Cataract Coach with Uday Devgan MD

Our guest is Dr Ed Anderson, a prominent ophthalmologist from Durban, South Africa who shares insights from his diverse career, which included working as a physician in multiple continents. The discussion highlights the unique challenges of ophthalmology in South Africa, where a small number of specialists manage a large population with advanced surgical needs. Beyond medicine, Dr. Anderson discusses his passion for wildlife photography and birding. He recently served as the president of the South African Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (SASCRS) which I was fortunate to attend this year and once before 15 years ago. 

We feature a...

Our guest is Dr. Durval Carvalho Jr., a former president of the Brazilian Society of Cataract Surgery (BRASCRS). Dr. Carvalho discusses his mission to internationalize Brazilian ophthalmology through initiatives like global film festivals and innovative live surgery sessions featuring simultaneous operating rooms. The discussion explores groundbreaking surgical techniques, including his horizontal haptic micro-punch for IOL fixation and a specialized "X-ray" digital filter for enhanced intraoperative visualization. Dr. Carvalho also shares insights on high-volume efficiency and emerging lens technologies within the vibrant Brazilian surgical community.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded...

Professor Dr. Burkhard Dick, President of the ESCRS, is a pioneering ophthalmic surgeon and chairman at Ruhr University Bochum. He specializes in the full spectrum of ophthalmic surgeries including cataract, refractive, glaucoma, and vitreoretinal procedures. He is also very athletic and he offers critical advice for surgeons is to prioritize physical health to ensure long-term career success and mental strength. So much to learn from this incredible ophthalmologist. He is also leading the growth of the ESCRS to become the global leader in cataract and refractive surgery.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and...

Sometimes you are fortunate to have that one clinical professor in your training who teaches you so much outside of the spotlight. Sure, you have many faculty members at your institution but there is this one attending at your primary surgical site who is a true gem and teaches you more than anyone else. That perfectly describes Dr Tim Steinemann, a renowned ophthalmologist and teacher from Cleveland. We explore his extensive experience teaching residents, his dedication to patient safety advocacy, and the value of experiential learning through visual clinical material (check out his Instagram channel).

We feature...

Imagine starting from the bottom and then building a large eye institute with 13 locations in multiple states. That is exactly what Dr Jonathan Woolfson has accomplished and in this episode he shares the details and insights into this success. He shares advice on building a multi-state eye surgical institute, overcoming a major career setback after being terminated by a large surgical provider, and navigating economic downturns by diversifying services. So much to learn from this amazingly successful ophthalmologist.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click...

Our podcast guest is Dr Dan Reinstein, a London-based refractive surgeon, physicist, and professional jazz saxophonist who pioneered high-frequency digital ultrasound for corneal imaging. He details how his discovery of the corneal epithelium’s fluid-like compensatory behavior allows it to mask stromal irregularities, making it essential for identifying hidden keratoconus that traditional topography might miss. He also discusses the clinical benefits of presbyopic corneal laser treatments. We discuss career pearls, emphasizing the importance of surgical standardization, bimanual dexterity, and the critical need for surgeons to maintain a healthy balance in life.

We feature a new podcast every we...

Ophthalmologists are realizing that for lamellar corneal transplantation, PDEK (Pre-Descemet's Endothelial Keratoplasty) is better than DMEK, which is better than DSEK. I enjoyed a lecture from Dr Dinh Thi Hoang Anh from Viet Nam and Dr Yury Kalinnikov from Russia where they taught the nuances to ensure success with PDEK. Because it uses Dua’s layer, PDEK provides significantly greater structural integrity than the delicate Descemet's membrane used in DMEK. This added toughness simplifies tissue handling and prevents the frequent tearing seen in DMEK. Furthermore, PDEK allows for easier graft centration and unfolding, reducing surgical time while maintaining excellent vi...

Our podcast guest, Dr Joaquín Fernández, led the global team that came up with an evidence-based classification of simultaneous vision IOLs which you can read here https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12928794/. This is so important for us to understand the different optical designs, explain them to our patients, and choose the best options for their vision correction. In this podcast we go over a functional and logical way of classifying all current and all future IOLs and how to differentiate them. If you perform cataract surgery, you truly must listen to this podcast!

...

Our guest ophthalmologist is a world-renowned expert in translational research that is revolutionizing cornea care. Professor Pedram Hamrah specializes in complex ocular surface diseases, focusing on neuropathic corneal pain and neurotrophic keratitis. His groundbreaking research utilizes in vivo confocal microscopy and AI to identify biomarkers for corneal nerve damage. His work will directly translate to improved outcomes for our patients.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links here: Apple, Google, Spotify) for enjoying as you drive to work or exercise. The full video of t...

