Blink Collective

Blink Collective - Episode 3

🎙️ Episode 3 is LIVE, and we’ve got our first guest! From externship realities to confidence in clinic, this episode of Blink Collective dives into what it really feels like to step into the role of a future doctor 👁✨ We’re joined by a third-year student (aka @EyeOnThePrize 👀) who’s balancing externships, content creation, and everything in between — and keeping it real the whole way through. 💬 In this episode: – The scrubs vs. business casual debate (it gets passionate 😅) – Why confidence matters just as much as knowledge in clinic – Real talk about externships: the highs, the doubts, and growth moments – Advice for students stepping into their 4th year – A wild clinic case that proves “routine exams” are never routine Whether you’re a pre-optometry student, in school, or already in clinic, this one’s packed with relatable moments and real insight. 🎧 Tune in now & join the conversation. #BlinkCollective #OptometryLife #FutureOD #OptometryStudents #ExternshipLife #WomenInOptometry #ODLife #EyeCare #StudentDoctor #ClinicConfessions #ScleralLenses #DryEye #OptometryPodcast #HealthcareStudents #MedStudentLife

Blink Collective - Episode 2

Hot takes, real talk, and things we’re actually seeing in clinic 👀 From presbyopia drops to remote optometry… are we evolving—or losing something along the way? 🎙️ Episode 2 is live. This is what students are really talking about. Follow, listen, and if you’ve got something to say… grab the mic 🎤 Watch the full episode on YouTube (@BlinkCollectivePodcast) or TikTok (@blinkcollective). Listen to Blink Collective on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Blink Collective isn’t just something you listen to. It’s something you can be part of. If you’re a student or young OD with something to say, grab the mic. Visit: blink-collective.com #BlinkCollective #OptometryStudents #YoungOD

Episode 1

Welcome to the very first episode of Blink Collective, a new podcast platform by Valley Contax designed to spotlight optometry students and early-career ODs. In this inaugural episode, meet our first hosts, Lisa and MacKenzie, both Fourth Year Optometry Student | Class of 2026 who helped open the door to this new concept and set the tone for what Blink Collective is all about. They share: • Who they are and their journeys through optometry school • What inspired the creation of Blink Collective • Honest reflections on life as optometry students • A few pearls they’ve learned along the way • And how YOU, as a student or young OD can grab the mic Blink Collective isn’t just a podcast you listen to. It’s a platform you can be part of. If you’re an optometry student or early-career OD with something to say, this is your invitation. 🎙️ The mic’s on. You in? Interested in hosting an episode? Submit your proposal at: blink-collective.com [https://www.blink-collective.com/] Follow Blink Collective for new conversations every month.

Magicians, Mathematicians or Scleral Clinicians?

🎙️ In today’s episode, Roya and Sheila explore some exciting innovations in ocular surface care! 👁️✨ They kick things off with the newly FDA-approved Prednisolone Acetate Suspension🧴 and personalized serum eye drops from Ocubio.  Then, are thrilled to welcome Dr. Pooja Alloju—a rising star in anterior segment disease and specialty contact lenses! 🌟 With her background in applied mathematics 📊 and a residency focused on cornea and contact lenses , Dr. Alloju brings precision, passion, and practical wisdom to the table. Tune in as we discuss hot topics like: 💧 Are artificial tears really tears? 🔬 When to switch from OTC to autologous serum drops 🤝 Tips for collaborating with corneal specialists 🩺 Knowing when to refer for cataract surgery, corneal crosslinking, or scleral lenses Whether you’re managing dry eye or enhancing your referral skills, this episode is packed with insights—and a reminder that sometimes, the best medicine is collaboration! 💡🤝 Got ideas or guest suggestions? Reach out at trynot2blinkshow@gmail.com! 📧 SOURCES Blog from Optometry School with Dr. Pooja Alloju [https://www.sco.edu/student-life-blogs/posts/my-brother-isnt-that-annoying] Eye Health Texas on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@eyehealthtexas] Scleral Lens Education Society: Management of non-KCN Cases [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-enSfXcXQM] Pooja linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pooja-alloju-od-faao-fsls-193bb289/] Shashi linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashi-alloju-02842b173/] Glance: Amneal [https://glance.eyesoneyecare.com/stories/2025-06-13/fda-approves-amneal-s-prednisolone-acetate-ophthalmic-suspension/?utm_campaign=%5Bglance-marketing%5D%20weekly%20optometry%20newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--H_NiYogYwhVERoYQ2qxHbTRl3didRYrfIMYXdSONl45W6PAEUotftCEX4i-BuU6PFT4Yzqf6pOqUtLhGzRYFMlY1srmrxmV3Dsqu89yxeTuRc8CM&_hsmi=367644101&utm_content=367644101&utm_source=hs_email] Glance: the Qualified Autologous Serum Eye Drops (qASED) [https://glance.eyesoneyecare.com/stories/2025-06-24/jjv-launches-acuvue-oasys-max-1-mf-contact-lens-for-astigmatism/?utm_medium=eoe:infinite-scroll] Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax [https://www.valleycontax.com/]

Be the Beam of Light

Welcome to Try Not 2 Blink — your go-to podcast for all things vision care!  This week, Roya and Sheila are bringing you an episode packed with insights: 🔹 Breaking news on the latest in daily disposables — yes, a new *daily multifocal toric lens* is here! We’re breaking down what it means for you.   🔹 A compelling clinical case on how scleral lenses can transform lives—especially for patients with ALS and limited mobility. Because sometimes, vision care is so much more than 20/20!   🎧✨Plus, their guest this week is Dr. Tiffany Park, current cornea and contact lens resident at SCCO. She shares what residency life is really like, the advice she’d give her pre-residency self, and whether she thinks the residency path is actually worth it. We also explore her master's research on keratoconus and its impact on quality of life, and the insights that changed how she thinks about patient care. 💡We wrap with her Scleral Lens Pearl of the Day—a smart one about lens nomenclature—and go deeper into chair-time tips, fitting tricks, and success strategies for specialty lens wearers. Whether you're a student, new grad, or industry veteran, this episode is loaded with practical advice to elevate your dry eye and scleral lens skills.   Got ideas or guest suggestions? Reach out at trynot2blinkshow@gmail.com!  SOURCES Tiffany Park | Marshall B. Ketchum University [https://www.ketchum.edu/directory/tiffany-park] https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyjpark?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyjpark?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app] Word of Wisdom From Corneal and Contact Lens Residents — We make lenses. [https://www.valleycontax.com/blog/words-of-wisdom-from-ccl-residents] GP Lens Institute on Instagram: "Dr. Tiffany Park was one of our 2025 GPLI Alumni and Friends Award winners, and this is her wonderful video submission, highlighting her residency at SCCO and experience at the GPLI Cornea and Contact Lens Resident Symposium. Her video, poster, and abstract submissions scored very high, and we are so lucky to have great residents like her making the future of specialty contact lenses very bright!" [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGUCFlVgqQP/] CLEK Study [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17481941/] SeaGreen  [https://www.seegreenlight.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopemEH7kzRRogQwoPIjGH4RsNzSUGT8qolmm1pX8kaGMHKjQd0e] LensBase  [https://thelensbase.com/] EZI suction-less ring applicator [https://ezicompany.com/product/scleral-regular-ezi-lens-applicator/] Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax [https://www.valleycontax.com/]