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In this episode, Dr. Chris, the owner of a five-location practice, will take us back to his path after graduating from optometry school.

How he managed to buy his own practice while still in optometry school. 🤔🤔

And how, despite the lack of internet resources, he was able to handle it on his own. 😲😲

About Dr. Chris Smiley:

Dr. Chris Smiley is a 2001 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry where he received the American Optometric Foundation Award for Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care. Shortly after graduating, Dr. Smiley purchased a two location practice in Central, Ohio. He has since grown Vision Professionals into a successful five location, eight doctor private practice. Dr. Smiley practice focuses on medical eye care and specialty contact lenses, including scleral lenses and myopia control.   He is an active consultant, speaker, and clinical investigator for numerous contact lens and pharmaceutical companies.   Dr. Smiley is an Assistant Professor of Optometry at The Ohio State University, where he mentors students that rotate through his practice as part of their fourth-year experience.

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In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Chaglasian, where he will share his insights about the following:

👉 the diagnostics that are available, and also the ability to monitor progression over time.

👉 the significance of devoting time to analyzing quantitative data

👉 the future of glaucoma care in the presence of artificial intelligence

👉 the importance of embracing artificial intelligence to improve the care of glaucoma patients for optometry

About Dr. Michael Chaglasian:

Dr. Michael Chaglasian is an Associate Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry and Chief of Staff of the Illinois Eye Institute. He is a graduate of State University of New York College of Optometry and completed a Residency in Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He is a founding member, Immediate Past President and currently the Executive Vice President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society. 

Dr. Chaglasian’s clinical practice is focused exclusively on patients with glaucoma and related conditions, while co-managing surgical care as well. His research interests include perimeter and OCT technology, particularly in the collection of reference databases.  Dr. Chaglasian has completed many research projects within the glaucoma field and remains actively engaged with new devices and treatments. Dr. Chaglasian has a number of published articles and is passionate about teaching fellow clinicians on the care and management of patients with glaucoma.

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It's our first anniversary and we couldn't thank you enough for the continuous support you have given us. 

Listen to this special episode as we look back and share some of the highlights of the show on our Year One! 

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In this episode we are joined by Dr. Marc Bloomenstein where he will give his perspective on refractive surgery and corneal crosslinking.  

Marc Bloomenstein OD, FAAO

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.

Currently Dr. Bloomenstein is the Director of Optometric Services at the Schwartz Laser Eye Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and President of MRB Eye Consultants. Dr. Bloomenstein is on the editorial board of Primary Care of Optometry News, Review of Optometry, Optometry Times, Modern Optometry, Optometric Management and a frequent contributor to other various optometric journals. Dr. Bloomenstein served as the Chairman of the AOA Continuing Education Committee and served on the board of the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry (OSSO), as well as a founding member of the Optometric Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Society (OCCRS). Dr. Bloomenstein has served as the President of the Arizona Optometric Association, Legislation Chair and President of the Board of the Arizona Optometric Charitable Foundation. Dr. Bloomenstein has delivered over 1500 invited lectures worldwide and serves as a consultant to numerous industry-leading pharmaceutical, biomedical and information technology companies.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jeff Varanelli, and going to get insane in the membrane on the optometric insights show. This is a growing area of interest within eyecare. Both ophthalmology and optometry are embracing this treatment as a viable option for appropriate patients.  We will do a deep dive into this and discuss a clear clinical guidance. 

 If you're someone who wants to grab some clinical pearls, this episode is for you!  Dr. Jeff will share the most common conditions that would benefit from amniotic membranes and how to harness its therapeutic power with your patients.. 

 About Dr. Jeff Varanelli

Dr. Varanelli is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry. Currently, Dr. Varanelli practices at the Simone Eye Center, where he specializes in comprehensive eye care, with an emphasis on the medical and surgical co-management of eye disease. Dr. Varanelli is a member of many local, state, and national societies, including the American Optometric Association and the Michigan Optometric Association, where he served on the Continuing Education Committee, the Recruitment and Retention Committee, and the Nominating Committee. 

 Dr. Varanelli is a Diplomate in the American Board of Optometry, as well as the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a founding member of the Academy’s Anterior Segment Section, a Past Chair, and currently its Vendor Relations Chair. He served as a Clinical Examiner for the National Board of Examiners in optometry, is a past president of the Metropolitan Detroit Optometric Society, as well as a Past President of the Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Council. 

Dr. Varanelli has been a Clinical Associate Professor at the Michigan College  of Optometry, and is a Course Reviewer for the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education. He is a published author and has lectured extensively to the optometric profession and to other health care workers and organizations. He is sought after to lecture on topics related to refractive surgery, anterior segment pathology, dry eye, pharmacology, and other eye care topics. He was awarded the Michigan Optometric Association’s Young Optometrist of the Year in 2004. 

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In today’s episode we are joined by Dr. Greg Caldwell to discuss Optometric Education Consultants (OEC). 

The philosophy of The Optometric Education Consultants (OEC) is to help optometrists enhance care of their patients through timely, clinically pertinent, and highly interactive education. OEC assembles top clinical educators to deliver high-quality COPE-approved continuing education in a relaxed, comfortable setting.

About Dr. Greg Caldwell

Greg Caldwell, O.D., is a 1995 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.  He completed a one-year residency in primary care and ocular disease at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.  He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry (ABO).  He currently works in Duncansville, Pennsylvania as an ocular disease consultant.  Dr. Caldwell’s primary focus is the diagnosis and management of anterior and posterior segment ocular disease, and he has been a participant in multiple FDA investigations and trials.  Dr. Caldwell is a co-founder of Optometric Education Consultants and co-administrator of OCT Connect on Facebook.  Dr. Caldwell has lectured extensively throughout the county and over thirteen countries internationally.  In 2010 he served as President of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) and served on the AOA Board of Trustees 2013-2016.  He is President of the Blair/Clearfield Association for the Blind. 

Randy Kojima is the Clinical Research and Development Director for Precision
Technology based in Vancouver, Canada. He also serves as Research Scientist and
Clinical Instructor at the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove,
Oregon. Additionally, he is a clinical advisor to Medmont Instruments in Melbourne,
Australia.

Randy has published numerous articles and submitted posters on various contact
lens related topics as well as been a contributing author in a number of text book
chapters. He lectures globally and enjoys sharing insights, methods and research
with eye care colleagues from around the world.

Randy is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the British Contact Lens
Association, the Scleral Lens Education Society and the International Academy of
Orthokeratology.

Review for Myopia Management: https://reviewofmm.com/

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