#optometry

Leadership is Learned

March 3, 2025 Season 1 00:59:07 Comments Off on Leadership is Learned

Are you ready to dive into the world of leadership, medicine, and personal growth? Then tune in to the latest episode of “Try Not 2 Blink”!

This week, Roya and Sheila start the show by discussing: what qualities make a truly *great* leader?

Then, get ready to be inspired by Dr. Kristen Barton, an accomplished Orthopedic Surgeon and research powerhouse! She’ll be sharing her insights on how leadership takes root early in our careers and the profound impact it’s had on her clinical and personal life. Dr. Barton emphasizes the importance of personality profiling and understanding your core values to become a powerful communicator.

Plus, we’ll explore the connections between inflammation and physical health, and the impact of disability on mental well-being – topics that resonate deeply with those in Optometry.

This is one conversation you absolutely WON’T want to miss!

And don’t forget, we want to hear from you! If you have ideas for future topics or amazing guest suggestions, shoot us an email at [email protected]. 

Scleral Lenses are so Cool

February 24, 2025 Season 1 00:57:27 Comments Off on Scleral Lenses are so Cool

🎉 Get Ready for the Latest Episode of “Try Not 2 Blink”! 🎙️

Join hosts Dr. Roya Habibi and Dr. Sheila Morrison as they kick off an exciting new episode that’s packed with insights and inspiration! 

✨ **In Today’s Episode:** 
Dive into a fresh literature review just published in *Ophthalmic Epidemiology*, which highlights the concerning link between air pollution and the prevalence of keratoconus. 

💡 **Special Guest Spotlight:** 
Don’t miss the chance to hear from the incredible Demi the Vlog Dog, also known as Ash Arellanes! From facing the life-altering challenges of nearly losing her vision to becoming a TikTok sensation and leading patient advocate, Ash is on a mission to raise awareness for keratoconus. She’ll share her journey, insights on overcoming obstacles, expert tips for mastering scleral lenses, and her inspiring work with the Angel Eyes Foundation.

This is one conversation you won’t want to miss! 

📩 **We Want Your Input!** 
Have ideas for future topics or guest suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at [email protected].

SOURCES

Ash Arellanes: LinkedIn

Demi The Vlog Dog: TikTok

The Angel Eyes Foundation

Valley Contax Vision Project

National Keratoconus Foundation

KCN and air pollution

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

Binocular Problem with a Binocular Solution

February 17, 2025 Season 1 01:10:14 Comments Off on Binocular Problem with a Binocular Solution

Welcome to Try Not 2 Blink, hosted by Dr. Roya Habibi and Dr. Sheila Morrison! Are you ready to elevate your patient care with transformative insights? This episode is packed with valuable information just for you!


Join us as we tackle the often-frustrating issue of eye twitches, exploring everything from benign causes to those related to medications and underlying conditions. Then, gear up for an energized discussion on binocular vision! We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Dawn Dunford, an expert in vision rehabilitation, concussion management, and traumatic brain injury. She’s here to share actionable tips you can immediately implement in your practice. Discover the key grade when pediatric binocular vision (BV) problems first appear, an easy-to-use checklist for screening children for BV disorders—perfect for even the busiest clinics—and a revolutionary method for treating amblyopia at any age.


If you’re looking for game-changing tips to level your patient care, this episode is for you!


We want to hear from you! Please share your ideas for future topics or suggest guests by emailing us at [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and let’s dive in!

SOURCES

Dr. Dawn Dunford: Website

Dr. Dawn Dunford: BV and Concussion Clinic

Residency Program Information

The McGurk effect

Bernell

OVDRA (aka COVD)

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

Journal Club: Get in Control of Myopia Control

February 10, 2025 Season 1 01:03:35 Comments Off on Journal Club: Get in Control of Myopia Control

Welcome to Try Not 2 Blink! Don’t miss a minute of today’s show! Host Roya and Sheila are going to chat about a few new things that have come out to give hope for patients with macular degeneration and also discuss controversy surrounding efficacy of these new ideas

Then they invited THE Dr. Mark Bullimore to the show to dive into an episode of our Journal Club where they will review what is beyond simply just efficacy of treatments, that must be considered in the myopia clinic and then have Dr. Bullimore teach us the take home’s from his latest article hot off the press about the impact of rebound in myopia control.

