The Retina Channel Podcast

In this episode of The Retina Channel Podcast, Dr. Keyvan Koushan sits down with renowned retina specialist John Kitchens to discuss the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology and medicine. Dr. Kitchens shares his practical experience using AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity, offering insights into how these tools can enhance clinical practice, education, research, communication, and everyday productivity. The conversation explores both the opportunities and limitations of AI, provides real-world examples of its use in ophthalmology, and offers a thoughtful look at how physicians can prepare for a future increasingly shaped by intelligent technologies. Whether you're an AI enthusiast or just beginning to explore these tools, this episode offers a practical and engaging perspective on one of the most important technological shifts in modern medicine.

In this episode of The Retina Channel Podcast, Dr. Jennifer Sun joins Dr. Keyvan Koushan to discuss the Phase 2 results of DRCR Retina Network Protocol AN evaluating tonabersat for diabetic macular edema. Dr. Sun reviews the rationale behind targeting connexin-43–mediated inflammatory pathways in DME, the key efficacy and safety findings from the study, and the potential implications of this novel oral therapy for future diabetic retinal disease management. The conversation also explores broader trends in DRCR clinical research and emerging treatment paradigms in diabetic eye disease.

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