The MOD Pod

In this episode, Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO, speaks with Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, about her work in neuro-optometric care. She describes the types of patients treated at her practice, including those with traumatic brain injuries, concussion, or stroke. Her practice also manages patients with eye movement problems associated with neurodevelopmental conditions. Listen to gain insights on how primary care optometric practices can collaborate with neuro-optometry.

In the 2025 summary podcast hosted by Dr. Jacob Lang, Dr. Diana Chu shares practical, technology-driven strategies to streamline operations, improve patient flow, and strengthen team communication. Dr. Jason Compton discusses how independent practices can thrive through cash-pay models, automation, and creative service design.

In the first half of this episode, podcast host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, and Carlo Pelino, OD, FAAO, discuss metabolic syndrome and the many ways it can affect the eye. Next, Dr. Koetting interviews Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO, about the changing landscape of geographic atrophy management, including imaging and comanagement pearls. 

Damon Dierker, OD, FAAO, joins host Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, to discuss recent innovations in technology to help manage ocular surface disease. Dr. Dierker details his experience using Tixel (Novoxel), a treatment that uses controlled heat to treat evaporative dry eye disease by unclogging meibomian glands and enhancing tear stability. The two physicians further review additional technologies that have improved their ability to manage ocular surface disease in patients.

In the first half of this episode, podcast host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, and Jill Gottehrer, OD, discuss the best ways to comanage patients with age-related macular degeneration. In the second half, Dr. Koetting talks with Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, about new tools to help manage patients, including home monitoring, photobiomodulation, AI, and more.

In this episode, Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, invites Nicholas Bruns, OD, FAAO, to share advice for how to talk to patients about the pros and cons of different refractive procedures like LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), and EVO ICL (Staar Surgical) implantation. Dr. Bruns reviews the potential advantages of ICLs over LASIK, and how to determine and educate the ideal patients for each procedure, ensuring they understand the value of each option. 

In the fourth podcast episode, Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, leads a discussion on functional vision testing, workflow integration, and real-world cases with Paul Hammond, OD, and Jason Compton, OD, FAAO, that demonstrates how advanced diagnostics improve outcomes and strengthen patient trust. The panel also gives expert insights into practicality and how to best incorporate new equipment with both practice staff and patient conversation. 

Shora Ansari, OD, MS, FAAO, shares her perspective on advances in myopia managment with podcast host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, in the first half of this episode of The MOD Pod. Then, Christopher Lopez, OD, joins to discuss the importance of understanding recent tax and student loan legislation that may affect optometrists from a financial standpoint.

Marc R. Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, invites Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, to review current treatments for pediatric myopia control and share insights into how to talk to patients and their parents about this condition. Dr. Rhue also describes a calculator to help physicians predict myopia in children and slow progression.

On this episode of The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, welcomes Chandler R. Mann II, OD, and Nathan Schramm, OD, to discuss the value of contact lenses for patients of all ages. First, Dr. Mann discusses caring for contact lens wearers throughout their life, from myopia control to presbyopia management. In part 2 of the episode, Nathan Schramm, OD, focuses on treating keratoconus, including when it's time for corneal crosslinking and fitting scleral lenses after the procedure.