In this special episode, I am joined by my friend and fellow Barometer Program member, Professor Focke Ziemssen, Director of the University Eye Clinic at the University Hospital Leipzig, Germany. 

Join us as we discuss the findings of the Barometer Global Survey, a worldwide study capturing the experiences of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema, as well as their healthcare teams. In this episode, Focke and I unpack the results of the survey and their implications. We also discuss potential solutions that we could apply in our practices to help improve the experiences of our patients.

To further explore the findings of the Barometer Global Survey, read the publications reporting the results for neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema that were discussed during this episode. Insights from the surveys were transformed into evidence-based educational resources for patients and healthcare providers by the Barometer Program - find them on the AMD Barometer Website. 

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, Abbvie, Astellas, Aviceda, Bayer, Beyeonics, Boehringer Ingelheim; Eyepoint, NotalVision, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Ocuphire, Opthea, Roche, and Voiant.

Professor Focke Ziemssen

Travel grants and personal fees: Allergan/AbbVie, Alimera, Bayer Healthcare, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Clearside, Janssen, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Regeneron, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi, Sandoz, and Stada. 

April 2026 | PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0263-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this episode, I am joined by my fellow Vision Academy member Professor Sobha Sivaprasad, Professor of Retinal Clinical Studies at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom. 

Join us as we discuss key aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). In this episode, we summarize published evidence for the treatment of CSC, and use the guidance developed by the Vision Academy to discuss practical disease management and treatment of phenotypic variations. We also dive into cases we have treated in our own clinics, and explore how access to treatment can vary between clinics and countries. 

To learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of CSC, read the Vision Academy Viewpoint and publication. For more information about patient-focused care, visit the nAMD Barometer and DR Barometer websites. 

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode!  

Speaker disclosures: 

Professor Anat Loewenstein 

Consultant: 4DMT, Abbvie, Astellas, Aviceda, Bayer, Beyeonics, Boehringer Ingelheim; Eyepoint, NotalVision, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Ocuphire, Opthea, Roche, and Voiant. 

Professor Sobha Sivaprasad 

Received funding/fees from AbbVie, Alimera Sciences, Amgen, Apellis, Astellas, Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Clearside Biomedical, EyeBio, EyePoint, Iveric Bio, Janssen, Kriya Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, Ocular Therapeutix, OcuTerra, Optos, Ripple Therapeutics, Roche, Sanofi and Stealth BioTherapeutics, and is Editor in Chief of Eye.  

January 2026 | PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0262-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this special episode is Peter Holland, Chief Executive of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). We speak about the importance of World Sight Day, and discuss how different initiatives, such as the Love Your Eyes campaign, have helped put eye health on the global agenda in collaboration with members and partners.

We also highlight how clinicians can leverage their voices and influence to share knowledge, shape policies, and strengthen cross-sector collaborations, leading to the development of important resources for patients and clinicians to improve care. We recommend visiting the IAPB’s website, and the websites of the nAMD Barometer Program and Vision Academy for more information on World Sight Day, and resources to help you in your clinic. 

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultant: AbbVie, Bayer, Beyeonics, Syneos, Ripple, Iveric Bio, Johnson & Johnson, Ocuphire, Iqvia, Notal Vision, Novartis, and Roche.

Peter Holland
Employee: International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

Further information on topics discussed in this podcast:

Child eye health. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. https://www.iapb.org/learn/vision-atlas/magnitude-and-projections/child-eye-health/. Accessed October 9, 2024.

October 2024 PP-PFM-OPHT-ALL-0042-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guests for this episode are Professor Sobha Sivaprasad, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Professor of Retinal Clinical Studies at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in London, and Professor Gemmy Cheung, Professor and Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore. In this special episode, we discuss our experiences as women working in ophthalmology, and the advice we would give to young, aspiring ophthalmologists.

We also talk about what it meant to us to be named on The Ophthalmologist’s Power List, and how the next generation of ophthalmologists can be empowered through mentorship. We recommend visiting the Vision Academy Program website and nAMD Barometer Program website. We participate in these Programs to help develop important materials and training resources for clinicians and patients to improve patient-focused care and clinical practice.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode! Further information on content in other podcasts in this series can be found here.

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultancy: AbbVie, Bayer, Beyeonics, Syneos, Ripple, Iveric Bbio, Johnson & Johnson, Ocuphire, Iqvia, Notal Vision, Novartis, and Roche.

Professor Sobha Sivaprasad 

Consultancy: AbbVie, Amgen, Apellis, Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Eyebiotech, Eyepoint Phamaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Nova Nordisk, Optos, Ocular Therapeutix, Kriya Therapeutics, OcuTerra, Roche, Stealth Biotherapeutics and Sanofi; Research grants: Bayer and Boehringer Ingleheim.

