Experts InSight

Drs. Natalie Homer and Andrea Tooley share some major can’t-miss diagnoses in the lids and orbit that carry significant morbidity and mortality, including sebaceous cell carcinoma, orbital tumors, and infectious processes such as mucormycosis and necrotizing fasciitis. Strategies for imaging, histopathology, and management are also discussed. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

A surgical team from NYU Langone Health recently made history when it performed the world's first whole-eye and partial-face transplant in a patient who survived a high-voltage electrical accident. In today's episode, host Dr. Ben Young welcomes Dr. Vaidehi Dedania, a retina specialist and the primary ophthalmologist involved in the case, to discuss the surgery, the patient's progress, and the potential future for similar surgeries. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Adhering to an eye drop regimen can be difficult—especially for elderly patients with glaucoma. Those same patients often face an unexpected additional barrier to care when they run out of their medication and are denied early refills by a pharmacy or coverage by their insurance carrier. In today’s episode, Dr. Kevin McKinney talks about how his own advocacy efforts at the state level helped protect early eye drop refills in Oregon. He advises what other US clinicians can do to advocate for their patients and empower them to receive the care they need, while also helping them administer eye drops effectively. Resources  The latest eye drop prescription refill legislation in your state (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Contact your state’s department of insurance (Forbes) Sample card for patients to use when requesting early refill of an eye drop prescription (Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology) For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

How do you advise patients who need an intraocular tamponade but also plan to travel into areas of high altitude or by air? When should the surgeon opt for silicone oil instead of gas or air? Drs. Sarah Read and Jack Stringham share their experiences and pearls for managing retinal surgery in these challenging cases. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Where do guide dogs come from? How are they trained, and how do they functionally support patients with visual impairment or blindness? What steps should you follow to "prescribe" a guide dog? Which patients qualify, and how much does it cost? In today’s episode, host Dr. Ben Young invites Jake Koch and his dog Forli from Guide Dogs for the Blind to share everything the ophthalmologist needs to know about guide dogs. Learn more about the services offered by Guide Dogs for the Blind. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are new chemotherapeutic agents that can cause significant ocular side effects. Drs. Meghan Berkenstock, Lauren Dalvin, and Stella Kim review this new class of drugs and how they can affect the eye, providing essential tips for what to look for, when to screen, and how to treat the side effects.  Prescribing information mentioned in this episode: Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) Tivdak (tisotumab vedotin-tftv) For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Drs. Maura Di Nicola and Basil Williams sit down with host Dr. Jay Sridhar to review how retinoblastoma treatments have evolved, including discussion of intra-arterial and intravitreal chemotherapy and liquid biopsy using aqueous humor samples. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Dr. Mike Chiang, Dr. Michael Boland, and Kent Mathewson join host Dr. Andrew Pouw to discuss the current state of clinical documentation in ophthalmology, the future of the electronic health record (EHR), the use of scribes, and legal considerations for documentation. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Drs. Julie Falardeau and Mike Lee discuss guidelines and pearls for the management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) during pregnancy and childbirth. They share how pregnancy shifts the evaluation and management of the initial diagnosis of IIH and how it can affect patients who already have a history of the disease. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

Drs. M. Ali Khan, Ajay Kuriyan, and Sarah Read discuss recent developments in intravitreal injectable drugs, including 8-mg aflibercept not approved by FDA, PDUFA date for on-label bevacizumab, and injections for dry AMD. They explore step therapy, biosimilars, and the impact on costs and access. They also cover treatment options and decision-making for AMD patients with geographic atrophy. A casual basketball conversation concludes the podcast.