What if you are mid-career and you decide that you want to move to another state? Well, you can do it very successfully just like our podcast guest Dr Jodi Luchs who moved from New York to Florida. In this podcast he explains the details which will help you figure out if this is what you want and then how to achieve it. Dr Luchs is also highly experienced in clinical trials and he explains the best way for you to get started with that too. He is also Chief Medical Officer of Stuart Therapeutics and Chief Science Advisor...

Our podcast guest is Dr David Gunn who is a corneal, cataract, and refractive surgeon in Brisbane, Australia and I admire his drive to push himself to learn new, advanced surgical techniques. And he accomplishes this by initially learning from surgical videos - the CataractCoach way! (Which I learned from the Godfather of surgical videos, Dr Bob Osher.) He decided that he wanted to learn the CAIRS (Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments) technique pioneered by Dr Soosan Jacob and he then created a free planning tool at CairsPlan.com so that you can learn too. 

We feature a...

Our guest surgeon, Dr Rebecca Metzinger joins to share her extensive experience teaching residents (both Tulane and LSU) at major inner-city and veterans' hospitals in New Orleans. The discussion explores managing complex surgical cases, the learning curve of ophthalmic surgery, and how to be an outstanding surgeon. Dr. Metzinger also offers invaluable mentorship advice for all surgeons, from the young ones in training to the seasoned ones like me. She has so much to offer that I'm sure you will learn from this episode.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded...

Our guest is Dr Mary Qiu, a brilliant glaucoma specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. We explore Dr. Qiu's groundbreaking approach to managing neovascular glaucoma (NVG) where she advocates for an individualized treatment spectrum, introduced through her innovative "SCOPING" protocol (Salvaging the Conventional Outflow Pathway in Neovascular Glaucoma). She also details her creative "Turtleplast" technique for repairing tube erosions. You will enjoy our discussion on surgical innovation, specialized patient care, and mentoring the next generation of ophthalmologists.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services...

Our podcast guest, Dr John Jarstad is a pioneering ophthalmologist, innovator, and humanitarian at USF Tampa in Florida, USA. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Jarstad has taught surgery in 25 countries and is credited with training approximately 90% of the phaco surgeons in Indonesia. He is the inventor of the "Zombie" Double Tap technique, a highly efficient method for managing IOP at the end of cataract surgery (which I use). His other innovations include the first Array MFIOL, the Sunshine CXL technique, and authoring a book about his humanitarian work.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays...

Our guest is Professor David Granet who reveals the mind-blowing speed of AI development in medicine, noting 50 new developments occurred in less than a month. There is a 100% certainty that AI will change your ophthalmology career and you need to prepare for that. Patients are already engaging with AI using it for everything from understanding diagnoses and procedure options to insurance claims. However, the adoption of this technology introduces critical legal and ethical challenges, creating a potential no-win scenario where physicians could be held liable both for using or not using AI, compounded by the lack of regulation for...

Our podcast guest bridges the clinical and surgical aspects of ophthalmology with cutting edge basic science research about the cornea. Professor Edgar Espana MD from the University of South Florida in Tampa. In this podcast we cover many important topics like how we can modulate, treat, and prevent corneal scarring; how collagen determines the stiffness of the cornea; and understanding incision architecture and the best ways of suturing. I'm confident that you will learn valuable clinical pearls from this podcast. 

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast s...

Our podcast guest today is Dr Satya V. Reddy who is an anterior segment surgeon in Louisiana, USA and we talk about one of the most important issues that you will face in your life: how to balance building a practice with having a family (and personal) life that you can enjoy. I have struggled with this and have made many mistakes. Now we realize that the concept of "delayed gratification" may not be the best approach. We talk about the challenges and how to figure out the right recipe and balance for you and your life. I know...

Our guest is Dr. Eduardo Alfonso who has been Chairman and Director of the legendary Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for almost 2 decades. We discuss his amazing leadership of the world’s top-ranked eye hospital, his pioneering "Moon Shot" initiative for the whole eye transplant, and the transformative role of AI in ophthalmology. Join us as we explore the future of vision with a true global visionary. There is a reason why Dr Alfonso has kept Bascom Palmer at the very top and there is so much we can learn from him. 

We feature a new podcast every wee...

This podcast taught me so much about integrative and functional medicine, which is something that is not really taught in ophthalmology residency. Dr Rudrani Banik is a neuro-ophthalmologist who has a deep expertise in ocular nutrition and she is coordinating an anonymous Ocular Nutrition Survey so we can identify the gaps in nutrition education for ophthalmologists. She has also written two books on the topic:  Beyond Carrots- Best Foods For Eye Health A to Z and its companion cookbook, Dr. Rani's Visionary Kitchen. She also is the founder of The Eye Summit™ 2026 which is taking place online May 11-15, 2026 and...

