To the Point: Recent Episodes
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This month on To the Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, introduces her new co-host, Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO. Dr. Quint shares her background and journey in optometry, including how she came to open her dry eye and aesthetics clinic 2 years ago in Maine.
This month, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, are joined by Anith Pillai, OD, FSLS, FIAOMC, to discuss the nuances of sceral lens fitting. Dr. Pillai shares his experiences running a specialty contact lens clinic, including navigating the conversation about scleral lenses with patients, managing the initial adjustment period, handling tricky cases, billing, and what he wishes he knew from the start.
Get an overview of the recently FDA-approved perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic solution (Miebo, Bausch + Lomb) from Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO. Drs. O’Dell and Garlich discuss the drop’s mechanism of action, dosing regimen, clinical trial findings, side effect profile, and more.
Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, discuss cosmetics and ocular hygiene with Mark Schaeffer, OD, including how to appropriately address this topic with patients who have dry eye. They also talk about cosmetric trends to be aware of that patients may be participating in, how such trends may affect the ocular surface, and alternative makeup options you can recommend.
Preparing the eye for surgery is essential. Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, welcome William Trattler, MD, for a conversation on how to optimize the ocular surface for cataract surgery. They discuss why it’s important to take charge of your surgical patients with ocular surface disease preoperatively and target their treatment in a multi-step fashion.
Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, are joined by Dr. O’Dell’s lead technician, Heather Bollinger. Ms. Bollinger shares questions that have come up while coordinating care for patients with dry eye and imparts her insights on how to effectively train and educate technicians.
Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, talk with Elena Carter, OD, who shares her experiences caring for active-duty military and veterans, including how she uses dehydrated amniotic membranes to treat ocular surface disease in these populations.
This month, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, dedicate the episode to the fairly common, yet sometimes elusive condition, nocturnal lagophthalmos, which clinicians encounter in their patients with dry eye. They pick the brain of Douglas K. Devries, OD, who talks about how he identifies patients with the condition, testing he uses, treatment options, and potential pitfalls associated with disease management.
On this episode of To the Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, talk glaucoma management and ocular surface complications with Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO. Dr. Schweitzer shares some ways to support ocular surface health in patients with glaucoma, who often experience dry eye symptoms with long-term drop usage.
In this episode of To the Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, are joined by Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, who shares her knowledge of novel dry eye therapies in the pipeline. Dr. Nichols also discusses what optometrists can look forward to in the next couple of years.
Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, speak with Diana Driscoll, OD, about her experience with POTS disease and how it led her to discover a link between the autonomic nervous system and dry eye. Dr. Driscoll believes that dry eye is just one manifestation of a systemic issue, shares her advice on how to recognize and manage patients with autonomic conditions, and more.
Hosts Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, talk practice management strategies with guest Melanie Denton, OD, MBA, FAAO. Dr. Denton outlines the pros of earning an MBA, the steps she took in opening her practice and adding aesthetics, how to hire consultants, and general patient beauty routines.
Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, joins hosts Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, to explain the potential warning signs of thyroid eye disease and the condition’s correlation with dry eye disease (DED). Dr. Lang discusses how physicians can identify the underlying symptoms of thyroid eye disease, how to differentiate those symptoms from DED, and how to appropriately manage these patients.
Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, and Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, welcome Crystal M. Brimer, OD, FAAO—a dry eye specialist based out of Wilmington, NC, and the founder of The Dry Eye Institute. Dr. Brimer shares her process in developing the Oculus Crystal Tear Report and how it became the foundation for The Dry Eye Institute, how she maximizes referrals to her practice, and more.
In 2022’s first episode of To The Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, look back at some of the technologies, investments, and practice growth strategies they implemented in the last year. How have these developments improved patient relations and refined how each physician treats dry eye and other ocular surface diseases?
Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, and Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, welcome Tom Kislan, OD, to discuss Tyrvaya (Oyster Point Pharma)—an FDA-approved nasal spray for dry eye treatment. Together, they discuss the link between neural stimulation and basal tear production, patient selection for Tyrvaya, patient education on product use within the clinic, and more.
In this episode of To the Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, are joined by Kambiz Silani, OD, Chief Clinical Director of Beverly Hills Optometry and founder of its Advanced Dry Eye Center. Dr. Silani elaborates on how his high-tech practice utilizes office-based devices to properly diagnose and treat patients with ocular surface disease. He also discusses his path to dry eye, his use of social media to grow his practice, and more.
Leslie O'Dell, OD, FAAO, and Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, are joined by Adam Ramsey, OD, co-founder of Black Eyecare Perspective and owner of Socialite Vision in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. In this episode, Dr. Ramsey discusses his model of concierge medicine and how personalized eye care enhances his patients’ experiences. He then dives into his work with Black Eyecare Perspective, describing how the organization is working to increase Black representation in optometry and at board level with companies in the field.
Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, are joined by Amy Gallant Sullivan, executive director and co-creator of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) and founder of Eyes Are The Story—a wellness-meets-beauty brand focused on eye health. In this episode, Ms. Gallant Sullivan discusses the origins of TFOS and the organization’s goal with dry eye education and beyond, and touches on Eyes Are The Story’s line of cosmetics aimed at promoting ocular health.
