Real World Ophthalmology

Research Reimagined: The AI Advantage

What if 80% of the tedious work in research could be automated? In this episode, Dr. Lisa Nijm sits down with Jan Degenhardt, Healthcare Product Manager at Zeiss, to explore how AI is democratizing ophthalmology research, making it accessible not just to academics, but to busy clinicians in private practice too. We discuss why ophthalmology is uniquely positioned to lead AI-driven discovery, how Zeiss's cloud-based research platform is changing the game, and why AI won't replace researchers.

When Sustainability Meets Surgery

Did you know the 28-day rule for eye drops has no scientific evidence behind it? It was never meant to apply to topical medications at all. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Nijm sits down with Dr. Lucy Mudie — oculoplastic surgeon, Johns Hopkins MPH graduate, and one of the AAO's inaugural Green Grant recipients — to talk about something most ophthalmologists don't think about: sustainability in the OR. And why it matters more than you might expect. Dr. Mudie breaks down what green ophthalmology actually means (hint: it's really about longevity and cost savings), walks through practical steps any early career ophthalmologist can take starting with their preference list, and shares how she reduced waste in her own oculoplastics practice through her AAO Green Grant project. But that's not all. She also covers the latest innovations in oculoplastics — from checkpoint inhibitors and immunostains for eyelid malignancies to gene therapy for thyroid eye disease — and gives practical advice on how not to miss a lid cancer, why she sends everything to pathology, and what it really takes to build a career in oculoplastics.

Vision Through Music

What if the key to unlocking a blind child's potential isn't found in a clinic — but in a music lesson? In this episode, Dr. Lisa Nijm sits down with Dr. Bradley Black, retired pediatric ophthalmologist and founder of Vision Through Music — a program of the Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS in partnership with the Academy of Music for the Blind — to explore the remarkable neuroscience behind early blindness and music. Dr. Black explains why blind children have a significantly higher prevalence of perfect pitch than even virtuoso musicians, how the visual cortex is literally recruited for musical processing in the blind brain, and why the shift away from schools for the blind has left many families without access to the music education their children desperately need. He also walks through how ophthalmologists can reframe difficult visual diagnoses by introducing music as a path forward — and how Vision Through Music connects families with trained teachers, financial grants, and free resources at visionthroughmusic.org. Whether you're delivering a hard diagnosis or looking for ways to better support your patients, this episode will change how you think about blindness, the brain, and the power of music. 🎵 Visit visionthroughmusic.org to refer patients, find a teacher, or get involved. 📩 Questions? Contact@visionthroughmusic.org

Stop Asking Insurance for Permission: The Refractive Mindset

What if every cataract patient is actually a refractive patient? And why are we letting insurance companies decide how patients get to see? Dr. Greg Parkhurst — cataract and refractive surgeon, founder of Parkhurst NuVision in San Antonio, and Army veteran — joins Dr. Lisa Nijm and co-host Dr. Grayson Armstrong to challenge how ophthalmologists think and talk about refractive surgery. He makes the case that the most common refractive procedure today is cataract surgery, walks through exactly how his practice scripts the premium IOL conversation (including the "magic words" that eliminate sticker shock), and explains why patients — not insurance companies — should decide how they want to see. Plus, learn how his high-volume fellowship gives trainees 5–10 years of surgical experience in one year, how to get started in clinical research at any career stage, and the mission behind the Visual Freedom Foundation.

No Private Equity Required: Building a Practice that Lasts

Dr. Lisa Nijm is joined by Dr. Blake Williamson for a candid conversation on building a thriving ophthalmology practice without losing your independence, identity, or joy. They discuss private practice ownership, refractive surgery, thinking beyond compensation, bringing value to a practice, refractive touch-ups, IOL explants, work-life harmony, ergonomics, surgical longevity, and building a career that lasts.