Podcast
The Retina Channel Podcast
Hosted by Keyvan Koushan, MD, FRCSC · EN
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.
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E96- Tonabersat for DME- DRCR Protocol AN- Dr. Jennifer Sun
1w ago00:21:29Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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E95- Real-World Data of Intraocular Inflammation Associated with Faricimab- Dr. Andrea Montesel
Mar 2100:22:44Tap to summarizeNo description available
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E94 – Systemic Drugs & Underrecognized Maculopathy - Dr. Seong Joon Ahn
Jan 2300:23:37Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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E93- Slit-Lamp Detection of PVD: A Simpler Way to Diagnose- Dr. Mohsin Ali
Dec 2500:31:44Tap to summarizeIn 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
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E92-3D Heads-up Display Surgery - Dr. David Chow
Nov 2900:54:31Tap to summarizeDr. 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.
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E91- Inherited Retinal Disorders- Progress Promise and Lessons— Dr. Ioannis Dimopoulos
Oct 3101:04:17Tap to summarizeThis 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.
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E90- DRCR Retina Protocol AO- Home OCT for Management of Wet AMD- Dr. Christina Weng
Sep 1300:27:26Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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E89- Artificial Intelligence Image Analysis and Retina Research- Prof. Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth
Aug 900:19:56Tap to summarizeProf. 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.
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E88- SIRE sign, Geographic Atrophy trials and treatments- Prof. Robyn Guymer
Jun 2801:00:19Tap to summarizeThis 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
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E87- Pachychoroid Disease Spectrum- A deep Dive- Dr. Angie Fong
May 16, 202501:15:32Tap to summarizeThis 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.
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