For the 15th episode of Critical Issues In Eyecare: An MD/OD Conversation, we are joined by Thomas Pusateri, MD to discuss the eyewear optical and its place in modern eyecare.   Among other topics we ask Dr. Pusateri:      1. Eyecare professionals are concerned about decreasing reimbursement. Is optical an answer to this?   2. Why don't more ophthalmologists have opticals? 3. Do you think online eyewear is a big concern? 4. In your opinion, does having a successful optical affect your relationship with ODs? Can an MD have an optical without threatening OD co-management relationships? 5. How do MDs learn about optical management? Was this part of your training? 6. How does having an optical within an MD practice improve the quality of care to patients?

 

About Dr. Pusateri:

Thomas Pusateri, MD is an owner of Florida Eye Center in Tampa, FL. Dr. Pusateri, a native of Chicago, was honored with the Dean’s award as USF School of Medicine’s Outstanding 1984 graduate. He received advanced medical training at Northwestern University in Chicago and the University of South Florida. A member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Pusateri is a comprehensive ophthalmologist treating patients of all ages. He has special interests in pediatric eye care and complex glaucoma management including SLT laser treatment. 

For this episode of Critical Issues in Eyecare: An MD/OD Conversation, we feature a conversation with one of the world's experts in myopia control, Dr. Jeff Waline from The Ohio State University. The myopia epidemic is an an incredibly hot topic in vision care. And we are lucky to have had this opportunity to talk to Dr. Walline.    These are some of the questions that hosts Nate Bonilla-Warford, OD and Mitchel Jackson, MD, ask him   1. Some doctors feel that the 'myopia epidemic' is due to increased detection of myopia. What evidence do you share with them to persuade them that there is an increase in myopia? 2. What are the causes of the this increase? 3. What are the most effective methods of myopia control? Which is most commonly employed? 4. What forms of myopia control fair the best in terms of rebound after cessation of treatment? 5. How beneficial is myopia control if the child still has to wear glasses or contact lenses to be able to see? 6. Do you anticipate sending kids for collagen crosslinking once FDA approved? 7. What's in the works regarding the study of soft multifocal contacts for myopia control? What are some research/papers that will be coming out on this topic?    About Dr. Walline:   Jeffrey J. Walline, OD PhD received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry in 1996, and he received a Master’s degree in Physiological Optics from The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 1998. He completed a PhD degree in Vision Science from The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2002. Dr. Walline has conducted several pediatric contact lens studies to evaluate the effect of contact lens wear on myopia progression and children's self-perceptions. Dr. Walline is the Chair of the Bifocal Lenses In Nearsighted Kids (BLINK) Study, a multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolling nearly 300 children that is sponsored by the National Eye Institute. He also teaches Vision of Children and Specialty Contact Lenses to third year optometry students. Dr. Walline also founded the Kids Contact Lens Clinic at the Ohio State University College of Optometry. He examines patients and provides contact lens care and myopia control to young children.    

On the 13th episode of of Critical Issues in Eyecare: An MD/OD Conversation, Toby Tyson, MD joins regular hosts Mitch Jackson, MD, and Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD to talk about the possibly upcoming ophthalmology shortage. The show also included dialogue on delivering quality care to a large number of patients, technology and efficiency, and the impact on OD/MD relationships.

About Toby Tyson, MD

Dr.  Tyson practices among an elite group of eye physicians leading the research and development of new treatments for cataracts and eye diseases. A Johns Hopkins graduate with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Tyson’s contributions continue to assist ophthalmologists worldwide in their ability to offer patients new advancements in vision technology. Dr. Tyson is one of the first in the world to utilize Intraoperative Wavefront Technology during cataract surgery, a technology that will revolutionize cataract surgery. Using sophisticated instruments, Dr. Tyson is able to capture real-time refractive measurements of the patient’s eye during surgery. This advanced approach will allow ophthalmologists to tailor intraoperative lenses immediately, reducing or even eliminating the need for postoperative surgery and/or postoperative eyeglasses.

Dr. Tyson continues to advance ophthalmic treatments in the area of refractive surgery, performing custom wavefront LASIK, clear lens extraction, implanting contact lenses (ICL) and providing astigmatism reduction.

