Experts InSight

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Host Dr. Andrew Pouw welcomes glaucoma specialists Drs. Karam Alawa and Pujan Dave to discuss the sometimes bumpy transition from academia to private practice. The guests highlight clinical operations hurdles, such as navigating clunky EMR systems and prior authorizations, and managing finite staff and resources. Despite administrative hurdles, they emphasize the need for committed "chair time" to counsel patients and alleviate anxiety regarding disease progression.

For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Host Dr. Jay Sridhar is joined by Drs. Naomi Gutkind and Ekjyot (Joey) Gill to discuss staffing ophthalmology residents in surgical training. The early-career faculty share insights on tailoring instruction to resident skill level, delivering feedback at the right moment, and handling complications with empathy.

For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Drs. Michael Ip and Sophie Bakri to discuss the challenges in caring for patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The panel reviews the current approach to treatment using anti-VEGF agents and factors that may suggest a need for more intensive, long-term treatment.

For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.