Listen Up: The Best Ophthalmology Podcasts

In the dynamic world of ophthalmology, staying up to date with the latest advancements, techniques, and research is important to provide excellent patient care and continue innovation in our field.

Podcasts are episodic digital audio programs that can be streamed or downloaded through the internet. They are often made available through multiple smartphone apps and websites to be listened to at your own leisure.

The ease of use and availability of podcasts have caused them to rise in popularity over the last several years. As of 2023, over 64% of all Americans over the age of 12 have reported ever listening to a podcast.¹ This rise in popularity has led to a proliferation of new podcasts in all fields and areas of interest, including ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology podcasts may be an excellent tool for ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists-in-training to stay updated with the latest topics in ophthalmology and even earn continuing medical education (CME) credit.

In this article, we explore the enriching realm of ophthalmology podcasts, spotlighting those that stand out in delivering high-quality content and fostering continuous learning in a field that thrives on innovation.

Best podcasts for practicing ophthalmologists

Straight from the Cutter’s Mouth

Host(s): Jay Sridhar, MD
Subject Matter: This podcast interviews leaders in vitreoretinal surgery as well as the next generation of retinal specialists.
Why It Ranks as a Favorite: With over 400 episodes recorded so far and a weekly upload schedule, there is a lot of knowledge to gain from Straight from the Cutter's Mouth. Topics range from medical/surgical retina to career development and practice management.

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Experts InSight

Host(s): Jay Sridhar, MD, Amanda Redfern, MD, Ben Young, MD, and Andrew Pouw, MD
Subject Matter: This podcast offers conversations with expert guests from multiple subspecialties in the field of ophthalmology. Episodes cover the latest in literature, clinical pearls and pitfalls, and issues that impact the practice of medicine.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: The dedication of Experts InSight to having a wide range of ophthalmology topics and guests guarantees that everyone can come away having learned something.

Ophthalmology Off the Grid

Host: Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD
Subject Matter: Ophthalmology Off the Grid covers a wide range of topics, from fellowships, business practices, and career decisions to the latest in treatment and diagnostic innovations.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: Drs. Wörtz and Williamson do a great job of asking their guests thought-provoking questions. They are not afraid to tackle controversial topics, which leads to interesting conversations with multiple perspectives.

MedEdTalks - Ophthalmology

Host(s): Rishi Singh, MD
Subject Matter: This is a CME podcast that features interviews with various experts and covers a wide range of ophthalmology topics.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: We love MedEdTalks - Ophthalmology because it is an easy and convenient way for ophthalmologists to gain CME credit. New episodes continue to come out and make for an excellent listen during your daily commute.

Best podcasts for residents/medical students

Eyes for Ears

Host(s): Ben Young, MD and Andrew Pouw, MD
Subject Matter: This podcast offers Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) and board review to help ophthalmologists in training succeed.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: Eyes for Ears is a great tool for learning and reviewing topics important to those still in training. Additionally, many of their episodes have accompanying Anki cards to further reinforce those topics.

Honestly Bilal

Host(s): Bilal Ahmed, MD and Ali Syed, MD
Subject Matter: The hosts interview a wide range of ophthalmologists to learn more about their journeys and perspectives of the field.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: Honestly Bilal is aimed at aspiring ophthalmologists who wish to hear from those who are living the dream. The conversations are truly inspiring and show the diversity of experiences that are possible before and during the road to practicing as an ophthalmologist.

Best ophthalmology podcasts on research and innovation

Ophthalmology Innovation Source (OIS) Podcast

Host(s): Firas Rahhal, MD, Paul Karpecki, OD, Robert Rothman, MD, Sophia Pathai, MD, PhD, and Carey Powers, MBA
Subject Matter: The hosts interview researchers, executives, and leaders in all things eyecare.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: The OIS Podcast's strengths lie in the diversity of guests being interviewed. With a large backlog of episodes, a frequent upload schedule, and a large variety of perspectives—this podcast is an amazing resource for listeners who wish to stay up to date.

JAMA Ophthalmology Author Interviews

Host: Neil Bressler, MD
Subject Matter: This podcast from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) network interviews the corresponding authors of the latest research articles published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: We love JAMA Ophthalmology Author Interviews because it provides listeners with the unique opportunity to hear researchers talk about their work beyond what’s written in the article.
- Dr. Bressler asks thoughtful questions that further enrich the published articles. Additionally, the short format of the episodes (under 20 minutes each) makes it easy to listen to when time is limited.

AAO Ophthalmology Journal

Host: Drew Carey, MD, Lorraine Provencher, MD, Matt Feng, MD, Edmund Tsui, MD, and Rajesh Rao, MD
Subject Matter: Authors from the latest research articles published in the AAO’s family of journals (Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Retina, Ophthalmology Glaucoma, and Ophthalmology Science) are interviewed about their work.
Why it Ranks as a Favorite: Similarly to the JAMA Ophthalmology Author Interviews podcast, the Ophthalmology Journal podcast helps listeners gain further insight into the latest discoveries in ophthalmology by delving deep into the latest research articles with the researchers themselves.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, podcasts have emerged as valuable resources for ophthalmologists and those in training, offering a convenient and accessible way to stay updated on the latest developments in the field. The podcasts highlighted in this article provide a diverse range of content, from surgical techniques to industry insights.

The expertise of the hosts and the ease of on-the-go learning make these podcasts essential for busy professionals. As you explore these audio resources, consider incorporating them into your routine for continuous professional development and to stay informed about the advancements shaping ophthalmology.

There are so many podcasts out there, let us know your favorite!