In the exciting launch of Season 2 of the Broad Eye podcast, we explore the latest developments in eye care and share our personal journeys over the past couple of years. This season will focus on highlighting inspiring individuals and organizations that are making significant strides in ophthalmology, aiming to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance access to eye health.   Bruno discusses his innovative project, "Eye Station," a free eye screening initiative located in a busy mall in Brazil, designed to provide easier access to eye care screenings and education for the public. This social project aims to bridge the gap in eye care accessibility that the public sector struggles to meet, allowing individuals to receive essential screenings without the barriers of cost or inconvenience.    Meanwhile, Shawn shares his involvement with several non-profit organizations, including the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), as well as his exciting new book project co-authored with Paralympic athlete and educator Victoria Nolan. This book aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for individuals newly diagnosed with vision loss, filling a crucial gap in available information.   Together, we reflect on our experiences and the challenges we've faced, setting the stage for a season filled with compelling stories and expert insights that underscore the transformative power of accessible eye health.

In this episode our guest is Dagmar Jamieson, a mentor and life coach at CNIB. We discuss the challenges in everyday life as a visually impaired person, how that affects our social skills, are there any professional limitations and how does Dagmar cope with all those challenges.

In this episode, Dr. Bill Stell gives a comprehensive overview of the most promising clinical research and potential treatments for inherited retinal diseases, including Retinitis Pigmentosa. Dr. Stell further explores avenues for retired researchers and clinicians to continue helping patients and mentoring young professionals. 

In this episode, Dr. Dennis Levi provides an in-depth overview of the causes and treatment options for patients with Amblyopia. Dr. Levi highlights how virtual reality and perceptual learning are becoming increasingly important in optimizing stereovision. 

In this episode, Dr. Mark Pennesi provides an overview of inherited retinal dystrophies and how CRISPR is being used to edit DNA in the eyes of patients. Dr. Pennesi further shares recent research findings from a clinical trial using CRISPR to treat patients with Leber Congenital Amaurosis. 

In this episode, Anthony Ferraro shares the story of his journey from being diagnosed with Leber Congenital Amaurosis — a rare and blinding eye disease — to training for the 2024 Paralympic Games. In recent years, Anthony has gained an incredible following on social media as an inspiring athlete, amateur musician, and overall beacon of positivity.

In this episode, Dr. Jacque Duncan provides an overview of how The Foundation Fighting Blindness is funding critical research that could impact millions of patients with inherited and degenerative retinal diseases. Dr. Duncan further describes her research focus which aims to preserve vision and stimulate visual function. 

In this episode, Ophthalmologist Dr. Allen Roth gives an overview of corneal disease management and how these practices have changed in recent years. Dr. Roth also discusses his role as President of The Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation, highlighting cutting-edge research supported by the Foundation and explaining how the community can get involved. 

Uncorrected refractive errors (i.e. myopia) represents almost half of the 2.2 billion people who are visually impaired worldwide. Dr. Cummings believes one of the best ways to address the problem is through refractive surgery. He founded The College of Refractive Surgery with the goal of helping more doctors, and bring the benefits of refractive surgery to more people.

Mr. Stenvers works as a Director at the Eye Care Foundation while also working for the International Council of Museums, advising at UNESCO World Heritage and teaching at the Amsterdam University of the Arts and the Presidential program for Ministers of RANEPA in Russia. In this episode, we discuss how those seemingly distant roles are actually somehow related, and the skills he acquired during the years are being used to help the +200 million people with visual disabilities in developing countries.

As the president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, Dr. Kirk Adams is a leader in the field of blindness and is committed to pursuing strategic relationships with peers, policymakers, employers, and other influencers to create a more inclusive and accessible world for the more than 20 million Americans with vision loss.

In this episode, Dr. Joel Schuman gives a detailed overview of how a team of collaborators from diverse academic backgrounds developed Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a technology that was a leap forward in the field of Ophthalmology. Dr. Schuman further explores how curiosity lies at the center of his motivation to continue discovering and innovating even after co-developing a breakthrough medical technology. 