This episode is packed with wisdom from one of the leading experts in the field.

We’d love to hear from you! Please share your thoughts on future topics or suggest potential guests by contacting us at [email protected]

 

SOURCES

Macumira

Retinal Thinning and AMD

Dr. Mark Bullimore: LinkedIn

Dr. Mark Bullimore: UHCO

Dr. Mark Bullimore: Buller2020

Dr. Mark Bullimore: Published Research

Efficacy in myopia control—The impact of rebound: Mark A. Bullimore1 | Noel A. Brennan2

ATOM 2

LAMP

Japan paper

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No Pain, No Gain

February 3, 2025 Season 1 01:00:25 Comments Off on No Pain, No Gain

You won’t want to miss a moment of today’s episode on Try Not 2 Blink! Join Roya and Sheila as they explore recent acquisitions in the contact lens industry and their impact on how you approach specialty contact lens practices.

Then, they are diving into groundbreaking research with Dr. Brooke Harkness, neurobiologist, optometrist and an expert in corneal nerve dysfunction and ocular pain management. She’ll share insights on identifying and addressing post-refractive surgery pain, the proparacaine challenge test, and how optometrists can make a real difference in the lives of patients experiencing significant eye pain.

We encourage you to tune in, as this episode features valuable insights from esteemed experts in the field of optometry.

We’d love to hear from you! Please share your thoughts on future topics or suggest potential guests by contacting us at [email protected]

SOURCES

Dr. Brooke Harkness: OHSU

Dr. Brooke Harkness: LinkedIn

Dr. Brooke Harkness: Published Work

American Academy of Optometry

Clinical Investigator Certification Program AAO

ARVO

OHSU Post-Refractive Surgery

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

Safety First, Scleral Style

January 27, 2025 Season 1 01:08:18 Comments Off on Safety First, Scleral Style

**Welcome to Try Not 2 Blink! Your go-to podcast for the latest in eye care and beyond.**

In today’s episode, hosts Roya and Sheila will delve into an important topic regarding a recent eye drop recall, followed by a discussion on some common issues with bottle tips.

They will also assess the recent developments in billing practices within the American VA system and the Canadian provincial healthcare system, providing valuable insights on the implications for practitioners and patients alike.

We are excited to welcome the esteemed Dr. Kelsea Skidmore to the show. Dr. Skidmore is making waves in both academia and private practice, co-managing cataract surgeries while also operating a burgeoning specialty lens and myopia management clinic. Join us as she shares a detailed roadmap for establishing a successful pediatric clinic, offers insights from her groundbreaking research on microbial keratitis, and provides valuable tips on balancing her professional endeavors with her role as a dedicated mother.

This episode promises to be both informative and inspiring, and you won’t want to miss it!

We encourage our listeners to engage with us! Please share your thoughts on future topics or suggest potential guests by reaching out at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

SOURCES

Congress approved physician-level pay scale for VA optometrists

Billing & Coding Article

Kelsea Skidmore

Scleral Lens Education Society

Apthera IOL

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

The World’s Most Bespoke Man: Jeff Scleral

January 20, 2025 Season 1 01:01:12 Comments Off on The World’s Most Bespoke Man: Jeff Scleral

Welcome to Try Not 2 Blink! You won’t want to miss a second of today’s exciting episode! Join hosts Roya and Sheila as they kick off the show by discussing the latest NBEO pass rate statistics—here’s a hint: the average is on the rise!

Get ready to be inspired as we welcome this week’s guest, tech entrepreneur and leading scleral lens patient advocate, Jeff Sullivan, affectionately known in our community as Jeff Scleral. Jeff will share his remarkable journey navigating life after being diagnosed with keratoconus. Rather than being overcome by his condition, he turned adversity into a mission, becoming a trailblazer in the scleral lens community.