A clinical investigator for numerous studies reviewed by the FDA, Dr. Tyson has demonstrated and lectured on his research and experiences to fellow Ophthalmologists nationwide, and at such prestigious venues as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Turkish Glaucoma Congress in Izmir, the Russian National Ophthalmology Congress in Moscow, the Pan African American Congress of Ophthalmology in Dubai and the Congresses of the European Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in England, Portugal, and Spain. He recently presented at the First International Symposium of Dhahran Eye Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

 

 

Former president of the American Optometric Association Dori Carlson joins Mitch Jackson, MD and Nate Bonilla-Warford, OD to talk about about the 2012 AOA/ASCO optometry workforce study

In this episode: 

• A breif review of the the workforce study. 
• Is there any way this "adequate" supply can be good for the average optometrist?
• The changing gender ratio of optometrists and what implications this has for the next generation.
• The advent of technologies that allow a high level of delegation allows ODs to see a substantial amount of more patients and its effect on OD supply.
• How the increasing OD:OMD ratio over the next decade will change the relationship?
• What can optometry learn from the oversupply and resultant backlash in the field of law?

About Dori Carlson, OD

Dr. Carlson is a 1989 graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, OR. She then completed a residency in Hospital-based Rehabilitative Optometry at the American Lake and Seattle VA. In 1990 she opened Heartland Eye Care. Dr. Carlson is active in the North Dakota Optometric Association (having served as the first female President in 1998), the American Optometric Association and the American Public Health Association. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

In 2004 Dr. Carlson was elected to the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees. In June of 2010 she was elected to the position of President Elect and became the Association’s first female President in June 2011.

In 1995 Dr. Carlson was honored as the North Dakota Young Optometrist of the Year and Optometrist of the Year in 2003.

 

This episode features of Kirk Smick, OD of the Clayton Eye Center discussing spectacle lenses. 

• For optometrists, is the pendulum swinging back from medical emphasis to visual/refractive care? How is this related to manpower?
• With ODs practice more medically and some ophthalmologist adding opticals to their practice, how do you think optometrists balance the medical conditions and refractive needs of patients? 
• How is prescribing of lenses is different than it was in 2000?
• There are some optometrists that doubt the benefits of modern lens designs. Why do you think this is? What will it take to change this?
• What is exciting to you about lens prescribing right now?
• What about the new blue filtering lens options? 

 

About Dr. Smick:

Dr. Kirk Smick is Chief of Optometry Services at Clayton Eye Center and an owner of the facility. He graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry and was drafted in the first Doctor’s draft by the US Army. After serving five years of active duty, Dr. Smick began the Clayton Eye Center in 1974 and continued to serve in the Air National Guard, retiring at the rank of Colonel.

Dr. Smick is a highly recognized optometrist in the United States. He has been awarded the "Optometrist of the Year" award for the state of Georgia and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. He has also served as President of the Georgia Optometric Association, the Georgia State Board of Examiners in Optometry and the Southern Council of Optometrists. He is a frequent lecturer in the U.S. and abroad and currently serves as Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee for the American Optometric Association.

Dr. Smick also serves as a technical advisor to many companies in the ophthalmic industry and has helped pioneer several visual advances, including bifocal contact lenses.

Dr. Smick has been highly active in community affairs. He is a past president of the Rotary Club and the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. He is also a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, a prestigious one-year community service program.

Our host Nate Bonilla-Warford, OD talks with Jeff Wipfli, MD, cataract surgeon at St. Lukes Cataract and Laser Institute in the Tampa Bay area. 

Drs. Bonilla-Warford and Wipfli talk about modern cataract surgery in a high-volume pracitce:

- What are some principles that make a high-volume surgery center successful?

- What is your staffing structure like to support this? - What steps are taken to reduce bottlenecks in patient flow? - What role does patient education play in setting patient expectations? - How what are the benefits and challenges of staff delegation? - How has modern diagnostic equipment changed this flow? - How is cataract surgery imrroved over time?

About Dr. Wipfli:

Dr. Wipfli completed his residency training at the St. Louis University Eye Institute in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received the Rabani Award for Excellence in Patient Care. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and was named Pre-Professional Student of the Year. Before joining St. Luke's, Dr. Wipfli spent nine years in private practice in Oklahoma. Dr. Wipfli has performed more than 40,000 ophthalmic surgeries, including more than 30,000 advanced cataract surgeries.