Professor Gemmy Cheung

Consultancy: Bayer, Roche, and Novartis.

August 2024 PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0164-1

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing

'A Chat with Anat' is a series for ophthalmologists who are interested in improving delivery of care and improved outcomes for patients living with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). I’m Professor Anat Loewenstein, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre in Israel, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean at Tel Aviv University. For each episode, I will be joined by internationally renowned colleagues to discuss key topics on patient-focused care. This podcast series is sponsored and organised by Bayer and produced by Apoth

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this episode, my guests Vision Academy and Barometer Program member Professor Jean-François Korobelnik, Professor and Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the University Hospital of Bordeaux in France, and Vision Academy member Professor Robyn Guymer, Deputy Director at the Centre for Eye Research and Professor of Ophthalmic at the University of Melbourne in Australia, discuss considerations for devising flexible and individualized treatment regimens for patients with nAMD with residual fluid.

Using examples from their own clinical experience, Professors Korobelnik and Guymer explore the nuanced relationship between efficacy of anti-VEGF treatment and location and presence (or absence) of fluid in patients with nAMD.

The Vision Academy Viewpoint providing recommendations for the assessment and monitoring of fluid status can be found on the website, along with other viewpoints and resources. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the appropriate product information before prescribing.

SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode! Further information on content in other podcasts in this series can be found here.                    

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Jean-François Korobelnik 
Consultancy: Abbvie, Allergan, Apellis, Bayer, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Janssen, NanoRetina, Roche, and Théa.

Professor Robyn Guymer
Advisory boards and/or Consultancy: Apellis, Bayer, Belite Bio, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Character Bioscience, Genentech, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutix, and Roche.

Further information on residual fluid:

Arnold J.J, et al. The role of sub-retinal fluid in determining treatment outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration - a phase IV randomised clinical trial with ranibizumab: the FLUID study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4806513/

Lek JJ., et al. Interpretation of subretinal fluid using OCT in intermediate age-related macular  degeneration. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2468653017307315?via%3Dihub 

Hahn P, Eliott D, eds. 2021 Global Trends in Retina Survey. 2021. https://www.asrs.org/content/documents/2021-g

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this episode, Vision Academy members Professor Annabelle Okada, Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Ocular Inflammation Service and the Macular Disease Service at the Kyorin University School of Medicine in Japan, and Professor Ian Pearce, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the UK, discuss the pachychoroid spectrum.

Using practical examples from their own clinics, they explore how accurate diagnosis, monitoring, prognosis and treatment decisions depend upon consensus descriptions of clinical, morphological and epidemiological characteristics disorders on the pachychoroid spectrum. They also discuss multimodal imaging and barriers to its implementation in clinical practice.

The Vision Academy Viewpoint covering the consensus on the definition of pachychoroid and details on the management of the pathologies included in this spectrum, and other important viewpoints and resources, can be found here. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the appropriate product information before prescribing.

If you enjoyed this episode, please listen to past episodes in this series to hear retinal experts discussing the importance of characterizing macular neovascularization subtypes in nAMD to optimize treatment outcomes, and how we as ophthalmologists can best choose the optimal anti-VEGF therapy regimen for our patients with retinal vascular diseases. SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode!

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Annabelle Okada
Consultancy: Bayer, Chugai, Novartis, Roche, and Santen Pharmaceutical.

Professor Ian Pearce 
Consultancy: Apellis, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche.

Further information on Pachychoroid:

Castro-Navarro V., et al. Pachychoroid: current concepts on clinical features and pathogenesis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol.2020. 

Warrow DJ., Hoang QV. and Freund KB. Pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy. Retina. 2013. 

Miyake M., et al. Pachychoroid neovasculopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Sci Rep. 2015.

Li Y., et al. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in adult Chinese: the Beijing Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2014. 

Li Y., et al. Prevalence and associations of central serous chorioretinopathy in elderly Chinese. The Beijing Eye Study 2011. Acta Ophthalmol. 2016. 

Manayath GJ., et al. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy associated with central serous chorioretinopathy: pachychoroid spectrum of diseases. Retina. 20

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this special episode recorded live at the 15th Annual Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy) is Professor Tariq Aslam, Professor of Ophthalmology and Interface Technologies at University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
 
In this episode, Tariq and I discuss whether the introduction of next generation therapies for the clinical management of retinal diseases will open the door to a new era for patients and clinicians.

