The MOD Pod

How have innovations in surgical instrumentation created an environment in which surgeons are more comfortable performing vitrectomy for vitreous opacities? In the final episode of the miniseries “Modern Management of Vitreous Opacities,” a panel comprised of Walt Whitley, OD, MBA; Alison Early, MD; John Kitchens, MD; and Christina Weng, MD, MBA, discuss the specific innovations that have improved surgical precision and safety, and review which patients are best suited for prompt referral upon presentation of vitreous opacities. 

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Which elements of examination must optometrists perfect in order to provide an effective referral for patients with vitreous opacities? On this second episode of the miniseries “Modern Management of Vitreous Opacities,” the panel comprised of Walt Whitley, OD, MBA; Alison Early, MD; John Kitchens, MD; and Christina Weng, MD, MBA, review which elements of examination are most relevant for this condition, which imaging platforms are useful (and not so useful) for documenting vitreous opacities, and the appropriate length of time between patient presentation and surgical intervention. 

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 In the first of this episode's two articles, author Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, presents best practices for managing acute ocular pain (1:13). Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, ends the episode by separating the myths from the facts in a discussion on platelet-rich plasma eye drops for the treatment of dry eye disease (9:40).

How can optometrists properly document history for patients presenting with symptomatic vitreous opacities? On this debut episode of the miniseries “Modern Management of Vitreous Opacities,” a panel comprised of Walt Whitley, OD, MBA; Alison Early, MD; John Kitchens, MD; and Christina Weng, MD, MBA, review the specifics of recording symptoms and establishing a timeline for patients with symptomatic vitreous opacities, and discuss whether a standardized methodology for gathering history would have any utility in modern practice. 

This editorially independent podcast is supported with advertising.

This month's episode of The MOD Pod features two articles on the posterior segment. First, hear Jessica Haynes, OD, FAAO, describe the true effect of lapses in care as she talks about how COVID kept retina patients out of her office and led to poorer outcomes for many (1:10). Then, Inrava Khasnabish, OD, FAAO, offers some guidelines for managing patients with diabetic retinopathy, including a review of its stages, and when patients should be referred for care (10:08).

The season finale of The MOD Pod’s mini series Genetics and Eyecare Today features Nicole Fram, MD, and Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA. Dr. Fram explains what corneal collagen crosslinking is and shares her protocol for administering the therapy. She also describes the typical situation in which she uses genetic testing using AvaGen™, The Genetic Eye Test (Avellino). Dr. Barnett speaks to the importance of evaluating the family members of patients with keratoconus and explains why she uses genetic testing to screen patients in her practice.

Nicole Fram, MD, and Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA

In this month's episode, Lori Latowski Grover, OD, PhD, explains why comprehensive eye examinations remain the best approach to improving population health (1:21). Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO, shares a patient case with a twist that taught him that sometimes obvious findings lead you down the wrong diagnostic path (14:27).

How can retina surgeons work with optometrists to create a framework that best manages the cases of patients with vitreous opacities? To answer this question, John Kitchens, MD, turns to Tarek Hassan, MD, and Walt Whitley, OD, MBA. The panel discusses how collaboration can transition patients smoothly to surgical consultation, the anatomy of a referral, and if some patients are better suited for surgery than others. 

Rebecca Miller, OD, shares her approach to being her patients' trusted source for answers about refractive surgery (00:52). Also, Thomas Chester, OD, FAAO, offers strategies for the successful preoperative management of ocular surface disease in order to avoid surprises after cataract or refractive surgery (6:40). And Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, discusses a new glaucoma management tool that measures what eye care providers strive to improve: outflow (16:14).

In this special edition episode of The MOD Pod’s mini series Genetics and Eyecare Today, three well-known eye care practitioners discuss patient cases that involve the use of genetic testing with AvaGen™, The Genetic Eye Test (Avellino), and weigh in on how this information factors into decisions about each patient's course of treatment.