CRST: The Podcast

Епизоди

• UNITYtime Podcast Episode 1: Real-World Experience with UNITY® VCS | CS 30.06.2026 40мин

  Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC; and Matthew Rauen, MD Join Dr. Ashley Brissette and Dr. Matthew Rauen for the first episode of the UNITYtime Podcast—a new series focused on the real impact of extraordinary experiences with UNITY® VCS |CS. In this inaugural episode, they share early impressions of UNITY® VCS | CS, including insights on workflow, team experience, and considerations when transitioning from established platforms. Through a candid, peer-to-peer conversation, they offer practical perspectives on adopting new technology into everyday clinical practice. Whether you're evaluating new surgical platforms or looking to learn from your peers, this episode provides a thoughtful, real-world look at the UNITY® VCS| CS experience.
• Refractive Lens Exchange and the Evolving Surgical Management of Presbyopia 04.06.2026 21мин

  George O. Waring IV, MD, FACS, speaks with Dagny C. Zhu, MD, about refractive lens exchange and her same-day bilateral refractive lens exchange workflow in an office-based surgery setting. Dr. Zhu discusses how refractive lens exchange fits into her cash-pay refractive practice, how her team screens and evaluates candidates, and the steps involved when patients proceed from consultation to surgery on the same day. She also shares her approach to diagnostic testing, patient counseling, premium IOL selection, oral sedation, femtosecond laser sequencing, refractive accuracy, and IOL calculations in eyes with a history of corneal refractive surgery.
• Rethinking the Drop with iDose TR: Patient Access 03.06.2026 25мин

  In this special podcast episode, I. Paul Singh, MD, speaks with Deborah Ristvedt, DO, and Kevin Talbot, MD, regarding the use of iDose TR (Glaukos), a procedural pharmaceutical, as an interventional glaucoma approach. They outline who the optimal patients are for this procedure, how to educate patients about drug delivery technology, and share pearls on reimbursement.
• Vision Correction in Complex Corneas 29.05.2026 41мин

  Neda Shamie, MD, and Neda Nikpoor, MD, are joined by Eva Kim, MD, for a practical conversation on vision correction in patients with keratoconus and postrefractive ectasia. They discuss the evolving role of CXL, strategies for assessing corneal stability after CXL, and how to approach refractive decision-making in complex corneas.
• Negotiating Contracts As Your Career Evolves 27.02.2026 39мин

  In this episode, Drs. Neda and Neda invite Alyson Carrel, Clinical Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Codirector of its nationally-ranked Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice, to continue discussion on negotiation strategies as one’s career evolves. Listen as Professor Carrel shares tips for physicians on conflict resolution, negotiation of partnership contracts, and more.
• AI Beyond the Clinic 25.02.2026 35мин

  Cathleen McCabe, MD, speaks with Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, about his recent article in CRST’s January issue, “AI Beyond the Clinic,” which provides a deep dive on how regulation and reimbursement accelerate AI and home monitoring beyond exam lanes and into patients' homes. Dr. Ianchulev shares insights into where AI currently impacts his clinic and the innovation he implements to elevate patient care. Related perspectives appear in the January issue of CRST.
• Evolving the Game Plan: Shifting to Epithelium-On Cross-linking for Keratoconus 16.02.2026 30мин

  Brandon D. Ayres, MD, continues this series exploring the best practices in keratoconus management with the discussion of the recent FDA approval of Epioxa, an advancement in corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus. Kenneth Beckman, MD, explains what excites him about Epioxa and how it can improve patient comfort and minimize recovery time. The two surgeons also review the role of supplemental oxygen during the procedure and review the Phase 3 pivotal trial data behind Epioxa.
• Next-Gen LASIK, Phakic IOLs, and Vision Beyond 20/20 19.12.2025 24мин

  Drs. Neda and Neda explore how modern refractive surgery is evolving beyond a one-size-fits-all LASIK model. They discuss next-generation laser vision correction based on highly personalized eye measurements, share real-world pearls on screening and counseling patients, and explain why they now frame patient visits as vision correction consultations rather than LASIK consults. They also touch on when lens-based options may be a better choice and how to build a truly comprehensive refractive practice.
• Diagnostics to Decisions: A Modern Refractive Surgery Mindset 19.11.2025 23мин

  Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, reframe refractive surgery as a comprehensive vision-correction mindset rather than a single procedure, exploring how advanced diagnostics and disciplined risk stratification guide candidacy and smart decision-making across refractive options. They outline when to pivot—or defer—and emphasize expectation-setting, patient motivation, and screening for medical and psychosocial factors that influence satisfaction.
• Refractive Cataract Roundtables: Optimizing Ocular Surface and IOL Selection 12.11.2025 28мин

  Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, FRCS, speaks with Christopher E. Starr, MD, FACS, and Brian Shafer, MD, in two short segments drawn from CRST's October cover focus, "Refractive Cataract Roundtables." Dr. Starr reviews a practical approach to preoperative ocular surface optimization—key exam steps, stop-rules before biometry, and simple readiness markers. Dr. Shafer outlines his IOL decision framework, balancing spectacle independence and image quality, who is not a candidate for diffractive optics, and options for residual refractive error. Related perspectives appear in the October issue of CRST.
• Boost Your Keratoconus Cross-linking Game: Oxygen as the MVP 29.10.2025 22мин