We also consider how learnings from the Barometer Global Survey surrounding the multiple challenges associated with management of retinal diseases can be implemented into clinical practice, and touch on how we can best support our patients to achieve extended treatment intervals.

If you want to know more about the Barometer Program’s Global Survey, or the Barometer’s efforts towards patient-focused care, visit our website: https://www.amdbarometer.org/. Also on the website are important materials resources to help you in your clinical practice (such as communication guides and educational materials) and to help your patients (such as information packs for patients to give to their employers).

If you enjoyed this episode, please listen to past episodes in this series to hear retinal experts discussing how to choose the optimal anti-VEGF therapy regimen for patients with retinal vascular diseases, how patients’ emotions, experiences, and perceptions can influence their treatment adherence and persistence, and how we as ophthalmologists can both understand and help patients with the burden of treatment.

SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode!

Further information on content in other podcasts in this series can be found at: https://www.amdbarometer.org/resources

This podcast was produced in association with the Vision Academy; viewpoints on clinically challenging situations, educational slide decks, video content and other materials, can be found at the Vision Academy, https://www.visionacademy.org/. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the appropriate product information before prescribing.

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy: Allergan, Annexon, Bayer, Beyeonics, Biogen, ForSight Labs, Iqvia, Iveric Bio, Johnson & Johnson, MJHEvents, Nanoretina, Notal Vision, Novartis, Ocuphire Pharma, Ocuterra, Ophtimedrx, Ripple Therapeutics, Roche, Syneos, WebMD, and Xbrane. 

Professor Tariq Aslam 
Grants/

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this episode is Professor Nicole Eter, Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Münster, Germany. In this episode, Nicole and I chat about the different macular neovascularization (MNV) subtypes, discussing the diagnostic tools used to classify MNV subtypes, their defining characteristics and variants, and the impact of these on our patients.

Our conversation highlights why it’s important to tailor treatment to MNV subtype for our patients to have the best outcomes, and the significance of discussing lesions, prognoses and treatments with patients and their caregivers. Important resources, such as the Vision Academy Viewpoint on MNV subtypes and treatment algorithms and educational slide decks, can be found on the https://www.visionacademy.org/.  Or can be downloaded directly from here; view point and slide deck. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing. 

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode! Further information on content in other podcasts in this series can be found here at: https://www.amdbarometer.org/resources 

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy: Allergan, Annexon, Bayer, Beyeonics, Biogen, ForSight Labs, Iqvia, Iveric Bio, Johnson & Johnson, MJHEvents, Nanoretina, Notal Vision, Novartis, Ocuphire Pharma, Ocuterra, Ophtimedrx, Ripple Therapeutics, Roche, Syneos, WebMD, and Xbrane. 

Professor Nicole Eter 
Consultancy: Alcon, Allergan, Apellis, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche; Payments/honoraria: Allergan, Apellis, Bayer, Novartis, and Roche; Research grants: Bayer and Novartis; Support for meetings/travel: Roche.

Further information on other studies mentioned in this episode:
Mathis T, et al. Characterisation of macular neovascularisation subtypes in age-related macular degeneration to optimise treatment outcomes. Eye. 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-022-02231-y

Spaide RF, et al. Consensus Nomenclature for Reporting Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Data: Consensus on Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Nomenclature Study Group. Ophthalmology. 2020.

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this episode, Professor Paul Mitchell, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney in Australia, and Dr Andrew Chang, Principal Retinal Specialist at the Sydney Retina Clinic and Day Surgery in Australia, share their thoughts on the optimal anti-VEGF therapy regimens to treat retinal vascular diseases, including nAMD and DME. They discuss how the best regimen should be effective in maintaining vision, proactive, individualized to the patient’s needs, and convenient for the patient.

Using practical examples from their own clinics, Professor Mitchell and Dr Chang explore how to treat different patients with different levels of starting visual acuity, and how treatments for retinal vascular diseases have changed over time. 

This podcast is produced in partnership with the Vision Academy, a group of internationally renowned retinal experts who collaborate to provide guidance to the retinal community on clinical challenges in ophthalmology and controversies in care. 

The Vision Academy viewpoints providing guidance on clinically challenging situations, and other important resources, can be found at https://www.visionacademy.org/. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the appropriate product information before subscribing.

If you enjoyed this episode, please listen to past episodes in this series to hear retinal experts discussing their thoughts on bilateral retinal disease and treatment, how to optimize treatment of patients with nAMD with macular neovascularization subtypes, and how patients’ emotions, experiences, and perceptions can influence their treatment adherence and persistence.

SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode!
 