Join Nate and Mitch as we talk about critical issues in cataract surgery with Kerry Solomon, MD. 

Topics include:

- Recent tefractive changes in cataract surgey

- How many cataract patients want to be less dependent on glasses

- Are there trends in multifocal IOLs use?

- What kind of language is best to discuss cataract surgery options?

- What are upcoming changes in cataract technology?

- What about improving compliance with patient post-op eye drops?

- What are the biggest reasons that patients delay cataract surgery?

 

About our guest: 

Dr. Solomon has been named one of the “Best Doctors in America” for cataract and refractive (vision correction) surgery. Many popular magazines and newspapers have recognized Dr. Solomon, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Money, Redbook, and Readers Digest. You may have seen him on NBC’s Today and in Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, a PBS series that aired in more than 140 countries.

Dr. Solomon has been named to the Executive Committee and Governing Board of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS).

 

For this episode we are joined by Marc Bloomenstein, OD. 

We continue the discussion of MD/OD relationships within the pracitce. Some of the questions that are asked are:

• What is the dynamic like between MD and OD in within his practice?
• Does this change in response to demand or due to strategic planning?
• Who presents the options to the patients, the OD or the MD?
• How is technology used in the practice?
• How to minimize disagreements between professionals?
• How does having ODs and optical in a surgerical practice affect referal patterns to the practice?

About our guest:

Dr. Marc R. Bloomenstein is a 1990 graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in Biology. He received his optometric degree from the New England College of Optometry in 1994. After graduation, Dr. Bloomenstein finished a residency in secondary ophthalmic care at the Barnet Dulaney Eye Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He received his fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry in December, 1998 and is a founding member of the Optometric Council on Refractive Technology. Moreover, Dr. Bloomenstein is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Southern California College of Optometry and New England College of Optometry.

Currently, Dr. Bloomenstein is at the Schwartz Laser Eye Center. Aside from lecturing and publishing on numerous anterior segment and refractive topics, Dr. Bloomenstein is on the editorial board of Primary Care of Optometry and Contemporary Optometry. Dr. Bloomenstein served as the President of the Arizona Optometric Association, as well as an Optometric Advisor to STAAR Surgical and Medtronics Solan. Dr. Bloomenstein is the President of the Board of the Arizona Optometric Charitable Foundation. Dr. Bloomenstein does not have any financial interest in products discussed in his lectures. 

 

 

 

For this episode of Critical Issues in Eyecare, an MD/OD conversation, Nathan Bonilla-Waford, OD and Mitch Jackson, MD talk about the nature of the relationships between MDs and ODs. 

Here are some topics covered:

• How has the MD/OD relationship has changed over the last 20 years? Better, worse, or no different?
• Is there is a great difference in this relationship between the personal level and the national organization level?
• Has the OD expanding scope has on this relationship? 
• Has the change in technology such as as EMR and diagnostic equipment have affected the MD/OD relationship?

For episode #6 of Critical Issues in Eye Care, Drs. Norieka and Bonilla-Warford are joined by Dr. Mitch Jackson - noted cataract surgeon (and DJ!). The topic is XFraction and the various ways it is useful in the eye care setting.

About Dr. Jackson: 

Mitchell A. Jackson, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery. He received his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, completed his internship at Columbus Hospital and his Ophthalmology residency at University of Chicago Hospitals. Currently, Dr. Jackson is the Founder/Medical Director of Jacksoneye and is also a clinical assistant at the University of Chicago Hospitals.

Dr. Jackson has extensive experience in laser vision correction, performing over 30,000 LASIK procedures since its FDA approval for use in 1995. Confident in laser vision correction, Dr. Jackson experienced the LASIK procedure as a patient in May 2000 and is able to explain the procedure from a patient's perspective.

Dr. Jackson is involved in many phase 2, 3 and 4 FDA clinical trials such as the the surachoroidal stent for glaucoma treatment at the time of cataract surgery, the One-Piece Tecnis Multifocal Lens Implant, collagen cross-linking for keratoconus and post-Lasik ectasia, and Dry Eye Treatments including the Tear Science device for lid margin disease. He is also the Medical Monitor on various other ophthalmic studies such as intracameral pharmaceuticals in cataract surgery, and serves as the US Ambassador for the Laser ACE procedure for presbyopia being performed internationally.