Eye Give a Damn!

Dr. Brianna Rhue's passion for myopia control runs deep as she grew up in a family of myopes and is married to a neuro-ophthalmologist who shares her passion for myopia research. From how to discuss myopia with parents to the latest research on atropine, these docs dig deep into the diagnosis, discussion, and current and future treatments for this growing epidemic. For more information on the STAR Study, visit: https://www.sydnexis.com/pipeline Key moments: 1:32 Guest Intro 2:48 Family history of myopia and its impact on Dr. Rhue’s journey 6:07 Myopia control in the US vs. other countries 7:47 Sharing insights with her neuro-ophthalmologist husband 10:14 Explaining myopia to parents 12:41 Dr. Rhue’s approach to myopia diagnosis and management 14:44 Atropine research 16:16 Atropine safety and dosage 18:15 The atropine concentration debate 20:23 How atropine might be working 23:02 Compounding and safety 24:27 Changing the standard of care for myopia control 25:38 Getting parents excited to enroll kids in a study 29:22 Why formulation matters for atropine 32:30 “Go outside!” 36:20 What’s next? Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

While optometry school was a last-minute decision for her, Dr. Julie Rodman knows it was the best decision she ever made. During her residency at the VA, she discovered her passion for working with students and watching them grow. Today, as a professor at Nova Southeastern University, she teaches the retina course and serves as the Chief of the Broward Eye Care Institute, exposing her students to a wide variety of pathologies in the real world. She also spent several years as the residency education coordinator and now runs a resident case report contest for the Optometric Retina Society. Her early introduction to OCT supercharged her passion for retina, so much so that she wrote a book about OCT-Angiography in 2019. Currently, she is working on two studies focused on geographic atrophy and diabetic retinopathy. Key Moments: 1:37 Dr. Julie Rodman’s path to optometry 3:38 From residency to academia 4:57 Teaching retina and running the clinic 6:55 The ‘sexiness’ of retina 9:30 Dr. Rodman’s research in retina 11:05 Why she loves optometry 13:59 A shout out to the power of OCT-A 18:38 The role of optometry 21:52 Residency programs 25:28 Dr. Allen’s learnings from his own residency 30:10 Dr. Rodman’s two current studies in geographic atrophy and diabetic retinopathy Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Sherrol Reynolds has three key passions: diversity and representation, mentorship, and high-quality eye health care. This has led her to become a strong voice in optometry focused on advocating for the profession’s role in overall healthcare with a goal of increasing communication and collaboration between optometrists and other members of their patients’ healthcare team. She has won numerous awards and held several key leadership positions for the National Optometric Association, Optometric Retina Society, the National Eye Institute, Prevent Blindness, and the Florida Optometric Society. As a leader in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy education, she is changing the narrative for patients with diabetes and their healthcare providers so that no one unnecessarily loses their vision due to diabetes like her aunt did. Ultimately, she wants every human to have access to high-quality healthcare. Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Joshua Davidson has a clear passion for eye care and his patients as an optometrist, which has led him to help solve their problems through innovation and product development. He has become a national expert on Dry Eye Disease and specialty contact lenses. While seeing 30-50 dry eye patients a day and discussing the importance of drinking water, he realized there was a hole in the market. He pulled together a few doctors to formulate a drink mix specifically to help dry eye patients. He discusses the entrepreneurial journey with Dr. Joseph Allen and shares the lessons he learned along the way … from idea to product development to bringing it to market. Learn more about the Dry Eye Drink here: https://dryeyedrink.com/ Key Moments 1:59 How Dr. Davidson got into optometry 3:56 Where/how Dr. Davidson practices optometry today 5:29 His path to focusing on specialty lenses 8:07 The origins and development of the Dry Eye Drink 12:52 Collaborating with five doctors on product development 14:15 Bringing a new product to market 20:40 Flavor preferences. Does orange Dry Eye Drink taste like Tang? 22:22 Adding a night-time version to Dry Eye Drink 24:44 The research behind melatonin 28:22 The importance of having a mentor as an entrepreneur 30:25 The need for front-line doctors to create products that improve patients’ lives 33:30 Where the best ideas come from 35:49 Future research on the Dry Eye Drink 37:10 Thoughts on uniform licensing nationally Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