 Further information on other studies mentioned in this episode:

ARIES study: Mitchell et al., Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Aflibercept Using a Treat-and-Extend Regimen for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. The ARIES Study: A Randomized Clinical Trial https://journals.lww.com/retinajournal/Fulltext/2021/09000/EFFICACY_AND_SAFETY_OF_INTRAVITREAL_AFLIBERCEPT.15.aspx

July 2023 MA-PFM-OPHT-ALL-1183-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

We are delighted to announce that we are expanding A Chat with Anat! We will be partnering with the Vision Academy, a group of retinal experts who collaborate to provide guidance to the retinal community. I will be joined by internationally renowned Vision Academy experts to discuss practice-focused topics covering clinical challenges in ophthalmology and controversies in care. 

In this episode of A Chat with Anat, Professor Paul Mitchell, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney, and Dr Alex Hunyor, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney, discuss pragmatic considerations to reduce the burden of bilateral anti-VEGF injections.

Professor Mitchell and Dr Hunyor explore how bilateral disease significantly impacts patient quality of life, and how bilateral treatment, especially if the eyes are being treated on different days, can lead to significant burden for patients, caregivers, and for their healthcare system.

Their conversation also covers how to explain to patients the need for, and risks of, bilateral injections, and how we, as ophthalmologists, can minimise any potential risks with the treatment procedure. 

The Vision Academy viewpoint providing guidance on bilateral injections, and other important viewpoints and resources, can be found at https://www.visionacademy.org/. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the appropriate product information before prescribing.

If you enjoyed this episode, please listen to past episodes in this series to hear retinal experts discussing their experiences in navigating the importance of addressing anxiety and depression in our patients with nAMD, and how patients’ emotions, experiences, and perceptions can influence their treatment adherence and persistence.

SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode!

Further information on content in other podcasts in this series can be found at: https://www.amdbarometer.org/resources 

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

July 2023 MA-PFM-OPHT-ALL-1181-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this episode is Professor Tariq Aslam, Professor of Ophthalmology and Interface Technologies at the University of Manchester and a Consultant Ophthalmologist specializing in the management of retinal disease. In this episode, we speak about how important it is to consider anxiety and depression when managing our patients with nAMD, and hear about the quick and effective measures that listeners can implement in their own clinic to identify patients at risk of anxiety and depression.

Visit the resources page of the Barometer website to learn more about the rapid mental health screening tool that can be used to identify and support patients at risk of anxiety and depression https://www.amdbarometer.org/resources. For more information about patient-focused care, visit the nAMD Barometer and DR Barometer websites, and visit the Vision Academy website for information on managing clinically challenging situations and controversies in care.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein - Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer, Beyeonics Surgical, KHB, Novartis, Notal Vision, Oculis, Oxurion, Pres-By, Roche, Sensor, WebMD, Xbrane. Professor Tariq Aslam - Consultancy: Bausch & Lomb, Bayer, Laboratoires, Novartis, Oraya, Théa Pharmaceuticals.

Further information on other studies mentioned in this episode:

Senra H, Balaskas K, Mahmoodi N, Aslam T. Experience of Anti-VEGF Treatment and Clinical Levels of Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol. 2017;177:213─224. 

Cimarolli VR, Casten RJ, Rovner BW, Heyl V, Sörensen S, Horowitz A. Anxiety and depression in patients with advanced macular degeneration: current perspectives. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015;10:55─63.

Sivaprasad S, Oyetunde S. Impact of injection therapy on retinal patients with diabetic macular edema or retinal vein occlusion. Clin Ophthalmol. 2016;10:939─46.

Weinstein O, Cohen AD, Levy J, Zloto O, Freud T, Krieger I, Comaneshter D, Shemesh R. Anxiety in Patients with Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2023;30:286─292.
 
January 2025 - MA-PFM-OPHT-ALL-1086-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this episode is Professor Richard Gale, Professor of Ophthalmology at Hull York Medical School, University of York, UK, and Honorary Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist at the National Health Service’s York Teaching Hospital.

In this episode, Richard and I will chat about how patients’ emotions, experiences, and perceptions related to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment can influence their treatment adherence and persistence. Despite this, the patient’s perspective is often not considered during the clinical management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. To tackle this issue, Richard gives us some of his top tips to try in our busy clinics.

We discuss a systematic literature review article recently published in Acta Ophthalmologica, which was authored by a group of international experts including Richard and myself. Find out more here: https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.15201

If you enjoyed this episode, go back and listen to our first episode with Richard, where we chat about how to further motivate our patients to be adherent, or try some of the past episodes to hear other retinal experts delve into ways to engage and empower our patients, and explore a history of patient expectations in nAMD through the 21st century.

SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode!

