OIS Podcast | Ophthalmology's leading Podcast

At this year’s Retina Innovation Summit, industry experts and leaders gathered in a two-part discussion on investment trends, regulatory environment and FDA changes, emerging therapies in ophthalmology, and more. Panelists include: Laura Feinleib, Managing Director at Redmile Group; Derrick Li, Chief Strategy Officer at ODC Life Sciences; Cameron Taylor, Managing Director at BofA Securities | Life Sciences; Wayne Caulder, Vice President & General Manager of Surgical (U.S. & Canada) at Bausch + Lomb; Paul Hallen, Vice President & Distinguished Fellow at Alcon; Nida Sen, MD, VP, Ophthalmology Strategy & Development Head at Sanofi; and Julian Smith, General Manager Portfolio Commercial Strategy - Eye Ca...

Join Dr. Robert Rothman as he talks with Rajan Shukla about his journey from a family legacy in ophthalmology to pioneering new treatments for anterior segment diseases. Rajan shares how Vital Tears is making serum tears accessible nationwide and how Bright Star Therapeutics is developing innovative therapies like BrightMEM™ to transform ocular surface care.
In this episode, learn about:

Hear how innovation is shaping the future of eye care.

This week on The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS Podcast, Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh welcome Tomas Navratil, PhD, Chief Development Officer at Glaukos, to discuss the company’s remarkable transformation from MIGS pioneer to a diversified global leader in ophthalmology. Glaukos is advancing a robust pipeline that spans devices, pharmaceuticals, and drug-device combinations—reshaping the future of eye care.

Highlights from the episode include:

This week on The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS Podcast, Rob Rothman and Jai Parekh welcome Shawn O'Neil, President and Chief Commercial Officer of ViaLase, to discuss a cutting-edge advancement in glaucoma treatment. Velas is pioneering the FLIGHT procedure—Femtosecond Laser Image-Guided High-Precision Trabeculotomy—a non-invasive, incision-free alternative to traditional surgery. Highlights from the episode include:

This week on The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS Podcast, Perry Sternberg, CEO of Sydnexis, discusses the company's efforts to bring its innovative SYD-101 product to market, which aims to slow the progression of pediatric myopia.

In this edition of The Rob & Jai Show, the OIS Podcast welcomes Adam Szaronos, CEO of IanTrek, for a wide-ranging conversation on innovation, leadership, and unlocking new pathways in glaucoma care. Adam walks us through his career journey from Alcon to TearLab to leading IanTrek, where he’s now championing a new class of glaucoma procedures with AloeFlow™—a minimally invasive, tissue-based implant that activates the uveoscleral pathway.

Together with hosts Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh, Adam discusses:

In this edition of The Rob & Jai Show, Paul Smith, President & COO of Orasis Pharmaceuticals, joins Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh for a compelling conversation on his career path and the commercialization of Qlosi™—a novel, FDA-approved, low-dose pilocarpine eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia.

With more than two decades of experience across Alcon, Novartis, and now Orasis, Smith reflects on his unique career trajectory from tech startups to ophthalmic leadership, the importance of cross-functional experience, and how a shared vision with founder & CEO Elad Kedar led him to the helm of a company now...

In this edition of the OIS Podcast, a powerhouse panel of investment, banking, and biotech leaders offers unfiltered insights on the current and future state of the ophthalmic industry. Featuring Andrew Gitkin (Leerink Partners), Cameron Taylor (Bank of America), Susan Orr, PhD (Claris Bio), and Anupam Dalal, MD (Acuta Capital), and Dr. Pravin Dugel, Chairman and CEO of Ocular Therapeutix, this session explores how macroeconomic and political shifts—such as RFK Jr.'s FDA rhetoric and rising interest rates—are influencing capital markets, regulatory confidence, and biotech strategy.
 
With humor, candor, and deep expertise, the panel discusses:
 ...

In this episode of The Rob & Jai Show, Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Re-Vana Therapeutics, joins Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh to explore the next-generation of sustained drug delivery in ophthalmology. With millions of intravitreal injections administered annually for retinal diseases like AMD, the need for longer-lasting, more effective treatments has never been greater.