Tune in as Jeff discusses his forthcoming initiatives aimed at supporting others on their path to regaining normalcy. He’ll also share invaluable insights on fostering meaningful connections between keratoconus patients and eye care practitioners. Plus, he’ll provide practical tips for doctors on better diagnosing and discussing keratoconus with their patients.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts on future topics or suggest guests by reaching out to us at [email protected].

SOURCES

National Boards Results

Jeff Scleral

Scleral Lens Education Society

Jeff Scleral: Instagram

EyeShared with Demi The Vlog Dog

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

Drawing Connections in the Eye

January 13, 2025 Season 1 00:54:48 Comments Off on Drawing Connections in the Eye


🌟 Happy New Year and welcome to Try Not 2 Blink! 🎉

Make sure you catch every moment of today’s episode! Join hosts Roya and Sheila as they:

🔍 Provide insights on how eye care professionals can enhance care for dementia patients.

💔 Unpack the latest developments in a controversial bait-and-switch LASIK lawsuit that’s making waves.

🧬 Explore connective tissue disorders and the vital role optometrists play in supporting patients with these conditions. Plus, they’ll tackle your most common questions and discuss the connections between eye health and mental well-being.

We want to hear from you! Share your ideas for future topics or suggest potential guests by reaching out to us at [email protected].

Tune in and don’t miss out!

SOURCES

Treating vision impairment improves dementia status

Bait-and-switch LASIKPlus Lawsuit

LASIK Outcomes

Connective tissue disorder and eye: A review and recent updates

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

Freeform Fit Factor (REPLAY)

January 6, 2025 Season 1 00:55:13 Comments Off on Freeform Fit Factor (REPLAY)

Join hosts Roya and Sheila in today’s captivating episode as they unravel the intriguing world of dry eye treatment! Discover groundbreaking news about a new medication on the verge of approval—and hear the rollercoaster history behind its journey that will surely keep you riveted!

But that’s not all! We’re thrilled to welcome special guest Gary Mikaelian, Ph.D., and CEO of EyeXY. Gary, the visionary behind the innovative Gaudi freeform scleral lens, shares his inspiring journey to the U.S., his decision to pursue a Ph.D., and even his passion for writing children’s books.

Prepare for a deep dive into freeform lenses as we explore essential topics such as the nuances of scleral shape learned during profilometry research when to adopt this cutting-edge technology, and the best tips for successful implementation when prescribing freeform lenses.

This episode is bursting with expert insights and valuable knowledge you won’t want to miss!

Don’t forget to tune in and mark your calendar for next week’s enlightening discussions! We’d love your input—share your guest ideas or topics you’d like us to tackle at [email protected].

SOURCES

Glance on Eyecare: Aldeyra + Repoxalap

Gary Mikaelian: LinkedIn

Gary Mikaelian: Email

Kids Book

Gaudi with Valley Contax

EyeXY

Eaglet Eye Surface Profiler

Pentacam

Medmont

Ovitz

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

The Complexities of Making a GP (REPLAY)

January 3, 2025 Season 1 00:52:23 Comments Off on The Complexities of Making a GP (REPLAY)

On Try Not 2 Blink, you will join Roya and Sheila for the second episode in their series on corneal GP lenses. In this special episode, they connect with Rob Ahern, Director of Operations at Valley Contax, for a unique behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing process of GP lenses.

Before welcoming Rob, the hosts start the show by sharing their expert insights on GP lens cases and identifying the best candidates for corneal GP lenses. Then, they introduce Rob, who brings over 25 years of experience in manufacturing lenses.

Throughout the episode, Rob shares his expertise on the intricacies of manufacturing GP lenses, including regulatory considerations, detailed work instructions, and procedures to ensure precision. He also sheds light on common errors in the lab and shares tips on avoiding them. Additionally, Rob provides an unbiased perspective on selecting the best GP manufacturing lab.

This is an extraordinary and educational opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of GP lens manufacturing. Don’t miss this episode!

Please tune in next week for the final episode in our three part series on corneal GP lenses, featuring the expert in fitting corneal lenses.

We value your input, so feel free to email us at [email protected] or nominate a guest for an upcoming episode.


SOURCES

Rob Ahern Linkedin

OVITZ 

PFAS + Contact Lenses

Rob @ Valley Contax

Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax

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