After getting her first pair of glasses at age 12 and seeing the individual leaves on trees for the first time, Pam knew she’d be an optometrist. As an adult, she struggled with her own dry eyes, which led her to focus on helping others alleviate their symptoms. Today, Dr. Pam Theriot advocates for 4 simple steps for a daily hygiene routine: Hydrate, Harmonize, Heat, Heal. Listen in to hear how Dr. Theriot is sharing her knowledge with the masses through her clinic, her book and now the metaverse: https://theomniverse.city/dry-eye-metaverse/ Learn more about Dr. Pam Theriot Find her book "Alleviate Dry Eye" Key Moments 0:48 Dr. Allen introduces Dr. Pam Theriot 2:05 How Dr. Theriot found optometry 3:17 Moving around as a military spouse 5:38 Creating a dry eye clinic 8:43 The path to self-publishing 13:48 Preparing patients prior to initial consultation 14:40 post-appointment follow-up communication 16:43 Dr. Theriot’s 4 simple steps for daily eye hygiene 18:11 Recommending nutritional supplements with Omega fatty acids 20:57 Dry eye technology and treatments 23:03 The future dry eye treatments 25:48 The first dry eye clinic in the Metaverse 33:07 Eye care should be part of your daily health care Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

When it comes to overcoming obstacles, Dr. Cecelia Koetting likes to tackle them head on. In her mid-thirties while training for a marathon, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer right before the world shut down for COVID. Luckily, her attitude has always been to never ask “why me?” but to find a path forward and roll with it. Her experience battling cancer led her to try to connect with each patient on a more human level. As for optometry and patient care, if Dr. Cecelia Koetting doesn’t have an answer to a question, she dives in to figure it out. This often leads to the creation of her CE lectures, including those on hormone replacement therapy and limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). This has also led to her current pursuit of a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics which she hopes will allow her to find opportunities to further improve the profession of optometry. Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Michael Cymbor, OD, FAAO, radiates with a passion for optometry, especially when it comes to the connection between exercise, muscle mass, and ocular health. He discusses the research and how different types and intensities of exercise should be considered for different conditions. He knows each patient will have a different reaction to “you should exercise more,” so he makes sure to meet them where they are regarding their exercise routine. Dr. Cymbor truly enjoys mentoring optometry students, as well as tapping into his creative side, which led to the creation of hid video: “Night of the Living DEModex.” Key Moments: 2:49 Dr. Cymbor’s path to a career in optometry 5:13 What brought Dr. Cymbor to State College, PA (“Happy Valley” … home of Penn State University) 6:20 The story behind his video: “The Night of the Living Demodex” 11:46 Dr. Cymbor’s passion for glaucoma care and how it led to The Glaucoma Institute in partnership with his ophthalmologist partner 14:55 The types of optometrists who gravitate towards a glaucoma specialty 19:09 Current views on glaucoma research 21:08 Dry eye and ocular surface disease 27:30 Finding your sense of purpose 30:00 The value and importance of mentorship 33:10 Exercise and ocular health 38:09 How muscle mass impacts blood sugar levels 41:29 Exercise and eye pressure as it relates to glaucoma 44:05 Research into exercise and stress management 48:10 “Meeting patients where they are” regarding exercise 51:55 The Pickleball effect 54:00 The importance of earlier intervention to improve outcomes Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Jeffry Gerson always knew he wanted to be in the medical