Janelle L. Davison, OD, joins To The Point to discuss her groundbreaking businesses, which include her Dry Eye Spa and Brilliant Eyes Vision Center, and the intersection of aesthetics and ocular health. Dr. Davison breaks down her foray into dry eye treatment, the benefits of combining self care with eye care in her spa, and more.
In this episode of To the Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, welcome Arthur Epstein, OD, FAAO, for an in-depth discussion about dry eye disease (DED). Dr. Epstein is the cofounder of Phoenix Eye Care, heads its Dry Eye/OSD Center, and serves as its director of clinical research. Dr. Epstein shares insight into his clinical research of DED, his methods for clinical therapy, and how to manage noncompliant patients.
In this episode of To the Point, Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, welcome Lauren McLoughlin, OD, to discuss the best methods for incorporating Oxervate (cenegermin-bkbj ophthalmic solution 0.002%, Dompé) into your practice to treat dry eye disease. Dr. McLoughlin provides insight into her process for treating patients with Oxervate, how she tests for corneal sensitivity, and the importance of treating neurotrophic keratitis in patients with dry eye.
In this episode of To The Point, hosts Leslie O’Dell, OD, FAAO, and Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, welcome Carly Rose, OD, FAAO, to discuss her usage of radiofrequency as a treatment option within her practice. Together, they discuss the appeal of aesthetic treatment and IPL, Dr. Rose’s popular social media presence, and how she pivoted her office to specialize in dry eye treatment.
With dry eye cases on the rise in the past five years, optometrists are looking for new effective treatment options. In this episode of To the Point, Leslie and Jackie are joined by Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO, to discuss her experience treating dry eye disease with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) at her practice in Vancouver, British Columbia. They discuss how Dr. Madan’s practice creates their PRP eye drops, review case studies regarding PRP to treat dry eye, and much more.
Nutrition is a factor in so many disease processes, including those affecting the eyes. Jackie and Leslie talk with guest Kimberly Friedman, OD, FAAO, about the role of omega fatty acids in dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction, including when to add them to a patient’s treatment protocol and in what dose, form, and ratio. Dr. Friedman also describes the difference between wild caught salmon and tuna versus farm-raised fish and explains which omega-3 supplements are the most beneficial for eye health.
Leslie and Jackie are back, talking all things dry eye. In their latest episode, they talk about new treatment options available for dry eye and introduce a new term: dry eye flares. The duo also discuss upcoming technologies and management strategies, the importance of continuing education, and more.
Do you have patients who find it difficult to stick with their dry eye treatment plans? In this episode of To the Point, Leslie and Jackie discuss how they have handled various noncompliant patient situations. The hosts also provide tips for increasing patient adherence to treatment plans and improving return rates for follow-up visits.
No matter how hard you may try to rehabilitate the ocular surface of your dry eye patients, if you don’t get good at-home regimens in place, they may fail treatment. In this episode of To the Point, Leslie and Jackie review the three categories of at-home care products available for chronic dry eye: cleansers, heat products, and nutraceuticals. They discuss different examples from each category and offer advice on how to ensure your patients follow their treatment plan.
Unsure of which tools you should get for your dry eye practice? Hosts Leslie and Jackie give a rundown of the different diagnostic tools you can purchase for your growing dry eye clinic, from low-end to high-end and everything in between, sharing their personal challenges and successes with each.
Ever have a patient with suspected dry eye who didn’t quite fit the bill? In this episode of To the Point, Leslie and Jackie discuss how dry eye isn’t always an isolated condition. Learn how a patient’s medication list and medical history can play a crucial role in their disease.
Knowing what to do when confronted with a dry eye masquerader can go a long way to ensuring better patient outcomes. Working their way in from the outside of the eye, starting with the lid and ending with the cornea, hosts Leslie and Jackie discuss how to identify and manage conditions that can masquerade or contribute to dry eye and complicate a patient’s treatment plan.
Hosts Leslie and Jackie are joined by guest Damon Dierker, OD, FAAO, to share their experiences with intense pulsed light therapy for treating inflammation in patients with dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction and discuss the procedure’s limitations and positive cosmetic benefits.
Unsure of when to use scleral lenses for dry eye? Not sure where to start? Hosts Leslie and Jackie talk with guest Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, about the benefits and challenges of fitting these lenses in patients with various ocular surface conditions.
Want to take your dry eye practice to the next level? Consider adding ocular aesthetics. Listen as Leslie and Jackie talk with guest Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, about how she got into the aesthetics side of dry eye.
You've committed to treating patients with dry eye, but in order to treat them, you have to diagnose them. In this episode, Leslie and Jackie talk about establishing a dry eye protocol, what equipment is necessary, testing, and more.
You've definitely encountered Demodex in practice, but how good are you at recognizing these microscopic mites that live in hair follicles? In this episode, Jackie and Leslie discuss how to differentiate between blepharitis and Demodex blepharitis.
Jackie and Leslie are back, and in this episode they discuss point-of-care testing options for dry eye. For those of you who are unfamiliar with or skeptical about the topic, you'll definitely want to hear what these two have to say, so don't pass up this opportunity to learn why this testing is valuable, how the results can change your treatment protocol, and how to obtain a CLIA waiver.
Hosts Jackie Garlich, OD, FAAO, and Leslie O'Dell, OD, FAAO, kick off the very first episode with a discussion appropriate for those new to treating dry eye: Where to find dry eye patients and how to get the conversation started.