3: AI in Eye Care: From Diabetic Retinopathy to the Clinic of the Future (ft. Michael Twa, OD, PhD)

4: Retire 'Artificial Tears': A Call for Updated Terminology in Eye Care (ft. Kaleb Abbott, OD, MS)

In Episode 4 of From Paper to Clinic, “Retire 'Artificial Tears': A Call for Updated Terminology in Eye Care,” Kaleb Abbott, OD, MS, joins the show to challenge the entrenched language and assumptions in dry eye care. He argues that the term “artificial tears” is fundamentally misleading—based on an outdated 1988 FDA monograph and bearing less than 1% similarity to true human tears—while natural tears themselves form an extraordinarily complex, biologically active “rainforest” of thousands of proteins, lipids, vitamins, growth factors, and mucins. The pair also critiques other misnomers such as “dry eye” and even “ocular surface disease." They also spoke to the clinical management of these patients, exploring common pitfalls such as underestimating patients’ motivation for relief, being too conservative with treatment intensity, and failing to identify the true origin of discomfort—whether evaporative or aqueous-deficient disease, meibomian gland dysfunction, or non-ocular neuropathic pain. Abbott highlighted underutilized therapies like blood-derived products (autologous serum and platelet-rich plasma tears), which more closely approximate natural tear composition, while Shah underscored the value of amniotic membranes as a powerful “reset button” for severely compromised ocular surfaces. The paper inspiring this discussion is "It's time to retire the terms artificial tears and rewetting drops: A call for accurate terminology and updated clinical usage in eye care [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1542012425001107?via%3Dihub]" by Abbott and Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD, published in The Ocular Surface.

3: AI in Eye Care: From Diabetic Retinopathy to the Clinic of the Future (ft. Michael Twa, OD, PhD)

In Episode 3 of From Paper to Clinic, “AI in Eye Care: From Diabetic Retinopathy to the Clinic of the Future,” Michael Twa, OD, PhD, joins the show to discuss artificial intelligence (AI). In the conversation, the pair discusses how AI is reshaping eye care, beginning with its success in retinal image analysis for diabetic retinopathy and expanding to more complex conditions like AMD, where challenges in sensitivity, specificity, and nuanced image interpretation become more pronounced.  They also discuss how AI can primarily serve as a decision-support tool rather than a standalone diagnostician, emphasizing the inevitability of false positives and negatives and the importance of clinician oversight, as well as the rise of chatbots and agentic AI, from tools handling routine post–cataract surgery follow-ups to future systems that could coordinate appointments, labs, referrals, and population-level outcome analysis via EHR-integrated AI.  The paper inspiring this discussion is "A Review of Recent Developments in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Technologies for Ophthalmology Referrals and Clinical Practice [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12822609/]" by Paredes et al, published in Medical Science Monitor.

2: Is Geographic Atrophy a Peripheral Retinal Disease? (ft. Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO)

In Episode 2 of From Paper to Clinic, host Hamza Shah, OD, MS, FAAO, is joined by Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO, to discuss geographic atrophy. In their conversation, they discuss the theory that peripheral retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells might contribute to macular geographic atrophy (GA) by migrating inadequately. They also discuss the analogy with limbal stem cells in the cornea and the importance of monitoring the peripheral retina. Bakri highlights the limitations of current research, such as the lack of clinical trials and the applicability of animal studies to humans, and the pair explores potential new therapeutic strategies and the role of optometrists in patient care, emphasizing the importance of preventive medicine and low-vision assistance. The paper inspiring this discussion is "Is geographic atrophy a peripheral retinal disease? [https://www.ophthalmologyretina.org/article/S2468-6530(25)00454-3/fulltext]" from Del Priore, published in Ophthalmology: Retina.

1: The Interventional Glaucoma Paradigm (ft. Austin Lifferth, OD, FAAO)

In Episode 1 of From Paper to Clinic, host Hamza Shah, OD, MS, FAAO, is joined by Austin Lifferth, OD, FAAO, to discuss interventional glaucoma. In their conversation, they emphasize a proactive approach over only traditional topical treatments, highlighting the benefits of procedural treatments like selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which offers better disease control, reduced productivity loss, and improved patient outcomes. They also discuss the importance of goniotomy as an initial step and the need for optometrists to adopt interventional glaucoma practices. Lifford also outlines the stages of glaucoma and the frequency of follow-ups, stressing the importance of correlation between tests. They collectively predict a future shift towards more procedural treatments, aiming for a proactive approach to glaucoma management. The paper inspiring this discussion is the "Interventional glaucoma consensus treatment protocol [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17469899.2025.2465330]" from Funke et al, published in Expert Review of Ophthalmology.

Introducing From Paper to Clinic

Welcome to From Paper to Clinic, a podcast focused on evidence-based eye care and real-world clinical decision-making, hosted by Dr. Hamza Shah, OD, MS, FAAO, a faculty member at the University of Houston College of Optometry. His work spans clinical patient care, education, and mentoring, and his clinical interests include ocular disease, dry eye, perioperative care, and—above all—the challenge of translating information into meaningful patient outcomes. The premise of From Paper to Clinic is rooted in a familiar tension in eye care. Clinicians are constantly exposed to new studies, evolving guidelines, and emerging technologies, yet applying those insights in a busy clinic—often with complex patients and imperfect circumstances—is rarely straightforward. Too often, discussions on these resources end with what was published, without addressing how that information fits into real clinical workflows or nuanced decision-making. New episodes of the podcast will premiere on the first Monday of each month, with each episode taking a different approach. Rather than reciting study methods or statistics, From Paper to Clinic uses a recent publication as a catalyst for deeper conversation. Together with his expert guests, Shah examines how published ideas influence clinical thinking, how they are adapted in practice, and where gray areas or limitations still exist. These conversations acknowledge that medicine is rarely binary—and that judgment remains essential. The series will feature experts from across eye care, including glaucoma, retina, myopia management, ocular surface disease, perioperative care, and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence in ophthalmology and optometry. Whether you are a practicing clinician, resident, or student, the goal is to provide conversations that are relevant, grounded, and immediately applicable to day-to-day care. >>Episode 1 coming Monday, March 2, at 8 AM EST<< The first full episode of From Paper to Clinic will debut in early March and will feature Austin Lifferth, OD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, focusing on glaucoma and the evolving concept of interventional treatment strategies. Listeners are invited to join the conversation as the series explores how evidence moves… from paper to clinic.