O’Rourke explains how Re-Vana’s proprietary hydrogel-based technologies are setting a new standard for biodegradable, sustained-release drug implants—offering six to twelve months of therapeutic coverage without the need for surgery. The discussion covers:

🔹How Re-Vana’s EyeLief™ and OcuLief™ te...

In this episode of The Rob & Jai Show, Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh host a captivating conversation with Andrew Stewart and Anthony Wallace—two leaders who are among the most experienced and admired executives in ophthalmology. Andrew Stewart, with over 25 years of pharmaceutical leadership across Bausch + Lomb, AbbVie, and Allergan, shares how his global business acumen shapes innovation in eye care. Anthony Wallace, a 26-year healthcare veteran with leadership roles at Novartis, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline, reflects on leading Bausch + Lomb’s U.S. Surgical business and his passion for patient-centered solutions. Both leaders bring a wealth of know...

In this OIS Podcast episode, host Dr. Robert Rothman sits down with Daphne Haim-Langford, PhD, Founder & CEO of Tarsier Pharma, and Ashley Kline, Chief Commercial Officer, to discuss their groundbreaking approach to uveitis treatment.

Tarsier’s lead candidate, TRS01, is a first-in-class bio-inspired therapy designed to control inflammation without raising intraocular pressure, a major complication of steroid treatments. With a unique mechanism of action that modulates macrophages and reduces inflammation, this novel drug has the potential to redefine uveitis and glaucoma care.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🔹 How Tarsier’s bio-inspir...

In this episode of Eye on Innovation, host Carey Powers introduces the Next-Gen Innovators series with special guest Dr. Vikram Shankar, an ophthalmologist at Stanford and co-founder of Dropmate. Dr. Shankar discusses how his passion for public health and patient care inspired the creation of Dropmate—a compact, affordable, and eco-friendly disinfection system for clinical eye care equipment. Learn how this technology addresses patient safety, cost savings, and environmental sustainability, all while transforming the standard of care in ophthalmology.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

In this episode of The Rob and Jai Show, Dave LeCause, a renowned biopharmaceutical leader and former VP of Allergan Eye Care, reflects on his remarkable career in ophthalmology. Join us as Dave discusses his journey from leading commercial strategies for billion-dollar brands to mentoring the next generation of innovators. Hear his thoughts on innovation cycles, the evolving landscape of dry eye treatments, and why gene and cell therapies hold the key to ophthalmology’s future.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

In this double-feature episode of the OIS Eye on Innovation Podcast, Carey Powers highlights the invaluable resources and expertise within the OIS community, showcasing the power of cross-collaboration and strategic foresight in biotech.

Part 1:
Dr. Francis Lasowski (C20/20 Innovation Hub) and Dr. Wendy Naimark (Ripple Therapeutics) discuss their long-standing partnership, which has propelled Ripple's success through groundbreaking innovations, including dry AMD research and key advancements in IP management. Learn how the Innovation Hub provides early-stage companies with critical resources to navigate the challenges of development and commercialization.

Part 2:
Tracy...

In this episode of The Rob and Jai Show from OIS XIV, hosts Dr. Rob Rothman and Dr. Jai Parekh talk with Eric Schlumpf, CEO of Stuart Therapeutics, about the company’s transformative approach to ophthalmic diseases. Learn how Stuart's innovative polypeptide technology repairs damaged collagen, advancing from dry eye to neuroprotection in glaucoma and beyond. Eric highlights key milestones, including promising clinical trial results, strategic partnerships, and the company’s plans to tackle major unmet needs like myopia and inherited retinal diseases.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Carey Powers caught up with five innovative companies at this years OIS XIV in San Diego, to discuss the latest advancements in ophthalmology on the OIS podcast.