  In this Best Practices in Keratoconus Management podcast episode, Brandon D. Ayres, MD, welcomes Tomas Navratil, PhD, to examine the crucial role of oxygen in corneal crosslinking. Dr. Navratil explains the underlying science of oxygen’s involvement in the crosslinking reaction and how varying oxygen levels can affect treatment efficacy. The discussion highlights emerging strategies and new technologies that aim to optimize oxygen delivery and enhance outcomes for patients with keratoconus.
• Getting Started With SMILE 28.10.2025 30мин

  In this podcast, Audrey Talley Rostov, MD, and Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, discuss the following topics to help you get started with SMILE: What is SMILE Why they prefer SMILE  How to get started with SMILE Common issues when getting started with SMILE: Centration, Identifying Surgical Planes, Difficult Dissections SMILE pre and post operative regimens  Where each doctor positions SMILE in their practice
• Social Media That Converts for Refractive Surgeons 23.10.2025 41мин

  Dagny Zhu, MD, joins Neda Nikpoor, MD, for a discussion on how a refractive surgeon can build an authentic, patient-facing brand on social media. They cover what actually drives consults—relatable education, selective personal storytelling, and platform fit—plus how to address anti-LASIK noise with evidence, handle trolls without grandstanding, and keep a sustainable cadence you’ll stick to.
• ESCRS 2025 Highlights 14.10.2025 12мин

  Suphi Taneri, MD, FEBOS-CR; Radhika Rampat, MBBS, BSc(Hons), FRCOphth, CertLRS, FWCRS; Gilles Lesieur, MD; Paul Dupeyre, MSc; Ben LaHood, MBChB, PGDipOphth, PhD, FRANZCO, FWCRS; Aylin Kiliç, MDRecorded live at ESCRS 2025 in Copenhagen, this special edition of CRST: The Podcast, presented by Eyetube’s Meeting Coverage, features leading voices reflecting on the innovations and discussions shaping this year’s meeting. Topics highlighted include: Emerging presbyopia-correcting IOL technologies (Suphi Taneri, MD, FEBOS-CR); Sustainability in ophthalmology and unconscious gender bias (Radhika Rampat, MBBS, BSc[Hons], FRCOphth, CertLRS, FWCRS); Frameworks to simplify premium IOL selection (Gilles Lesieur, MD, and Paul Dupeyre, MSc); Strategies for toric IOL optimization (Ben LaHood, MBChB, PGDipOphth, PhD, FRANZCO, FWCRS); and Advances in tissue addition techniques (Aylin Kiliç, MD)
• Building a Physician Brand 09.09.2025 28мин

  Neda Nikpoor, MD, sits down with Rupa K. Wong, MD, to unpack how an intentional, authentic brand can strengthen patient trust and fuel broader impact. Dr. Wong shares how speaking directly to her core audience (millennial parents) keeps education relatable, explains why blending personal and professional presence works in a small community, and shows how mentorship grew organically into larger initiatives such as the Pediatric Ophthalmology Mentorship Program through the AAO Leadership Development Program. 
• Workforce Development and Surgical Mentorship in Global Ophthalmic Care 18.08.2025 30мин

  Kevin Barber, MD, speaks with Cynthia Matossian, MD, and Sara O’Connor, MD, MPH, about strategies to address workforce shortages and training gaps in ophthalmic care. Dr. Matossian outlines the American College of Eye Technicians and its technician training model to expand career awareness and technical competency, and Dr. O’Connor describes ACE Global’s ophthalmic technician program in Honduras and a community health worker curriculum. Dr. Barber reviews distance surgical mentorship, a smartphone-to-microscope telementoring approach that supports ophthalmologists in low-resource settings as they transition to independent cataract surgery. Together, these initiatives illustrate a scalable, team-based pipeline to build capacity and reduce preventable blindness; related perspectives appear in CRST’s June 2025 “Bridging the Gap” issue. Related reading: "A Workforce Solution to Expand Access to Eye Care" "Scaling Surgical Mentorship Across Borders"
• Unconscious Bias in Medicine (Part 2): From Awareness to Action 13.08.2025 28мин

  Building on their first discussion Neda Shamie, MD, revisits the topic with Tanya Trinh, MBBS, FRANZCO, FWCRS, shifting from recognition to implementation. The conversation covers building inclusive programs (diversifying panels and thoughtfully limiting repeat speakers to create space), engaging male allies and role models, applying blinded selection where feasible, and auditing outcomes.
• Use Your Dream Team to Execute Your Keratoconus Strategy 05.08.2025 22мин

  In this episode, experts in administrative support join Brandon D. Ayres, MD, to discuss their role in facilitating patient treatment for keratoconus. Susan DeGroot, MBA, executive director at Vance Thompson Vision, and Vivian Cole, BA, director of administrative services at Horizon Eye Specialists, explain their approaches to bringing patients into their practices, securing approval for crosslinking treatment, coordinating with referring doctors, and more. Test Your Knowledge HERE
• Highlights From AECOS Europe 2025 17.07.2025 38мин

  This special edition of CRST: The Podcast, recorded live at AECOS Europe 2025 in London, features six discussions from Eyetube’s Meeting Coverage. Topics include patient selection and long-term outcomes in presbyopia correction, advances in keratorefractive lenticule extraction, innovation in IOL customization, automated slit lamp imaging integration, solid-state laser technology, adjustable lens use in complex cases, and keratopigmentation techniques.
• Refractive Innovation in Private Practice 09.07.2025 31мин

  Neda Shamie, MD, sits down with George O. Waring IV, MD, FACS, for a conversation about his journey from academic medicine to founding the Waring Vision Institute in Charleston, South Carolina. They explore his philosophy toward refractive care, the origin and impact of the term dysfunctional lens syndrome, and how his practice uniquely blends research, surgical innovation, and patient-centered care.