Ariel Cao is the president/CEO and co-founder of Injectsense. We talked about the current challenges in the management of patients with glaucoma, still one of the major causes of blindness worldwide. Cao and his team developed an implantable intraocular device that can continuously monitor intraocular pressure. By providing accurate, clinically actionable information, physicians will be able to individualize therapeutic interventions for each patient, properly assess the effectiveness of glaucoma therapy, and ultimately avoid blindness. 

In this episode, Dr. David Pyott shares insights and lessons learned as the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Allergan. David further details the genesis of The Ophthalmology Foundation, highlighting the importance of education and maintaining a global perspective in order to improve eye care and advance the preservation and restoration of vision for all.

Lex Gillette, five-time Paralympian and 2020 Tokyo silver medalist in long jump, shares his experience from a young boy with sudden vision loss to world-class athlete. Lex gives an overview of his training, the importance of having the right mindset, and how anybody with a vision can do more than most dream is possible.

Jay Newman, Head of U.S. Commercial at Spark Therapeutics provides a detailed overview of gene therapy for inherited retinal disease. Jay discusses the challenges associated with gaining regulatory approval and how this approval has impacted the company and the low vision community at large. 

Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai shares his experience as a visually impaired student who was fast tracked through high school and entered university at age 15, highlighting the numerous challenges and the benefit of a growth mindset. Dr. Sukhai further describes new initiatives in low vision research and shares advice for people who are striving for success in life and work while dealing with a visual impairment.

Ophthalmologist and vision science researcher Dr. Brian Ballios provides an overview of stem cell therapies for inherited retinal diseases, including Retinitis Pigmentosa. Dr. Ballios further discusses the importance of genetic testing, highlighting that knowledge of a patient's underlying mutation is often required to access clinical trials and approved therapies. 

In this episode, Ophthalmology and visual science researcher Dr. Yves Sauvé gives an overview of how vision works in the eye and in the brain, highlighting normal and pathological changes in these structures that can alter the visual experience. Dr. Sauvé further describes modifiable lifestyle factors that can influence vision as we age, as well as various related topics that he covers in depth in his book, "Feeling the Meaning Of Life".

In this episode, Dr. Carlos Quezada Ruiz describes the evolution and challenges of clinical trials from his unique perspective as an active retina specialist who also oversees modules of some of the world’s most impactful clinical trials in Ophthalmology in his role as Senior Medical Director at Genentech. Dr. Quezada Ruiz further highlights the importance of a patient-centric approach for everyone working in the field of Ophthalmology, including industry professionals, basic scientists, and clinicians.

For this episode, Bruno was joined by Dr. Rubens Belfort as a guest editor to have a candid conversation with Dr. Arun Singh. Dr. Singh has more than 250 articles published in peer reviewed journals. He is the editor of British Journal of Ophthalmology, and a manuscript reviewer for 14 national and international journals. We dove into the intricacies of scientific publications, discussing what works, and what can be improved.

 

http://broadeye.org/singh/

In this episode, Dr. Allan Slomovic provides a high level overview of current and emerging therapies for corneal and ocular surface diseases. Dr. Slomovic further shares stories of mentorship and philanthropy, as well as a very personal experience with COVID-19 as a patient himself.

 

More information about the guest here.

Dr. Sukhai shares his journey from congenitally blind newborn to visually impaired biomedical researcher with a deep passion for science and inclusion. Dr. Sukhai further highlights recent research data surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on people with low vision.

 

http://broadeye.org/mahadeo/

In this episode, we review differences in regulatory requirements for branded and generic therapeutic agents, and how these differences can manifest in eye care. Dr. Andrew Meagher sheds light on the subject using IOP-lowering glaucoma drops as an example.

Drawing on his experience in the clinic and keen attention to scientific detail, Dr. Meagher shares knowledge as Associate Professor at the Salus University, School of Optometry.

Tom Brunner, President and CEO of Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), shares the history of ophthalmic laser technology and how he ended up leading a global organization dedicated to funding promising Glaucoma research. Tom further provides a detailed overview of Glaucoma onset and progression, highlighting risk factors and the importance of early diagnosis. Some of the most significant clinical trials in Glaucoma in recent decades—funded by GRF—are also discussed.

