CRST: The Podcast

In this episode of Best Practices in Keratoconus Management, Bradon D. Ayres, MD is joined Parag Majmudar, MD, and Neel S. Vaidya, MD, MPH, to discuss their early experiences with Epioxa now that it is available for the treatment of progressive keratoconus. Discover how they are incorporating Epioxa into their practices, their initial treatment successes, and what they have learned from their initial wave of patients. They also explore how this new treatment option may influence their approach to crosslinking and help them take a more proactive approach to keratoconus management. [Test Your Knowledge HERE]

Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, are joined by Radhika Rampat, MBBS, BSc(Hons), FRCOphth, for an exploration of sustainability in ophthalmology. They discuss the AECOS Green Working Group, waste reduction, and how to champion sustainability locally. 

What does it take to make every surgical consultation feel individualized amid increasing pressure for efficiency? George O. Waring IV, MD, speaks with Alexandra Dean, Director of Practice Development at Waring Vision Institute, about building a counseling continuum that starts before the patient arrives and uses intake forms, previsit outreach, and cohesive handoffs to connect clinical recommendations with individual goals. Dean also shares practical guidance on training nonclinical counselors, using technology without losing the human touch, and creating an experience patients remember for how it made them feel. Related article: “Individualization at Every Touchpoint,” in Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today, June 2026

The conversation continues as Sonny Goel, MD; and Robert T. Lin, MD, discuss strategies to help surgeons new to SMILE (Carl Zeiss Meditec) prevent and manage intraoperative complications. The panel shares practical pearls for avoiding common pitfalls, building confidence, and navigating challenging cases

Listen as John F. Doane, MD, FACS; Sonny Goel, MD; and Robert T. Lin, MD, discuss the evidence-based keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) guidelines and how they align with real-world SMILE (Carl Zeiss Meditec) practice. At each step, the panel shares practical pearls to sharpen clinical judgment, refine surgical technique, and optimize SMILE outcomes.