If you want to know more about the Barometer Program’s efforts towards patient-focused care in nAMD, visit our website: https://www.amdbarometer.org/ 

Further information on other studies mentioned in this episode:
ANCHOR study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.10.018
MARINA study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.10.045
Prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms in patients with nAMD; Australian study: https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.14635

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise. This is not intended for UK audiences.

This is not intended for UK audiences.

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer, Beyeonics Surgical, KHB, Novartis, Notal Vision, Oculis, Oxurion, Pres-By, Roche, Sensor, WebMD, Xbrane
 
Professor Richard Gale:
Consultancy, Research Gra

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this special episode filmed in Paris at EURETINA 2025, I am joined by a very special guest, my fellow Vision Academy and Barometer Program member Prof. Adrian Koh, who is founding partner and senior consultant at the Eye & Retina Surgeons, Camden Medical Centre, Singapore, and Director of Retinal Centre International.

Tune in as we dive into the current understanding of the well-being of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in ophthalmology, and introduce the HCP Barometer Survey, the first comprehensive and holistic analysis of the complexities of HCP well-being in ophthalmology, from professional fulfilment to the impact of clinic capacity constraints.

If you are a practicing specialist, fellow, resident, postgraduate, nurse, or technician working in ophthalmology who regularly interacts with and provides care for patients, please click here to complete the survey and tell us about your experiences. 

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, AbbVie, Astellas, Aviceda, Bayer, Beyeonics, Boehringer Ingelheim; Eyepoint, NotalVision, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Ocuphire, Opthea, Roche, and Voiant.

Professor Adrian Koh

Consultant: Allergan, Bayer, Carl Zeiss, Heidelberg, Novartis, Topcon.

October 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0247-1

Further information on topics discussed in this podcast:

Ansari AS, et al. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2023;33(4):1640–1649.

B Burgos-Blasco, et al. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2022;45(7):689–699.

Garrido-Hermosilla AM, et al. Int Ophthalmol. 2024;44(27).

Gould LF, et al. Can J  Ophthalmol. 2020;55(3):29–32. 

Grover R, et al. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2021;28:322–329.

Palakkamanil MM, et al. Can J Ophthalmol. 2022;57:e103–e106.

Patel AJ, et al. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2023;6:316–321.

Sedhom JA, et al. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2022;48(6):723–729.

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this episode is Professor Paul Mitchell, Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Western Sydney Local Health District, and Principal of Sydney West Retina Pty Ltd in Australia.

As treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) has evolved through the 21st century, so have the expectations of our patients. Paul joins me to chat about how developments in treatment modalities and regimens led to the evolution of patient expectations following diagnosis of nAMD, and what we can expect for our patients in the future.

If you enjoyed this episode, try some of our past episodes to hear other retinal experts delve into ways in which we can engage and empower our patients, how to further motivate our patients to be adherent, and how clinic organization can be used to improve adherence and persistence.

SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode!

If you want to know more about the Barometer Program’s efforts towards patient-focused care in nAMD, visit our website: https://www.amdbarometer.org/

Further information on studies mentioned in this episode:
Blue Mountains Eye study (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-6420(95)30846-9)
MARINA study (https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa054481)
ANCHOR study (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.10.018)
LUCAS study (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.07.041)
ALTAIR study (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01236-x)
ARIES study (https://doi.org/10.1097/IAE.0000000000003128)
HOME study (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2014.02.003)
Algorithm for suspending anti-VEGF treatment in cases of futility (https://doi.org/10.1097/IAE.0000000000002713)

June 2024 MA-PFM-OPHT-ALL-0938-1

This is not intended for UK audiences.

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer, Beyeonics Surgical, KHB, Novartis, Notal Vision, Oculis, Oxurion, Pres-By, Roche, Sensor, WebMD, Xbrane

Professor Paul Mitchell
Consultancy: Allergan, Bayer, and Novartis

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest is Dr. Jane Barratt, Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing. In this episode, Jane and I discuss ways in which we can improve our communication with our patients to enable realistic expectation-setting. We also speak about how we can meaningfully engage with, and empower, our patients to support them in managing their nAMD.

This is not intended for UK audiences.

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer, Beyeonics Surgical, KHB, Novartis, Notal Vision, Oculis, Oxurion, Pres-By, Roche, Sensor, WebMD, Xbrane

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

Today my guest is Mr James Talks, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Newcastle Eye Centre in Newcastle, UK. He joins me to discuss how clinic organization can impact adherence and persistence and what aspects we can modify to ensure a better patient experience and optimize adherence to treatment.

This is not intended for UK audiences.