 

http://broadeye.org/brunner/

Mike May is the Chief Evangelist at Goodmaps, founder of the Sendero group, a paralympic World Record holder in downhill skiing, and a serial entrepreneur who regained some vision after 43 years of blindness thanks to a novel corneal stem cell therapy. Mike discusses the impact of regaining some vision, highlighting the need for a diverse skill set to thrive in business, sports and life. 

 

http://broadeye.org/mikemay/

In this episode, Jim Thoune describes his journey from a young boy who lost his vision due to Retinoblastoma to becoming a world class blind chess competitor. Jim discusses highlights from his career, how parents can help their blind children succeed, his passion for scuba diving, and much more.

 

http://broadeye.org/thoune/

In this episode, Surgical and Medical Retina Specialist Dr. Charles Wykoff gives a detailed overview of Diabetic Retinopathy, with a particular focus on the importance of screening and early diagnosis to prevent blindness. Dr. Wykoff further discusses current treatments and therapies, his group's latest research findings, and how technology is changing the landscape for Diabetic Retinopathy and other ophthalmic diseases.

 

http://broadeye.org/wykoff/

Dr. Stephen Redenti, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The City University of New York, provides an overview of critical signaling processes that can shed light on retinal health and the origins of degenerative retinal disease. Dr. Redenti explores how decades of research into the biochemistry of tumor metastasis is now informing novel therapeutic approaches that aim to improve the success of stem cell therapies for Retinitis Pigmentosa and other ophthalmic diseases.

Professor John Nolan, Founder and Director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI), explores the current research in the field of ocular nutrition, highlighting the potential for three specific carotenoids to significantly impact vision in patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration as well as the general adult population. Prof. Nolan further discusses why better regulatory oversight is needed for ocular health supplements, as well as key research findings that every optometrist and ophthalmologist should understand.

Macmilton "Mac" Marcoux is a Canadian Paralympic alpine skier who has collected many Olympic medals and world titles at only 24 years. He started skiing at the age of four but started to lose his sight due to Stargardt disease and became legally blind in 2007. That never stopped him from continuing to pursue his passions and dreams.

In this episode, Vivid Vision's Chief Science Officer Dr. Benjamin T. Backus explains how his company's technology has been used to treat Amblyopia and Strabismus using custom-built software integrated into portable VR headsets. Dr. Backus further highlights an unmet need for at-home visual field tests and how Vivid Vision is making this a reality. 

In this episode, eSight user and coach Richard Weatherford and company CCO Brian McCollum provide an overview of eSight technology and how it can be life-changing for people with poor central vision due to degenerative retinal disease. The guests explore use cases for the technology, how the core offering has evolved over time, and how people living with low vision can connect with the company to demo the latest model.

Laura Allen - Head of Strategy, Accessibility, and Disability Inclusion at Google - shares her journey from 10-year-old child with unexplained vision loss to a leader and force for change in the world of accessible technology. Laura further highlights some of the accessibility initiatives at Google that are close to heart as well as what she believes the future of accessibility will look like in the years ahead. 

In this episode, we had the chance to talk with Dr. Farris about his charitable work in eye care both in the United States and internationally. For the past 20 years, he has led a team annually from Dean McGee Eye Institute to develop academic exchange and work with the local residency-training programs in China.  He has done the same in Africa for the past 11 years.

Dr. Farris is the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma and Dean McGee Eye Institute. 

Dr. Hady Saheb, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Glaucoma Fellowship at McGill University, offers a detailed overview of Glaucoma. This informative discussion covers Glaucoma causes and risk factors, as well as a deep dive into the evolution of disease diagnosis and management.

Dr. Ian MacDonald, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Alberta, provides a detailed overview of the current state of genetic therapies for degenerative retinal diseases. Dr. MacDonald further describes Choroideremia, including disease pathology, prognosis, and potential treatment avenues. Finally, Dr. MacDonald explains his reaction to being nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists, pointing out some of his own remarkable mentors throughout his career.

 

http://broadeye.org/ian/

In this episode, we interview Dr. José-Alain Sahel, the chair and Distinguished Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, director of the UPMC Eye Center, and the Eye and Ear Foundation Endowed Chair of Ophthalmology. Dr. Sahel provides an in-depth overview of optogenetics, including the current state of research and clinical trials. A detailed discussion about his team's recent publication in  Nature Medicine highlights the potential sight-restoring impact that novel optogenetic therapies can have for patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa and potentially other degenerative retinal conditions.

