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In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Ben Sullivan, and having a wide breadth of knowledge around eyecare and tears, Dr. Ben will share with us the following:

✅ what drove him to dig into eyecare, tears, and science

✅ how testosterone works for hyperosmolar patients

✅ the etiology of dry eye and understanding its importance

✅ how important lipids are

✅ perspective on osmolarity through elegant studies

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝘿𝙧. 𝘽𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙣

Benjamin Sullivan is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of TearLab Corp. He graduated summa cum laude from Boston University in 1997 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. He went on to research the effects of dry eye disease on molecular profiles of the tear film while at the Schepens Eye Research Institute affiliate of Harvard Medical School, prior to obtaining his Ph.D. in Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego, with a focus on applied nanotechnology for cancer diagnosis. 

Benjamin holds dozens of patents across the fields of ophthalmology, biotechnology, and early cancer detection, and his ideas have been the foundation for multiple successful companies, each of which has deployed hundreds of millions of dollars to help the cause of medicine. His current work is focused on applied electromechanical phenomena at the nanoscale with an emphasis on improving the specificity of diagnostic assays. Benjamin is also currently a co-founder and Director of Lµbris BioPharma LLC.

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EPISODE 83: Why Eyecare with Dr. Holly Swain

Check out this new episode to hear from Dr. Swain about how transformative technologies are changing the way we #careforpatients.

In this episode, Dr. Swain will discuss with us the following:

•  Her involvement in the technology working with the company that change the way to do tonometry
•  Her current role in their company now
•  A sneak-peek of any technologies that we may be seeing in the next several years

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝘿𝙧. 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙣

Holly Swain, OD, received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ferris State University and her Doctor of Optometry degree, from Illinois College of Optometry in 1999. Following optometry school, Dr. Swain focused on helping physicians meet their practice needs by bringing her clinical experience to the industry. In her current role, Dr. Swain serves as the VP of Medical and Professional Affairs for iCare USA. 

When she is not working, Dr. Swain enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys who proudly serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.  

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In this episode, we will be joined by Dr. Chelsea Bradley and we're going to talk about the dirty side of contact lens solutions.

Episode Highlights: 

• Dr. Bradly will share her insights about the following:
• The genesis of their work is to give an update on contact lens solutions.
•  What she learned about some things that she didn't remember from optometry school or residency.
•  Some major preservatives, how they differ, why switch from one to another and how does it work clinically.
•  Common side effects of these preservatives.
•  Where does she stand with solutions, and how should they direct clinicians to be thinking about the solutions they're picking.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙮, 𝙊𝘿, 𝙁𝘼𝘼𝙊

— Doctor of Optometry

— Residency trained in Cornea and Contact Lens, UC Berkeley School of Optometry, 2019-2020

— Passionate about providing excellent patient care by maintaining the highest standard of full-scope and innovative optometric practice

— Recognized in the cornea and contact lens and broader optometry community for continuing education, national presentations, research, and helping teach the next generation of excellent optometrists.

— Graduated from UC Berkeley School of Optometry c/o 2019

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In this episode, Dr. Matt will share with us the following:

• Some of the opportunities and challenges with the line of sight and multifocal contact lenses
•  How poorly centered some of these contact lenses are. 
•  Understanding the Sagittal Depth of contact lenses, the variability that exists in that Sagittal Depth, and the influence on fit. 
•  Clinical findings that they found with the various SAG heights and some of the clinical considerations that need to be taken into account.
•  A place where we could actually access this resource.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝘿𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖

Matthew Lampa received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, OR.  After graduation, he completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at Pacific University College of Optometry.  He is currently a Professor at Pacific University College of Optometry where he is involved with specialty contact lens fitting, contact lens instruction, and clinical research.  He is also currently an associate in private practice in Silverton, Oregon.

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Are you a student who will be graduating from optometry school soon? 🤔🤔

We understand that leaving or graduating from optometry school with debt can be stressful.

This episode is dedicated to you!

In this episode, we'll go over some solid debt-management tips and advice that will help you in your first few years after graduation. Tips on how to ensure that you are not just paying off your student debt or loans, but also creating a financially secure environment and thinking about long-term goals! 🤗🤗

What's even more amazing is that this advice came from someone who graduated only 5 years ago with a six-figure student loan debt but is now almost debt-free. Isn't that amazing?! 😲

About Dr. Michael O’Neal:

 Dr. Michael O’Neal earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2017. Dr. O’Neal currently practices at Dunes Eye Consultants in Dakota Dunes, SD. He is a member of the American Optometric Association, the South Dakota Optometric Society, and the Iowa Optometric Association. 

Dr. O’Neal focuses on comprehensive well-vision exams for patients of all ages. He provides specialized clinical care for glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, dry eye, headache management and specialty contact lenses. 

Additionally, Dr. O’Neal is the director of the Myopia Management Center at Dunes Eye Consultants. He is currently a principal investigator for a FDA clinical trial, which is evaluating specialty spectacle lenses that slow the progression of myopia.  

Dr. O’Neal and his wife, Lindsey, have one daughter: Peyton. They enjoy traveling as a family. 

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What’s inside this episode? 🧐🧐

Dr. Nathan will answer the following questions:

❓ How many states now have access for optometrists to be able to be licensed and certified for lasers and injections?

❓ Of those that have the certification, how many are actively utilizing lasers in their offices?

❓ What does it cost an office to put in a laser to perform a YAG capsulotomy?

❓ How does the conversation change with glaucoma patients? (Somebody that’s either newly diagnosed or taking a medication to realize the ease of providing SLT)

About Dr. Nathan Lighthizer:

Born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, Dr. Nate Lighthizer, O.D., F.A.A.O., is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry.  Upon graduation, he completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry with an emphasis in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO).  

Dr. Lighthizer has since joined the faculty at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and serves as the Chief of Specialty Care Clinics and the Chief of Electrodiagnostics Clinic.   In 2014, he founded and now heads the Dry Eye Clinic at the College of Optometry.  Also in 2014, he was named the Director of Continuing Education as well as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Care Services at the Oklahoma College of Optometry.  Starting in 2020, he was named the Associate Dean of the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry.  

He is a founding member, and currently serves as President, of the Intrepid Eye Society which is a group of emerging thought leaders in optometry.  He was named a member of PCON 250 – A list of the top 250 optometrists in the country who practice progressively, provide innovative patient care, conduct optometric research or excel in academia and share what they have learned with other optometrists to advance the profession.  Dr. Lighthizer lectures nationally and internationally on numerous topics, most notably advanced ophthalmic procedures, electrodiagnostics, and ocular disease.