field, but having an aversion to blood and finding a positive role model led him to pursue optometry. Today, he practices at a collaborative OD/MD practice and is a prolific lecturer and writer who enjoys encouraging young people to explore optometry. He also partners with industry to help advise on new products and technologies, treatment protocols, and patient care. Over the years, he has developed a clear passion for the retina, especially caring for patients with age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. When it comes to patient education, Dr. Gerson is most excited about finding disease early so that he can start the conversation with his patients to put them on the right path. He and his wife also prioritize volunteering and giving back to their community, from going on missions and providing free eye exams to co-chairing a charity event that focuses on helping people with addiction. Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own optometry private practice, developing a niche, inventing a new product, or giving back to the community, then take some time to be inspired by Dr. Janelle Davison’s story. Like many others, she found her path to optometry by speaking to her own optometrist then finding a mentor who was doing everything she wanted for her own life – owning a practice, growing a family, teaching, and loving life as a doctor. In 2010, She cold opened her own practice in Georgia and has never looked back. She and her business partner, who is also her husband, invented PARADEYEM software to help ODs take control of optical revenue, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Today, Dr. Davison is known as the “Dry Eye Mentor” and enjoys customizing treatment plans for each patient by listening to their needs and addressing their goals. As a natural extension to treating dry eye disease and based on a suggestion from a patient, Dr. Davison has evolved her clinic to provide full-service ocular aesthetics with an in-office spa. Finally, her true passion is mentoring high school students. She and her sister (a dentist) created S.C.O.R.E. INC. to “pay it forward” and encourage minority high school students to pursue careers in dentistry, optometry, or ophthalmology, as less than 6% of doctors in the US are African American or Hispanic American. Discover more about Dr. Janelle Davison and her passions: https://brillianteyesvisioncenter.com/ https://dryeyeinstituteofga.com/ https://thedryeyementor.com/ https://wescore.org/ https://paradeyem.com/ Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Torn between math and medicine as an undergrad, Shalu Pal shadowed 10 different types of doctors to figure out which one was truly happy but didn’t find the joy she was seeking. Then, she walked into her optometrist’s office and heard laughter coming from patients, staff and doctor. At that point, she knew she had found her path forward. After optometry school in Southern California, Dr. Shalu Pal first specialized in specialty lenses at her residency in Oklahoma, which led to expanding her interests to dry eye disease, ocular aesthetics, and myopia management. Today, she focuses on her “why” of happiness as the owner of a thriving practice in Toronto, Canada, by fostering a warm, joyous environment for her staff and patients. Discover her strategies for building a robust clinic with the best doctors in each specialty focused on improving the lives of their patients. The doctors dive into current treatments for mastering myopia management as well as upcoming technologies in the pipeline. Dr. Pal also enjoys sharing her love for optometry with students, new grads and her colleagues through lecturing and co-editing the Mastering Myopia newsletter. Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Parres Wright, OD, FAAO Joseph Allen, OD, FAAO, Diplo ABO (aka DoctorEyeHealth) Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

