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The Retina Channel Podcast
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The Retina Channel Podcast

Author: Keyvan Koushan, MD, FRCSC

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A journal club to review recent journal articles in the field of retina. The target audience are retina specialists and other healthcare professionals who want to stay up-to-date with the latest publications in the field of retina.
94 Episodes
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In this episode of The Retina Channel Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Seong Joon Ahn from Hanyang University in South Korea to discuss a recent JAMA Ophthalmology study examining systemic drugs associated with underrecognized maculopathy. Using a novel two-step approach that integrates pharmacovigilance signal detection from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) with nationwide health-claims data from South Korea, the study identifies several commonly used systemic medications— apixaban, paclitaxel, ibrutinib, fingolimod, and sildenafil—as being associated with an increased risk of maculopathy. We explore the study's methodology, key findings such as dose-response relationships, and the clinical implications for retina specialists and general ophthalmologists alike, particularly around patient counseling and the potential need for ocular monitoring in patients on these medications.   Kim J, Ahn SJ, Park J, Gower EW, Chung JE. Systemic drugs associated with maculopathy. JAMA Ophthalmol.2025;143(11):946-952. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.3612.
In this episode, Dr. Mohsin Ali joins us to discuss his recent study on a simpler and highly effective way to clinically diagnose posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) using slit-lamp visualization of the posterior hyaloid membrane. The study compared this technique to the traditional Weiss ring method and OCT confirmation, finding that slit-lamp assessment of the posterior hyaloid was more sensitive, had a higher negative predictive value, and performed comparably in specificity — without requiring special lenses or imaging. Dr. Ali explains how the technique works, why it matters for everyday practice, and how it can improve decision-making around retinal tears, detachments, and vitreoretinal surgery — making a strong case that this should become a core diagnostic skill for all ophthalmologists. The instructional slit-lamp PVD video referenced in this episode is available as supplemental material with the original Ophthalmology Retina publication. The video can be found here   References Article:    Sood S, Barra TA, Duong RT, et al. Non-Funduscopic Slit Lamp Assessment of the Posterior Hyaloid Membrane: A Simpler and More Effective Way of Clinically Diagnosing Posterior Vitreous Detachments. Ophthalmology Retina. 2025;9(9):892-898. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2025.02.027
Dr. David Chow, a proponent of 3D heads-up display (HUD) surgery for several years and involved in its development, provides a comprehensive introduction to 3D HUD systems in vitreo-retinal surgery.  He covers optimization parameters for enhancing resolution and other variables to improve visualization. 
This episode is a reproduction of another Retina-Focused EyeNovation webinar series and a result of a special collaboration between the Canadian Retina Society and the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Ioannis Dimopoulos of the University of Ottawa provides a comprehensive overview of Inherited Retinal Disorders, with a specific focus on various gene therapy approaches. He details the outcomes of his involvement in treatment approaches for Choroideremia. Dr. Bernard Hurley of the University of Ottawa moderates this webinar. 
In this episode of The Retina Channel Podcast, Dr. Christina Weng, Professor of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine and Chair of DRCR Retina Protocol AO, discusses the pivotal trial evaluating home OCT monitoring in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The conversation reviews the study's rationale, methodology, and key findings, with emphasis on how home-based imaging could transform treatment paradigms, refine injection strategies, and inform the future design of retina clinical trials.
  Prof. Schmidt-Erfurth is a Professor and the Past Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical University of Vienna and the director of Vienna Reading Centre. She has been a pioneer in the application of AI in retinal image analysis. In this episode, she describes various applications of AI in retina research and the work that her group has been doing over the years. The following article is a review of the some of her work: Enzendorfer ML, Tratnig-Frankl M, Eidenberger A, Schrittwieser J, Kuchernig L, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Rethinking Clinical Trials in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: How AI-Based OCT Analysis Can Support Successful Outcomes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Feb 20;18(3):284. doi: 10.3390/ph18030284. PMID: 40143063; PMCID: PMC11945239.