Topics included touchless laser therapy for presbyopia, extending the duration of intravitreal treatments, next-generation tear fluid testing, and new imaging methodologies for vitreoretinal conditions. Guests include:

In this episode, listen in as Dr. Robert Rothman speaks with Dr. Daniel Brocks, CMO of BostonSight! They discuss the unique PROSE lenses that are redefining corneal care and how BostonSight’s nonprofit mission is making advanced treatments accessible to more patients. Key takeaways include:

Join us t...

In this episode of the OIS Retina Podcast, Firas Rahhal sits down with Jean-Pierre Hubschman, CEO of Horizon Surgical, to discuss the revolutionary advancements in robotic eye surgery. Highlights include:

Listen now to hear how AI and robotics are transforming eye surgery!

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, host Rob Rothman sits down with Jay Cormier, CEO of Eyedaptic, to explore innovative solutions for individuals with vision loss. They discuss Eyedaptic's groundbreaking technology and its impact on enhancing daily life for those with visual impairments.

Key Highlights:

In this week’s OIS Podcast episode, Host Dr. Robert Rothman sits down with Almog Aley-Raz, CEO of CorNeat Vision, for a fascinating discussion. They cover:

Tune in n...

Exciting insights from the OIS Retina Panel! Moderated by Dr. Emmett Cunningham, this discussion dives deep into the current state of ophthalmology investment and innovation. Panelists, Anna Chen, Adit Ghosh, Dr. Firas Rahhal and Caroline Stout shared their perspectives on the evolving landscape, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in the field.

Here are the key takeaways:

Don’t miss the OIS Retina Panel, moderated by Dr. Pravin Dugel, “The View from the Street.” Join Dr. Anupam Dalal, Andrew Gitkin, and Cameron Taylor as they discuss the latest in ophthalmology, including:

Get valuable insights from industry experts and stay ahead of the curve. Listen in now!

Discover the milestone 400th episode of the OIS podcast with Dr. Firas Rahhal and Dr. Robert Rothman, where they explore the impact of Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) on the investment ecosystem:

Tune in to this episode for a blend of knowledge, inspiration, and laughter as they navigate the future of eye care innovation. Don’t miss out—listen now!

In this episode of Eye on Innovation Podcast, Carey Powers delves into the latest advancements in corneal crosslinking technology with expert guest Dr. Deepinder Dhaliwal. Dr. Dhaliwal, a renowned professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of refractive surgery at the UPMC Vision Institute, shares her extensive knowledge and insights. Here’s what you can expect:

In our latest episode, host Dr. Rob Rothman interviews Greg Kunst, CEO of Aurion Biotech, to delve into the forefront of cell therapy for corneal disease. Join us to discover:

Don't miss this fascinating conversation on the future of medical innovation in ophthalmology! Listen to...

This week's OIS Podcast features a compelling panel discussion from the Dry Horizons Symposium co-presented by Ora and OIS, held on May 3 in Seattle. The panel, comprising leading experts in ophthalmology and dry eye research, covered essential topics in the field:

🔹Advancements in Diagnostics: Insights into new tools and technologies for more accurate and reliable diagnosis of dry eye syndrome.
🔹Regulatory Challenges: Discussion on the regulatory landscape and the hurdles faced in gaining approval for innovative treatments.
🔹Artificial Intelligence in Dry Eye Management: Exploration of AI's potential to transform the management and treatment of dry eye throu...

Explore the cutting-edge world of ophthalmology with the Eye on Innovation Podcast. In the latest episode, Carey Powers hosts Dr. Rishi Singh and Dr. Michael Singer as they delve into how AI and robotics are transforming retina medicine, bringing unprecedented changes to diagnosis, clinical trials, and patient care. This insightful discussion provides valuable information for ophthalmologists, researchers, and anyone interested in the future of eye care. Here’s what you can expect from this episode:

In this compelling OIS podcast episode, host Dr. Rob Rothman engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Malvina Eydelman, the Director of the FDA's Office of Ophthalmic, Anesthesia, Respiratory, ENT, and Dental Devices. Delve into Malvina's unique career journey and discover how her diverse background in engineering and ophthalmology has influenced her work at the FDA.

 Here's what you can expect from this episode: