the most devastating diagnoses in ophthalmology, as it can wreak havoc on the cornea unlike few other microbes.  On the same token, if caught early, acanthamoeba can be treated quite efficiently and effectively, and patients can have minimal, if any, long-term visual sequelae.  Given acanthamoeba is such a dreaded diagnosis, just the thought of it can invoke fear into the ophthalmologist.  And while many of us might have a basic approach to acanthamoeba, we also surely have blind spots in our diagnosis and management of this condition, as evidenced by many patients being diagnosed weeks after it occurs. Dr. Chris Rapuano joins the podcast to discuss this important condition. 

This episode is sponsored by Thea Pharma Canada - https://www.theapharma.ca 

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For decades now, we have been able to offer anti-VEGF treatments to patients with wet AMD.  Yet for dry AMD, there have been few options we can recommend to our patients outside of AREDS formulations and lifestyle modifications.  But with newer scientific advances, there are indeed new classes of injectable medications that are now being offered to some patients wtih dry AMD.  Retinal specialist Dr. Ashkan Abbey joins the podcast to share the latest research. 

This episode is sponsored by Thea Pharma Canada - https://www.theapharma.ca 

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The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) has taken the refractive world by storm over the past couple of years, with an excitement that rivals the enthusaism for the latest multifocals or EDOFs to come on the market.  So what's all the hype?  How does this lens actually work?  And even if the refractive results are impressive, do patients really want to wear UV-blocking lenses for weeks following surgery?  Is the time and cost investment worth it for patietns? Dr. Ralph Chu joins the podcast.  

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One of the most common clinical presentations to ophthalmologist is 'the eyelid lesion'.  While sometimes it might seem obvious what the diagnosis is, other times it's tough to make a spot diagnosis or even to decipher whether the lesion is concerning or not.  So what are some helpful examination tips to help us discern the benign from the malignant?  Oculoplastics specialist Dr. Lisa Jagan joins the podcast to share an effective approach on how to decide what types of eyelid lesions warrant a biopsy. 

This episode is sponsored by Sun Pharma Canada - https://sunpharma.com/canada/

Check out Lid Express to help expedite a patient's referral for an eyelid lesion - https://clarityeye.ca/services/lid-express/ 

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Extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses have transofmed the intraocular lens (IOL) landscape.  As opposed to the binary choice of a monofocal or a multifocal IOL, there is an 'in-between' option that allows for more intermediate vision than monofocal lenses but less dysphotopsias than the mutifocal lenses.  How do these lenses work, how should we explain them to patients, and what are the factors that guide our decisions on lens selection? Dr. Eric Donnenfeld joins the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by SunPharma Canada - https://sunpharma.com/canada/

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Cataracts and AMD are two of the most common ocular pathologies.  But in patients who have both conditions, are there special considerations that should be taken into account?  Should cataract surgey potentially be delayed in AMD patients because a protective effect of the cataract?  Does cataract surgery exacerbate AMD and potentially lead to progression to geographic atrophy or conversion to wet AMD?  Dr. Ashkan Abbey joins the podcast. 

This episode is sponsored by Sun Pharma Canada - https://sunpharma.com/canada/

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Pterygium surgery is one of the more common procedures performed by ophthalmologists.  Yet despite how common it is, multiple techniques are used by different doctors.  In this episode, Dr. Allan Slomovic joins the podcast to share tips on pterygium removal, indications for excision, and pearls on recurrent pterygia.  

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July is Dry Eye Awareness month.  In this episode, five cornea specialists each contribute a tip on how to better diagnose and manage dry eye.  Speakers includ Dr. Clara Chan, Dr. Chris Rapuano, Dr. Ashley Brissette, Dr. Tanya Trinh, and host Dr. Zale Mednick. 

This episode is sponsored by Sun Pharma Canada

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While there are specific guidelines for diagnosis, not every patient falls easily into a particular category of glaucoma.  Many times, it can be challenging to place some patients neatly into one of the glaucoma buckets.  So what are some tips that can help us in diagnosing these grey cases that may or may not be glaucoma?  And how does this impact treatment decisions? Are there certain cases in which it’s okay to monitor a patient and wait for glaucoma progression?  Or should all patients suspected of having glaucoma be treated at the first visit? Dr. Irfan Kherani joins the podcast.

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