For more information about Optometry Giving Sight, visit: https://givingsight.org/ Key Moments: 2:41 Dr. Alan Glazier’s background story 4:30 The launch of a “little group” called ODs on Facebook 7:12 Blazing your own trail in optometry 9:38 Managing the largest online community of optometrists 11:15 Being mission led with ODs on Facebook 12:10 Giving back with Optometry Giving Sight 15:33 Expanding on ODs on Facebook to fill unmet needs 17:39 Presbyopia research 29:12 Protecting your ideas with patents 34:58 Accepting how each OD choices to practice Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Brianna Rhue, co-founder of Dr. Contact Lens Dr. Joseph Allen, also known as Doctor Eye Health Key Moments: 1:40 – Brianna Rhue’s backstory 3:39 – Her private practice journey from associate to “soul” ownership 7:58 – The genesis of Dr. Contact Lens 12:15 – The Dr. Contact Lens patient experience 14:37 – Building a technology company and driving change 20:12 – The value of investing in yourself, your team and your practice 22:55 – Learning from other industries and treating the patient also as a consumer 31:48 – The biggest fear and hope for the future of optometry Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Melissa Trego is a clinician, researcher, educator, and administrator who earned an OD as well as a PhD in cellular and molecular biology. As the Dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University and past president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), she discusses some of the opportunities and challenges the world of academic optometry faces today. Dean Trego’s passion for optometric education is palpable and her main goal is to ensure her faculty and students have everything they need to succeed. She is truly inspired by the expansive breadth and depth of optometry and dedicated to bringing more students into the profession. Finally, she and Dr. Joseph Allen ( @DoctorEyeHealth ) touch on the future of AI and technology in optometry.Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Mohammad Rafieetary, OD, FAAO, has practiced for nearly 30 years at Charles Retina Institute in Tennessee and Mississippi. He loves being about to closely co-manage his patients alongside his Retina Specialist MD colleagues, including his own son who recently joined that practice. Dr. Rafieetary has always been on the cutting edge of innovations in retina and is excited to see how advanced imaging and AI will continue to impact the future of patient care. The doctors discuss the challenges of caring for patients with diabetes and the new tools and treatments on the horizon. Most importantly, Dr. Rafieetary is passionate about giving back to optometry - whether that be lecturing, mentoring, working with industry, sitting on Boards, or serving as president of the Optometric Retina Society. He encourages more optometrists to “feed and care for the tree,” so that we can all benefit from the fruits of our labor.Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Hardeep Kataria Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

The combination of a summer gig working for a local optometrist and a family history with eye disease led Tim Earley to pursue a career in optometry. He married a fellow PCO optometry student and moved to Ohio to build their family and a successful private practice career centered around a strong commitment to his community. Dr. Earley is now an accomplished and passionate lecturer and educator, as well as the director of the Bright Eyedeas Vision Clinic offering free eye exams and eyeglasses to people in need. Dr. Allen and Dr. Earley discuss the realities of decision making in clinic and the challenges/rewards of finding solutions for patients. Dr. Earley also discusses the importance of having a strong exit plan in place, as he recently went from practice owner to employee after extensively researching and finding the right private equity partner for his practice. Finally, he discusses his passion for diagnosing, managing and treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy; and how he now enjoys sharing his knowledge with his fellow optometrists.Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO Joseph Allen, OD, FAAO, Diplo ABO FluoreSCENE Media Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Nathan Lighthizer is an Associate Dean & Professor at the Oklahoma School of Optometry and a founding member of the Intrepid Eye Society. He is a top-notch lecturer who has a passion for diagnosing and treating ocular disease and performing advanced ophthalmic and laser procedures. He is also an advocate for scope expansion as part of the future of optometry, which leads to the discussion around how politics doesn’t always follow logic. Get inspired to get involved. Listen in as Dr. Joseph Allen ( @DoctorEyeHealth ) sits down with Dr. Lighthizer on this episode of Eye Give a Damn! Nathan Lighthizer, OD, FAAO Born and raised in Bismarck, ND, Nate Lighthizer, OD, FAAO, is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry with an emphasis in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. Dr. Lighthizer has since joined the faculty at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and serves as the Chief of Specialty Care Clinics and the Chief of Electrodiagnostics Clinic. In 2014, he founded and now heads the Dry Eye Clinic at the College of Optometry. Also in 2014, he was named the Director of Continuing Education as well as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Care Services at the Oklahoma College of Optometry. He is a founding member, and currently serves as Vice President, of the Intrepid Eye Society which is a group of emerging thought leaders in optometry. He was named a member of PCON 250—a list of the top 250 optometrists in the country who practice progressively, provide innovative patient care, conduct optometric research or excel in academia and share what they have learned with other optometrists to advance the profession. Dr. Lighthizer lectures nationally on numerous topics, most notably advanced ophthalmic procedures, electrodiagnostics, and ocular disease.Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.

Dr. Dorothy Hitchmoth Dr. Joseph Allen FluoreSCENE Media Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media.