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer, Beyeonics Surgical, KHB, Novartis, Notal Vision, Oculis, Oxurion, Pres-By, Roche, Sensor, WebMD, Xbrane

Mr James Talks
Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer,  Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Roche

July 2025 | MA-PFM-OPHT-ALL-0646-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My first guest is Professor Richard Gale, Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist, and the Clinical Director at the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK. In this episode, we discuss the latest publications and strategies that are employed to support patients in continuing to attend appointments and receive treatment. I have included below the links to the publications that we discuss during this podcast.

Okada M, et al. Ophthalmology. 2021;128(2):234-47

Okada M, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021;139(7):769-76

This is not intended for UK audiences.

Speaker disclosures:
Professor Anat Loewenstein
Consultancy, Research grants: Allergan, Bayer, Beyeonics Surgical, KHB, Novartis, Notal Vision, Oculis, Oxurion, Pres-By, Roche, Sensor, WebMD, Xbrane
 
Professor Richard Gale:
Consultancy, Research Grants: Alimera, Allergan, Bayer, Novartis, Roche

July 2025 | MA-PFM-OPHT-ALL-1190-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this special episode filmed in Paris at EURETINA 2025, I am joined by Professor Gemmy Cheung, Professor and Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, and my fellow Vision Academy and Barometer Program. 

Join us as we explore current guidance for the diagnosis and management of simultaneous geographic atrophy (GA) and choroidal/macular neovascularization (CNV/MNV) in clinical practice from the Vision Academy’s viewpoint. In this episode, Gemmy and I dive into insights from published literature on the clinical profile and pathophysiology of the disease and the recommendations from the Vision Academy for the diagnosis and management of simultaneous GA and CNV/MNV. Finally, we discuss the more sophisticated multimodal imaging we use in our clinics, including OCT-A and fundus autofluorescence. 

To learn more about clinical characteristics and underlying mechanisms of simultaneous GA and CNV/MNV, read the Vision Academy Viewpoint and publication on the incidence, characteristics, and treatments for simultaneous GA and CNV/MNV. For more information about patient-focused care, visit the nAMD Barometer and DR Barometer websites.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, AbbVie, Astellas, Bayer, Beyeonics, Eyepoint, Notal Vision, Ocular Therapeutix, Ocuphire, Oculis, Opthea, Roche, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Aviceda, Voiant

Professor Gemmy Cheung

Consulting fees, speaker fees, and grants: Avirmax, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Iveric, Janssen, Iveric, Janssen, Novartis, Roche, Topcon, and Zeiss.

November 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0248-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this special episode, I am joined by two of my long-time friends and collaborators, Professor Jean-François Korobelnik, my Co-chair of the Vision Academy and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Bordeaux, France, and Dr Jane Barratt, my Co-chair of the Barometer Program, and former Secretary General and Global Advisor at the International Federation of Ageing.

Tune in as we unpack the statement “From the Community, For the Community,” exploring how collaborations between academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations shape clinical practice and influence policy, with practical advice for listeners keen to get involved in such initiatives, and drive meaningful change.

This episode was recorded live at the Joint Vision Academy Steering Committee and Barometer Leadership Coalition Meeting in Rome in February 2025. To learn more about these programs, find your country’s representative, and access the important materials and training resources for clinicians and patients to improve patient-focused care and clinical practice, visit the Vision Academy Program website and nAMD Barometer Program website.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, Abbvie, Astellas, Aviceda, Bayer, Beyeonics, Boehringer Ingelheim; Eyepoint, NotalVision, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Ocuphire, Opthea, Roche, and Voiant.

Professor Jean-François Korobelnik

Consultant: AbbVie, Adverum, Apellis, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carl Zeiss Meditec, EyePoint, Ocular Therapeutix, Roche, SeaBeLife, and Théa; Member of data safety monitoring board: Alexion, Novo Nordisk, and Opthea.

Dr Jane Barratt

Consultant: Bayer.

August 2025 | PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0231-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

In this special episode, the roles have been reversed! Your host is Professor Tariq Aslam, Professor of Ophthalmology and Interface Technologies at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, who asked me questions sent in by my retinal community colleagues.

Tune in to hear how I balance my busy career with my well-being, the pep talks I give to nervous first-time patients and trainees, myths about retinal disease I’d like to erase forever, and even an embarrassing moment in my career! 

This episode was recorded live at the Joint Vision Academy Steering Committee and Barometer Leadership Coalition Meeting in Rome. To learn more about these programs and access the important materials and training resources for clinicians and patients to improve patient-focused care and clinical practice, visit the Vision Academy Program website and nAMD Barometer Program website.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, Abbvie, Astellas, Aviceda, Bayer, Beyeonics, Boehringer Ingelheim; Eyepoint, NotalVision, Ocular Therapeutix, Oculis, Ocuphire, Opthea, Roche, and Voiant.