About 30 years ago the initial clinical trials and studies for the FDA approval of LASIK were done and our podcast guest was there and a key member of that team. Professor Keith Walter MD has been involved in advancing refractive surgery, both corneal and lenticular, for three decades. He is also the surgeon who taught us all that operating room temperature and humidity control is critical for excimer laser refractive accuracy. In this podcast we have a great discussion about the early days of corneal refractive surgery and how you can do better surgery. I'm sure you will enjoy...

Professor Sonia Yoo MD is a refractive and cataract surgeon at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the Univeristy of Miami, FL, USA. Having known her for 20+ years, I have learned so much from her great lectures and brilliant mind about refractive surgery. In this podcast we cover the full spectrum of both corneal and lenticular refractive surgery and we go through many patient scenarios to learn how she delivers the best outcome in each case.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links here...

At many ophthalmic meetings over the years, particularly at the AECOS Aspen meeting (formerly the Dulaney AIRS: Aspen Invitational Refractive Symposium), Bill Bond MD presented his Bond Report which was a crowd favorite. In this presentation he discusses amazing life lessons that we all tend to learn the hard way over time. Similar to the comedian talking about life truths and everyone has a good laugh because of how true they are, the Bond Report did the same with an ophthalmology slant. This podcast is full of wisdom and laughs and I think you'll enjoy it. You can catch...

Our podcast guest is neuro-ophthalmologist Andrew Lee MD who is Chair & Professor at the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist in Texas, USA. He is widely regarded as a brilliant teacher and has a very educational YouTube channel that I'm sure you will enjoy. In this podcast we talk about 5 critical neuro-ophthalmology diagnoses that you cannot afford to miss, how neuro-adaptation works with multifocal IOLs, important lessons for applying to ophthalmology residency, and even how space flight affects the eyes of astronauts. I'm sure you will learn so much from this podcast.

We feature a new podcast every...

I was at the Ophthalmo Cordoba conference in Argentina and I saw a great presentation about complex ocular trauma cases. The surgeon, Dr David Kohn Bitran from Santiago, Chile is incredibly talented and he has a deep expertise in ocular trauma. In this podcast we go into detail about successfully managing open globe injuries and it was a learning experience for me. I promise that you will learning something valuable from this podcast, just like I did!

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links here...

Professor Ozlem Evren Kemer MD is an internationally renowned expert in cataract, cornea, and anterior segment surgery and I have had the pleasure of working with her at many ophthalmic conferences around the world. She is a gifted surgeon but more importantly, she is one of the world's best teachers of ophthalmic surgery. In this podcast we discuss the keys to success in surgical training for young surgeons and how we can all improve our surgical skills. I am sure you will learn a lot from her incredible wisdom.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays...

I first met Dr Rehan Ahmed more than 15 years ago when he was an ophthalmology resident at Baylor University in Texas (one of the top eye surgery training programs in the USA) and even then he was notable as a superstar. He has continued that trajectory as a highly skilled ophthalmologist and has also pioneered into the new world of AI (artificial intelligence or augmented intelligence) in eye care and he is the host of a great podcast called "AI in Eye Care" which I can highly recommend.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and...

Teaching the next generation of ophthalmic surgeons is monumental task and it requires a teacher who has great surgical skill, sound clinical judgment, and the ability to transform beginners into master surgeons. Dr Rafael Vazquez Rojas is a perfect fit for that position and I had the pleasure of spending time learning from him and with him while visiting Mexico recently. He is a superstar (and an ophthalmic artist too!) and you will be hearing more from him in the years to come. In this podcast he offers great advice about the best methods for beginners to blossom into master...

I wish I heard this podcast when I was a younger surgeon, still in my first few years of practice. But even listening to it now, Dr Francis Price offers so much great information about what you must know about USA health insurance reform and the future of your practice. Dr Price is a keen expert in corneal transplantation, especially lamellar techniques, but we got so involved in the discussion about health care reform that we didn't even get to any of those topics. If you're a young surgeon, you must listen to this podcast and then take action to...

The first time I met Dr Jerman Alqahtani was about 20 years ago at a wetlab session at the ASCRS meeting where I was impressed with his surgical skills. He is an expert in cataract and anterior segment surgery in Saudi Arabia and he has a priority of learning new surgical techniques every year. This is a great mindset and it is the way to become a world-class surgeon. This podcast has great advice for all surgeons who desire to keep their skills sharp.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all...

Our guest surgeon is Dr Joaquin De Rojas, an up and coming star in the ophthalmology world who reminds us to keep our curiosity and keep challenging ourselves. He has succeeded in the setting of a private equity-owned practice and shares his insight as to how you can follow suit. He also continues to push his own limits becoming a better surgeon and innovating in the eye surgery space. We talk about AI innovations in ophthalmology and how you can get involved too. I think you'll find the conversation very interesting and informative, especially for our younger colleagues.