This episode is another retina-focused EyeNovation episode featuring Prof. Robyn Guymer who presented an in-depth discussion on the SIRE sign, assessment of visual function in Geographic atrophy and also current GA trials and treatments.   YouTube link: https://youtu.be/p-R4_OsuGKE  
  This episode is a reproduction of the second retina-focused EyeNovation webinar series and a result of a special collaboration between Canadian Retina Society and Canadian Ophthalmological Society.  Dr. Angie Fong from the University of Hong Kong gives a fantastic overview of pachychoroid spectrum of conditions with a focus on central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. She gives an in-depth review of pathogenesis, recent clinical trials, and emerging management strategies and discussed the incidence and risk factors for PDS progression based on natural observation studies. Dr. Wai-Ching Lam from the University of British Columbia is the moderator for this webinar. 
Dr. Wu discusses prospective cognitive outcomes of children who had treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity. The analysis suggests that cognitive outcomes were similar for children who had either laser or anti-VEGF injections for ROP treatment.  Dr. Wu will be one of the invited guest speakers at the Canadian Retina Society meeting in Vancouver, BC from April 25-April 27, 2025. You can register for this meeting at: https://crsscr.ca/meeting   Discussed article: Wu PL, Shih CP, Huang YS, Chen HC, Hsueh YJ, Lee CW, Chiang MC, Lien R, Lee CC, Chu SM, Chou HD, Liu L, Chen KJ, Hwang YS, Lai CC, Wu WC. ADMINISTERING INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY: 8-Year Cognitive Outcomes In A Prospective Cohort. Retina. 2024 Nov 1;44(11):1952-1960. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004222. PMID: 39121508.
This episode is a recording of the retina-focused EyeNovation webinar episode which was a collaboration between Canadian Ophthalmological Society and the Canadian Retina Society. Dr. Chakravarthy will provide a background to the double layer sign, its definition and how it is detected.  Data to support the presentation will be from the EDNA trial . This study possesses an imaging dataset that was captured  longitudinally in over 500 high risk eyes and obtained robust rates of progression to neovascularization as well as  time to the event.  The presence of  the DLS and or other features of intermediate AMD were assessed at baseline and included measurements of length of separation of the RPE from its basement membrane, height of separation and the number of B scans involved.    Rates of progression in eyes without and with DLS were computed and models built to assess risk of progression to neovascularization.   In addition the DLS and SIRE signs were compared for their contributions to risk of progression.   The findings from these analyses and their clinical significance will be discussed . Make sure to register for the Canadian Retina Society (CRS) annual meeting which will take place in Vancouver, BC from April 25-27, 2025. Go to https://www.crsscr.ca to register.
In this episode, Dr. Muni discusses two of his recent publications on repair of retinal detachment. In the first article, he discusses long-term reattachment rates of patients that were studied in the PIVOT trial, showing that both groups of patients who underwent either pneumatic retinopexy or vitrectomy had excellent long-term attachment rates. In the second article, he discusses Suprachoroidal Viscopexy, which is a novel in-office method of repairing retinal attachment, using viscoelastic agents injected in the suprachoroidal space to create a temporary buckling effect.  Discussed Articles: Chen TS, Motekalem Y, Melo IM, Hillier RJ, Berger AR, Giavedoni LR, Wong DT, Altomare F, Muni RH. Long-Term Redetachment Rates of Pneumatic Retinopexy versus Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Retinal Detachment: A PIVOT Post Hoc Analysis. Ophthalmol Retina. 2024 Aug 23:S2468-6530(24)00397-X. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2024.08.011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39182651. Muni RH, Melo IM, Demian S, Minelli T, Batawi H, Park J, Pecaku A. In-Office Suprachoroidal Viscopexy for Acute Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 Dec 12. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.5202. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39666366.
