The Retina Channel Podcast

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.