Professor Tariq Aslam

Grants, speaker fees, and travel: Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canon, Heidelberg, Novartis, Roche, Thea, and Topcon.

July 2025 PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0230-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this special episode is Professor Paolo Lanzetta, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Udine, Italy. In this episode, Paolo and I explore the importance of monitoring the fellow eye of patients with nAMD. We also discuss methods and techniques for early detection of disease, the difference in monitoring for patients with DME, and the Vision Academy’s evidence-based guidance on monitoring the fellow eye. 

To learn more about monitoring the fellow eye in patients with nAMD, read the Vision Academy Viewpoint, the Vision Academy slide deck, and the Vision Academy publication on current concepts and modalities for monitoring the fellow eye in nAMD.  For more information about patient-focused care, visit the nAMD Barometer and DR Barometer websites.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, AbbVie, Astellas, Bayer, Beyeonics, Eyepoint, Notal Vision, Ocular Therapeutix, Ocuphire, Oculis, Opthea, Roche, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Aviceda, Voiant

Professor Paolo Lanzetta

Consultant: Aerie, Allergan, Apellis, Bausch + Lomb, Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, I-Care, Genentech, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutix, Outlook Therapeutics, and Roche

 May 2025 PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0219-1

Further information on topics discussed in this podcast:

Brown DM, Michels M, Kaiser PK, Heier JS, Sy JP, Ianchulev T; ANCHOR Study Group. Ranibizumab versus verteporfin photodynamic therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: Two-year results of the ANCHOR study. Ophthalmology. 2009 Jan;116(1):57─65.e5.

Chew JK, Zhu M, Broadhead GK, Luo K, Hong T, Chang AA. Bilateral Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Comparisons between First and Second Eyes. Ophthalmologica. 2017 Jan 1;238(1-2):23–30.

Downey L, Acharya N, Devonport H, Gale R, Habib M, et al. Treatment choices for diabetic macular oedema: a guideline for when to consider an intravitreal corticosteroid, including adaptations for the COVID-19 era. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2021 Apr 27;6(1):e000696.

Rosenfeld PJ, Brown DM, Heier JS, Boyer DS, Kaiser PK, Chung CY, Kim RY; MARINA Study

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this special episode is Prof. Jean- François Korobelnik from the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital, and at CHU Bordeaux, in Bordeaux, France. In this episode, Jean-François and I explore the importance of choosing the right regimen for our patients with nAMD. We discuss the evidence we can gather from clinical trials, and the lessons we learn from patients we see during clinical practice. We also explore the algorithm developed by the Vision Academy to choose the best regimen for patients.

To learn more about how to choose the best treatment regimens to optimize outcomes for patients with nAMD, read the Vision Academy Viewpoint, and the accompanying slide deck. Please also visit the Vision Academy website. For more information about patient-focused care, visit the nAMD Barometer and DR Barometer websites.

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultant: 4DMT, AbbVie, Astellas, Bayer, Beyeonics, Eyepoint, Notal Vision, Ocular Therapeutix, Ocuphire, Oculis, Opthea, Roche, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Aviceda, Voiant.

Professor Jean- François Korobelnik

Consultant: Abbvie, Adverum, Apellis, Bayer, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Eyepoint Pharma, Ocular Therapeutix, Roche, SeaBeLife, Thea; member of the data safety monitoring board or advisory board for Alexion, Novo Nordisk, and Opthea.

April 2025 PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0215 -1

Further information on topics discussed in this podcast:

Teo KYC, Eldem B, Joussen A, Koh A, Korobelnik JF, Li X, Loewenstein A, Lövestam-Adrian M, Navarro R, Okada AA, Pearce I, Rodríguez F, Wong D, Wu L, Zur D, Zarranz-Ventura J, Mitchell P, Chaudhary V, Lanzetta P. Treatment regimens for optimising outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Eye (Lond). 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41433-024-03370-0. 

Gemenetzi M, Patel PJ. A Systematic Review of the Treat and Extend Treatment Regimen with Anti-VEGF Agents for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmol Ther. 2017;6:79-92. 

Arnold JJ, Campain A, Barthelmes D, Simpson JM, Guymer RH, Hunyor AP, McAllister IL, Essex RW, Morlet N, Gillies MC; Fight Retinal Blindness Study Group. Two-year outcomes of "treat and extend" intravitreal therapy for neovascular age-related macular

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this special episode is Dr. John Kitchens, Vitreoretinal Surgeon with Retina Associates of Kentucky in the USA. In this episode, John and I explore the importance of holistic patient care. We also highlight the latest advances in home monitoring technologies in retinal disease, and how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to aid in disease monitoring and optimization of clinic organization. 