Dr. Cindy Chen describes her group's work on a retrospective review of association of systemic methotrexate therapy and a lower rate of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) after retinal detachment repair in large cohort of 2674 eligible patients. 
Professor Maher Saleh discusses his group's findings for the use of perfluorocarbon in the treatment of macula-off retinal detachment. The study results suggest that perfluorocarbon liquid use during vitrectomy for macula-Off Retinal detachment has no impact on Macular folds and Metamorphopsia. Discussed article:  Wurtz M, Dormegny L, Muller C, Bourcier T, Ballonzoli L, Gaucher D, Saleh M. PERFLUOROCARBON LIQUID USE DURING VITRECTOMY FOR MACULA-OFF RETINAL DETACHMENT HAS NO IMPACT ON MACULAR FOLDS AND METAMORPHOPSIA. Retina. 2024 Nov 1;44(11):1891-1898. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004220. PMID: 39102743.
Dr. Marc Spirn from Wills Eye Hospital discusses the results of a retrospective study of performing lattice degeneration on a series of patients who had lattice degeneration with high risk features.   The discussed article: Kazan AS, Mahmoudzadeh R, Salabati M, Sharpe J, Fineman MS, Hsu J, Yonekawa Y, Spirn MJ. Indications and Outcomes of Laser Retinopexy in Eyes With High-Risk Lattice Degeneration. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2024 Apr 25;8(4):381-387. doi: 10.1177/24741264241248253. PMID: 39148566; PMCID: PMC11323511.
Dr. Witkin from the American Society of Retina Specialists talks about our current knowledge of the incidence of retinal vasculitis following intravitreal injection of Pegcetacoplan for treatment of geographic atrophy. Discussed article: Witkin AJ, Jaffe GJ, Srivastava SK, Davis JL, Kim JE. Retinal Vasculitis After Intravitreal Pegcetacoplan: Report From the ASRS Research and Safety in Therapeutics (ReST) Committee. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2023 Dec 21;8(1):9-20. doi: 10.1177/24741264231220224. Erratum in: J Vitreoretin Dis. 2024 Feb 29;8(3):363. doi: 10.1177/24741264241238212. PMID: 38223782; PMCID: PMC10786078.
A panel of guests optometrists share their feedback about communication issues between optometry and the speciality of retina. Guests panelists: Dr. George Papadakis, Dr. Brian Feinstein, Dr. Lena Moiseiykina and Dr. Nagar Sohbati. 
Dr. Arthur sit describes his surprising research results on the effect of scleral buckle on ocular fluid dynamics. The discussed article: Lyons LJ, Kazemi A, Bakri SJ, Barkmeier AJ, Iezzi R, Olsen TW, Hodge DO, Sit AJ. The Effect of Scleral Buckle Surgery on Tonographic Outflow Facility, Positional Intraocular Pressure, and Ocular Biomechanics. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2024 Jan-Feb;7(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ogla.2023.07.007. Epub 2023 Jul 22. PMID: 37482122.
Dr. Paul Micevych from the UC San Francisco discusses his group's work on systemic and individual risk factors leading to complicated diabetic retinopathy requiring vitrectomy.  Discussed article: Micevych PS, Taha AM, Poddar A, Stewart JM. Individual and Systems-Based Risk Factors for Diabetic Vitrectomy in an Urban Safety-Net Hospital. Ophthalmol Retina. 2023 Dec;7(12):1027-1034. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2023.05.014. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37236319.
Dr. Nina Ahuja and Dr. Nupura Bakshi elaborate on the concept of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in medicine and discuss their recent publication about the EDI landscape in the Canadian ophthalmology post-secondary programs. The discussed article: Lee EY, Farrokhyar F, Bakshi N, Levin LA, Ahuja N. Equity, diversity, and inclusion landscape in Canadian postgraduate medical education for ophthalmology. Can J Ophthalmol. 2024 Feb;59(1):31-39. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2022.08.015. Epub 2022 Sep 24. PMID: 36162441.
Dr. Sarraf talks about his group's work on the correlation of PED size and variablity and the visual improvement during the treatment of neovascular AMD as analyzed using data from HAWK and HARRIER studies. Referenced article:  Sarraf D, Khanani AM, Sadda SR, Chang A, Wong DT, Kempf AS, Saffar I, Tang S, Tadayoni R. PIGMENT EPITHELIAL DETACHMENT THICKNESS AND VARIABILITY AFFECTS VISUAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Retina. 2024 Jan 1;44(1):10-19. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003935. PMID: 37824807.
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Comments (3)

Sina Arabi

A truly insightful podcast. Thank you, and many thanks to Prof. Schmidt-Erfurth for the outstanding contribution.

Aug 27th
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Msk

could you please remove the guitat sound? It really disturb to understand your voice, especially for non english people.

Nov 11th
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man4site ghasemi

many thanks. Is there any transcript for this podcast?

Apr 23rd
Reply