...

Dr Abhay Vasavada is a renowned surgeon, pioneer, and educator who has changed the way we approach complex cataract cases. He has taught all of us so much and many of the techniques that you use today have originated with him. In this podcast we talk about some of these challenging cataract cases and he gives insights into becoming a better surgeon. I know you will enjoy this engaging conversation.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links here: Apple, Google, Spotify) for enjoying as you...

Our podcast guest has definitely achieved a life well-lived. Dr Cyres Mehta from Mumbai, India is an ophthalmologist, a professional motorcycle racer, a seasoned weight-lifter, and a world traveler who shares with us some incredible insights of his life journey. There are so many great words of wisdom and pearls for success that I'm sure you will find applicable to your own path in life. We had a great discussion and I know you'll enjoy it. 

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links here: Apple, G...

One day you think that it would be great to get a few colleagues together to discuss challenging cases and new techniques. And then just a few years later it becomes a large meeting with 800 colleagues! This is the path of OftalmoCordoba, a fantastic eye meeting in Cordoba, Argentina which I enjoyed attending recently. It was really fantastic and it is the creation of Dr Ticiano Giobellina who is a talented surgeon in that city at his clinic. In this podcast you will learn how to go from an idea to a big success with hard work and persistence.
<...

Our podcast guest is the amazing Dr Alison Chiu who practices at Pure Sight Eye Surgeons in Sydney, Australia. She is an expert cataract and refractive surgeon and a great inspiration for young surgeons looking to find their path and become a leader in ophthalmology. I am confident that you will learn so much from this podcast and she will help you determine the groundwork that will shape your career. Truly great advice from this genuine and highly talented surgeon.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services...

What are the most effective ways to teach surgery to the next generation of ophthalmologists? In this podcast, renowned teacher Dr John Ferris delves into that topic and with his extensive experience with surgical simulators, wet labs, didactic teaching, and direct mentorship he offers keen insight that can help you become a better surgeon. I've had the pleasure of working with him in multiple small projects and I have always been impressed with his top notch teaching ability.

We feature a new podcast every week on Sundays and they are uploaded to all major podcast services (click links...

Our guest today, Dr Gustavo Hüning, is an outstanding surgeon who does cataract surgery, retina surgery, and also surgical repair of complex eye trauma. He has an innovative approach to advancing ophthalmic surgery and was even involved in the early development of the heads-up 3D displays for surgical visualization. He also aims to bring the best from around the world to his clinic in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil by traveling extensively and spending time with colleagues around the world. I enjoyed hosting him when he was in Los Angeles and I was rewarded with wise surgical insight and advice a...

Understanding imposter syndrome and unconscious bias are topics that are passionate to Dr Tina Khanam and in this podcast we explore these topics. These are complex topics and my goal in this podcast was to improve my rudimentary understanding of these issues so that together we can recognize, reflect, and reinvent. In my personal life, I have never paid much attention to any biases against me because I felt that my true power comes from within and I can always succeed if I work hard enough. But perhaps that is not the case for everyone. I know you'll enjoy this...

Professor Guillermo Amescua MD is an expert in complex anterior segment surgery including cataract, cornea, and ocular surface. We have previously featured his surgical cases on CataractCoach.com and he always has great pearls and advice to share. He is noted to be one of the favorite professors of the residents and fellows at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. In this podcast we explore his best advice for all of us to improve our surgical skills and to learn new techniques for anterior segment surgery. I'm sure you will find it very valuable. And be sure...

Dr Claudio Trindade is a surgeon, inventor, and pioneer from Belo Horizonte, Brazil who is the youngest ophthalmologist to ever win the ASCRS Grand Prize at the Film Festival. His winning entry was for his invention, the XtraFocus implant which is a piggyback device that has a small 1.3 mm central aperture to help patients with irregular corneas such as those with keratoconus. The amazing part is that he had an idea, then developed it, presented it to industry partners, and then got it produced and approved for use in many countries. All of this within a few years. If you...

Dr. Pannet Pangputhipong, a pioneer of phacoemulsification in Thailand, is renowned for his innovative cataract techniques and exceptional teaching. He has taught and performed live surgeries globally, earning accolades such as the APACRS Certified Educator Award, the Lim Lecture Award, and Italy’s “Best Surgeon Award.” He led Thailand’s national cataract blindness eradication campaign, receiving many awards. He currently serves as President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand (RCOPT) and the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS). He is an engineer and approaches challenging cataract cases with that mindset. This podcast will change the way you appr...