 

http://broadeye.org/sahel/

Dr. Sudha Nallasamy, Assistant Professor at Keck School of Medicine of USC and Pediatric Ophthalmologist at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, gives a detailed overview of strabismus, including why early diagnosis is critical. Dr. Nallasamy further describes her recent publication that highlights the reproducibility of clinical findings and management plans using telemedicine in a pediatric ophthalmology setting.

 

http://broadeye.org/nallasamy/

Dr. Andrew Webster, Lead of Genetics Service at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Chair of Molecular Ophthalmology at University College London, and Nick Nettleton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Loft Digital, provide a detailed overview of how MyEyeSite is changing the information landscape for rare ophthalmic diseases. The guests highlight how the MyEyeSite platform is bridging information gaps and enabling for better patient care while simultaneously creating a vast repository of information for researchers of rare ophthalmic diseases.

 

http://broadeye.org/myeyesite/

Guest interviewer Dr. Debra-Meghan Sanft interviews Dr. Caitlin Reimer to discuss the relationships, interactions, and overlap between an Ophthalmologist and a Family Doctor. They deep dive into Thyroid Disease, Diabetes, headaches, and how the eye can tell us what is going on in the rest of our body.   http://broadeye.org/caitlin/

Mark Mattison-Shupnick, master optician and COO at Enchroma, explains the different types of color deficiency, genetic or acquired, and its prevalence. Because colors are one of the first things we learn, kids with an undiagnosed condition can really struggle. We further discussed how special glasses with color filtering lenses can help them see colors again.

https://broadeye.org/enchroma

Dr. Enzo Castiglione, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Chile, shares a detailed overview of Uveitis, including causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches. Dr. Castiglione also provides an overview of Autoimmune Retinitis, a rare disease in which the patient’s own immune system attacks retinal proteins, leading to loss of vision.

Dr. Evangelina Esposito MD, ChM, an Argentina-based Retina Specialist, and Professor of Ophthalmology, shares a detailed overview of how the vision processing develops from infancy through adulthood, highlighting important signs and symptoms of ocular conditions in children that parents should understand. Dr. Esposito further explains the causes, treatment, and prognosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Ashley Alexander, a certified ophthalmic technician based in Ontario, Canada, discusses the art and science of working with patients in an ophthalmology clinic. Ashley describes the various tests performed by an ophthalmic technician, lessons learned from working in a low vision clinic, and the benefits and drawbacks of working in private practice.

Dr. Duker is an accomplished ophthalmologist, that is now the Chief Operating Officer of EyePoint Pharma, a biotech company that develops sustained-release medications to treat serious ocular disorders. We talked about his career path and what motivated him to move from a clinical to an executive position. For the 21 years before he took the COO position at EyePoint, Dr. Duker was the Director of the New England Eye Center (NEEC) and Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Duker received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He completed a residency and fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and ocular oncology at the Wills Eye Hospital.

Dr. Robert Greenberg, current Chairman and CEO of the Alfred Mann Foundation and former CEO of Second Sight Medical Products, shares his experience at the helm of one of the world’s most innovative medical device companies. Dr. Greenberg discusses lessons learned while working at the FDA and the Alfred Mann Foundation, as well as challenges faced while building the world’s most advanced retinal implant to treat patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Debra-Meghan Sanft shares a basic overview of the causes, risk factors, and treatments associated with an array of ocular emergencies, including corneal ulcers, acute angle closure glaucoma, vascular occlusion, giant cell arteritis, retinal tears and detachment, and ocular trauma.

 

Dr. Walter Wittich discusses his role as chair of Deafblind International Research Network, highlighting the purpose of the organization, and how it is serving people across the globe. Dr. Wittich further explores the realm of low vision rehabilitation, including his journey in the field, current gaps in communication and training, and what the future of the field might look like and the unique challenges it may face. 

Dr. Patrick Sauvageau, OD, MSc, CEO & Co-Founder of Zilia, a medical company, discusses how retinal oximetry can revolutionize eye care and prevent vision loss, as well as provide an opportunity for early detection of systemic diseases, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the quality of life of patients.