To learn more about the current status of AI in screening, diagnosing and managing retinal diseases, read the Vision Academy Viewpoint, and the Vision Academy retinal expert consensuses by clicking here or here. For more information about patient-focused care, visit the nAMD Barometer and DR Barometer websites. If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to “A Chat with Anat” to make sure you never miss an episode! 

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein- Consultant: Consultant for 4DMT, Abbvie, Alkeus, Annexon, Apellis, Astellas, Bayer health care, Beyeonics, Eyepoint, J & J, NotalVision, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutics, Ocuphire Pharma, Ocuterra, Oculis, Opthea, Oxurion, Roche, Syneos.

Dr. John Kitchens - Consultant: Alcon, Allergan, Alimera, Apellis, Astellas, Bayer, Biogen, Bausch + Lomb, Genentech, Kodiak Bioscience, Notal Vision, Optos, Oculus, Outlook, Regeneron, Roche, and Zeiss. Speaker: Alcon, Bayer, Genentech, and Regeneron. Owns stock in Regeneron.

Further information on topics discussed in this podcast:

Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of High-Dose Supplementation With Vitamins C and E, Beta Carotene, and Zinc for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Vision Loss: AREDS Report No. 8. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:1417–1436.

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group, Chew EY, SanGiovanni JP, et al. Lutein/Zeaxanthin for the Treatment of Age-Related Cataract: AREDS2 Randomized Trial Report No. 4. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2013;131:843–850. 

Anguita R, Ferro Desideri L, Loewenstein A, et al. The digital age in retinal practice. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2024 Sep 26;10:67. doi: 10.1186/s40942-024-00580-2. 

January 2025 PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0199-1

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.

My guest for this episode is Professor David Wong from the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto in Toronto, Canada. In this episode, David and I discuss the Vision Academy’s algorithms for suspending treatment for nAMD in the context of treatment futility and success. 

Our conversation highlights the monitoring considerations and criteria used to define treatment futility and success, and the potential of predictive biomarkers and at-home monitoring to optimize patient follow-up. Important resources, such as the Vision Academy Viewpoint and algorithm on suspending treatment of nAMD in cases of futility, can be found on the website. Or can be downloaded directly from here; view point and slide deck. Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing. 

If you enjoyed this episode, SUBSCRIBE to ‘A Chat with Anat’ to never miss an episode! Further information on content in other podcasts in this series can be found here.

Speaker disclosures:

Professor Anat Loewenstein

Consultancy: 4DMT, Abbvie, Alkeus, Annexon, Apellis, Astellas, Bayer health care, Beyeonics, Eyepoint, J & J, NotalVision, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutics, Ocuphire Pharma, Ocuterra, Oculis, Opthea, Oxurion, Roche, Syneos.

Professor David Wong 

Consultancy: Abbvie, Alcon, Apellis, Bayer, Bausch Health, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Ripple Therapeutics, Roche, Topcon, and Zeiss; Research grants: Novartis and Roche.

Further information on other studies mentioned in this episode:

Wong DT, et al. SUSPENDING TREATMENT OF NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IN CASES OF FUTILITY. Retina. 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7448759/ 

June 2024 PP-PF-OPHT-ALL-0162-1

'A Chat with Anat' is a series for ophthalmologists who are interested in improving delivery of care and improved outcomes for patients living with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). I’m Professor Anat Loewenstein, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre in Israel, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean at Tel Aviv University. For each episode, I will be joined by internationally renowned colleagues to discuss key topics on patient-focused ca

This podcast series is intended for HCPs, and is not intended for UK audiences. 

Always refer to local treatment guidelines and relevant prescribing information. Please review the product information before prescribing.

This podcast series is produced and funded by Bayer. The views and opinions expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, based on their clinical experience and expertise.

The Barometer Program is managed by clinical leaders in ophthalmology as well as representatives from the IFA, IAPB and Bayer. The activities of the Barometer Program are funded and facilitated by Bayer where the scientists and representatives from IFA and IAPB retain decision authority to the research scope, methods, analysis of findings, and dissemination of the outputs of the Barometer Program.

The Vision Academy is a group of over 80 international experts who, through their collective expertise, provide consensus guidance for managing clinically challenging situations, especially in areas of controversy or with insufficient conclusive evidence. The Vision Academy is funded and facilitated by Bayer. The opinions and guidance of the Vision Academy outputs are those of its members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bayer.