Blink Collective

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: You Never Stop Learning
MacKenzie and Lisa sit down with Dr. Carl Kramer to talk about what happens after optometry school—when you realize just how much there is still to learn.
From new treatments and technologies to specialty contact lenses, keratoconus, finding good CE, and those moments when you have to admit, “I don’t know… but I’ll figure it out.”
Plus, Dr. Kramer shares a memorable keratoconus case and why continuing to learn, asking for help, and staying connected to the profession matters throughout your career. 
🎧 Listen to Episode 8 of Blink Collective.
#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #YoungOD #OptometrySchool #Keratoconus #ScleralLenses #SpecialtyContactLenses

🎙️ New Episode of Blink Collective!

Do you ever feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out by graduation? Spoiler: you’re not. And that’s okay. 👏

In this episode, McKenzie and Lisa talk about the transition from student to doctor, navigating the things you don’t know yet, finding people you can collaborate with, and building confidence with specialty contact lenses along the way.

Because being a good doctor isn’t about having every answer. It’s about knowing where to look, when to ask for help, and never stopping learning.

🎧 https://youtu.be/qbEhknERTps

#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #NewOD #YoungOD #OptometryLife #SpecialtyContactLenses #ScleralLenses #ContactLenses #LifelongLearning #FutureOD #EyeCare

Episode 6 is LIVE!
Thinking about a residency after optometry school? 👀

Hosts McKenzie and Lisa are joined by Dr. Megan Patterson for an honest conversation about residency—how to know if it's the right path, what the experience is really like, and how specialty contact lenses can make a life-changing difference for patients.

Whether you're a student, resident, or early-career OD, this episode is filled with practical advice, career insights, and inspiring clinical stories.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!

#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #OptometryResident #Residency #YoungOD #EyeCare #SpecialtyContactLenses #ScleralLenses #ContactLenses #Cornea #FutureOD #ValleyContax #Podcast

🎙️ Episode 5 is LIVE! 🎙️
This week on Blink Collective, hosts McKenzie and Lisa tackle one of the most relatable hot takes in healthcare:
📚 "If your medical history reads like a novel… please bring the book."
From hilarious patient history moments to serious discussions about improving care through better communication, this episode is packed with practical pearls and real-world optometry conversations.
👁️ Highlights include:
✨ An inspiring Valley Contax Vision Project case where custom scleral lenses dramatically improved communication and quality of life for a patient living with ALS.
✨ A deep dive into Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) screening, including the latest AAO recommendations every student, new grad, and practicing OD should know.
✨ Why OCT and FAF are becoming increasingly important in detecting toxicity early.
✨ Clinical pearls on dosing, risk factors, communication with rheumatologists, and protecting vision while supporting systemic health.
Whether you're studying for boards, navigating externships, or already in practice, there's something in this episode for you.
🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!
💬 What's your biggest patient history challenge? Have a memorable Plaquenil case? We'd love to hear from you.
#BlinkCollective #ValleyContax #Optometry #OptometryStudent #NewGradOD #EyeCare #ScleralLenses #Plaquenil #Hydroxychloroquine #Retina #ClinicalPearls #OptometrySchool #ODLife #FutureOD #EyeHealth #ContactLenses #VisionCare #OptometricEducation #BoardPrep #OptometryPodcast #StudentDoctor #OptometryCommunity #BlinkCollectivePodcast

🎙️ Episode 4 of Blink Collective is here — and this one dives deep into what it *really* means to care for patients beyond the eye chart 👁✨

This week, Lisa & McKenzie sit down with Dr. Madison Moss from Raleigh Contact Lens Institute — a residency-trained cornea & contact lens specialist passionate about specialty lenses, myopia management, and patient-centered care.

💬 In this episode:
– Why Dr. Moss chose optometry after a life-changing mission trip to Africa
– The hot take: “20/20 vision is overrated” 👀
– Why “20 happy” matters more than perfect acuity
– The problem with online “express exams” & expired contact lens prescriptions
– Real talk about patient education, compliance, and protecting ocular health
– A fascinating scleral lens case that changed a patient’s quality of life
– Advice for students and young ODs interested in specialty care

One of our favorite reminders from this episode:
📌 Real patients don’t read the textbook.
And that’s exactly what makes this profession so meaningful.

🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation.

#BlinkCollective #OptometryPodcast #FutureOD #OptometryLife #ScleralLenses #CorneaSpecialist #ContactLenses #MyopiaManagement #EyeCare #ODLife #WomenInOptometry #PatientCare #SpecialtyLenses #DryEye #YoungOD #HealthcarePodcast #StudentDoctor