CRST: The Podcast

Hosted by Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today

Technology ScienceInterviews guests

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Episodes

160

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Join CRST: The Podcast at the intersection of patient care and innovation in ophthalmology and listen as experts in the field engage in thought-provoking discussion on anterior segment surgery. This podcast curates content and mini series that help progressive cataract and refractive surgeons take their practices to the next level. CRST: The Podcast is produced by Bryn Mawr Communications and the medical trade publication Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 4, 202621 min

Refractive Lens Exchange and the Evolving Surgical Management of Presbyopia

George O. Waring IV, MD, FACS, speaks with Dagny C. Zhu, MD, about refractive lens exchange and her same-day bilateral refractive lens exchange workflow in an office-based surgery setting. Dr. Zhu discusses how refractive lens exchange fits into her cash-pay refractive practice, how her team screens and evaluates candidates, and the steps involved when patients proceed from consultation to surgery on the same day. She also shares her approach to diagnostic testing, patient counseling, premium IOL selection, oral sedation, femtosecond laser sequencing, refractive accuracy, and IOL calculations in eyes with a history of corneal refractive surgery.

June 3, 202625 min

Rethinking the Drop with iDose TR: Patient Access

In this special podcast episode, I. Paul Singh, MD, speaks with Deborah Ristvedt, DO, and Kevin Talbot, MD, regarding the use of iDose TR (Glaukos), a procedural pharmaceutical, as an interventional glaucoma approach. They outline who the optimal patients are for this procedure, how to educate patients about drug delivery technology, and share pearls on reimbursement.

May 29, 202641 min

Vision Correction in Complex Corneas

Neda Shamie, MD, and Neda Nikpoor, MD, are joined by Eva Kim, MD, for a practical conversation on vision correction in patients with keratoconus and postrefractive ectasia. They discuss the evolving role of CXL, strategies for assessing corneal stability after CXL, and how to approach refractive decision-making in complex corneas.

February 27, 202639 min

Negotiating Contracts As Your Career Evolves

In this episode, Drs. Neda and Neda invite Alyson Carrel, Clinical Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Codirector of its nationally-ranked Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice, to continue discussion on negotiation strategies as one’s career evolves. Listen as Professor Carrel shares tips for physicians on conflict resolution, negotiation of partnership contracts, and more.

February 25, 202635 min

AI Beyond the Clinic

Cathleen McCabe, MD, speaks with Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, about his recent article in CRST’s January issue, “AI Beyond the Clinic,” which provides a deep dive on how regulation and reimbursement accelerate AI and home monitoring beyond exam lanes and into patients' homes. Dr. Ianchulev shares insights into where AI currently impacts his clinic and the innovation he implements to elevate patient care. Related perspectives appear in the January issue of CRST.

February 16, 202630 min

Evolving the Game Plan: Shifting to Epithelium-On Cross-linking for Keratoconus

Brandon D. Ayres, MD, continues this series exploring the best practices in keratoconus management with the discussion of the recent FDA approval of Epioxa, an advancement in corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus. Kenneth Beckman, MD, explains what excites him about Epioxa and how it can improve patient comfort and minimize recovery time. The two surgeons also review the role of supplemental oxygen during the procedure and review the Phase 3 pivotal trial data behind Epioxa.

December 19, 202524 min

Next-Gen LASIK, Phakic IOLs, and Vision Beyond 20/20

Drs. Neda and Neda explore how modern refractive surgery is evolving beyond a one-size-fits-all LASIK model. They discuss next-generation laser vision correction based on highly personalized eye measurements, share real-world pearls on screening and counseling patients, and explain why they now frame patient visits as vision correction consultations rather than LASIK consults. They also touch on when lens-based options may be a better choice and how to build a truly comprehensive refractive practice.

November 19, 202523 min

Diagnostics to Decisions: A Modern Refractive Surgery Mindset

Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, reframe refractive surgery as a comprehensive vision-correction mindset rather than a single procedure, exploring how advanced diagnostics and disciplined risk stratification guide candidacy and smart decision-making across refractive options. They outline when to pivot—or defer—and emphasize expectation-setting, patient motivation, and screening for medical and psychosocial factors that influence satisfaction.

November 12, 202528 min

Refractive Cataract Roundtables: Optimizing Ocular Surface and IOL Selection

Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, FRCS, speaks with Christopher E. Starr, MD, FACS, and Brian Shafer, MD, in two short segments drawn from CRST's October cover focus, "Refractive Cataract Roundtables." Dr. Starr reviews a practical approach to preoperative ocular surface optimization—key exam steps, stop-rules before biometry, and simple readiness markers. Dr. Shafer outlines his IOL decision framework, balancing spectacle independence and image quality, who is not a candidate for diffractive optics, and options for residual refractive error. Related perspectives appear in the October issue of CRST.

October 29, 202522 min

Boost Your Keratoconus Cross-linking Game: Oxygen as the MVP

In this Best Practices in Keratoconus Management podcast episode, Brandon D. Ayres, MD, welcomes Tomas Navratil, PhD, to examine the crucial role of oxygen in corneal crosslinking. Dr. Navratil explains the underlying science of oxygen’s involvement in the crosslinking reaction and how varying oxygen levels can affect treatment efficacy. The discussion highlights emerging strategies and new technologies that aim to optimize oxygen delivery and enhance outcomes for patients with keratoconus.