Uncover the fascinating evolution of modern eyecare with "The History of Eyecare." Hosted by J. Morgan Micheletti, MD, a dedicated eye surgeon and history enthusiast, this podcast takes you on a journey through eyecare's landmark moments and untold stories as told by thought leaders, innovators, and legends who have shaped the field. From anterior segment and refractive surgery to retina, plastics, and glaucoma, every facet of eyecare's rich history is explored, helping us better understand and shape the future. Subscribe and join us as we reveal the milestones that have revolutionized eyecare.
The History of Eyecare
Claim This Podcastby J. Morgan Micheletti, MD
5.0(19 reviews)
26 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
46
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality72
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YouTube0
Engagement51
Podcast Overview
Uncover the fascinating evolution of modern eyecare with "The History of Eyecare." Hosted by J. Morgan Micheletti, MD, a dedicated eye surgeon and history enthusiast, this podcast takes you on a journey through eyecare's landmark moments and untold stories as told by thought leaders, innovators, and legends who have shaped the field. From anterior segment and refractive surgery to retina, plastics, and glaucoma, every facet of eyecare's rich history is explored, helping us better understand and shape the future. Subscribe and join us as we reveal the milestones that have revolutionized eyecare.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/23/2023
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46
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality72
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement51
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excellent
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33 minutes
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24 episodes over 1.9 years
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Recent Episodes
June 26, 2026
Tom Burns: Building Glaukos and a New Standard of Glaucoma Care
In this Season 3 premiere of The History of Eyecare, host Dr. Morgan Micheletti is joined by Tom Burns, Chairman and CEO of Glaukos, for a wide-ranging conversation about company building, category creation, and the evolution of modern glaucoma care. Burns’ career has crossed several major chapters in ophthalmic innovation. Before joining Glaukos, he held leadership roles at SmithKline Beckman, Allergan, Chiron Ophthalmics, Bausch + Lomb, and EyeTech, giving him a rare perspective across pharmaceuticals, refractive surgery, surgical devices, retina therapeutics, and venture-backed ophthalmic startups. The conversation begins with Burns’ early career and his love of building companies from the ground up. He describes how his experience at Chiron shaped his understanding of startups, how EyeTech gave him a front-row seat to a new retina market, and how Bill Link eventually recruited him to a small company called Glaukos. At first, Burns admits he was skeptical. A tiny glaucoma stent sounded like a mini-shunt in a conservative, late-stage surgical category. But when he saw the device, he immediately recognized the possibility of something different: a simple intervention that could help reduce dependence on topical therapy and open the door to what he calls the “birthright” of Glaukos — interventional glaucoma. From there, Dr. Micheletti and Burns explore what glaucoma treatment looked like in the early 2000s, when therapy was still dominated by topical drops, lasers were often viewed as second- or third-line options, and surgery was largely reserved for advanced disease. Burns explains how the original iStent pathway ultimately moved through cataract surgery, not because that was the original strategic intent, but because it became the viable regulatory path for introducing a new class of glaucoma intervention. A major theme of the episode is that MIGS was not just a device innovation — it was a mindset change. Burns discusses the challenge of educating both glaucoma specialists and cataract surgeons, many of whom initially viewed glaucoma intervention as outside the scope of routine cataract practice. Over time, Glaukos helped build the educational infrastructure, clinical evidence, and surgeon confidence needed to make MIGS part of modern anterior segment surgery. The episode also goes deep into the development of iDose TR and the broader idea of procedural pharmaceuticals. Burns describes the scientific, chemical, regulatory, and manufacturing challenges involved in creating a sustained intracameral drug delivery platform. From early questions about prostaglandin potency and elution rates to hand-filling tiny devices for early trials, building a dedicated manufacturing facility, navigating combination product review, and receiving FDA approval, the story captures the unseen work required to turn an idea into a clinically available technology. Burns also shares several moments that tested the company’s resilience: early FDA uncertainty, venture financing challenges, a difficult PMA panel, CMS reimbursement threats, and even a fire that came dangerously close to the company’s San Clemente manufacturing facility. Through each of these stories, he returns to the importance of culture — a team that can “hit curve balls,” adapt quickly, and stay committed to building something meaningful. Looking ahead, Burns offers a vision for glaucoma care over the next decade: more SLT, more procedural pharmaceuticals, longer-duration therapies, greater use of combination mechanisms, and a growing role for interventional glaucoma specialists. In his view, the field is moving away from passive, drop-dependent management and toward proactive, 24/7 pressure control designed to preserve vision over the lifetime of the “forever patient.” This episode is a story about Glaukos, but it is also a broader story about ophthalmology: how innovation happens, how categories are built, how surgeons learn to adopt new ideas, and how persistence, culture, and timing can reshape the standard of care. Key Topics: Tom Burns’ early career at SmithKline Beckman, Allergan, Chiron Ophthalmics, Bausch + Lomb, and EyeTech The founding era of Glaukos and the early vision for interventional glaucoma What glaucoma care looked like before MIGS Why the original iStent regulatory pathway moved through cataract surgery The challenge of introducing a new surgical category to glaucoma specialists and cataract surgeons The evolution from the original iStent to iStent inject and iStent Infinite Surgeon education and the cultural shift toward treating glaucoma earlier Why drop adherence remains one of the central problems in glaucoma care The development story behind iDose TR and procedural pharmaceuticals Manufacturing risk, clinical trial challenges, and FDA combination product review The San Clemente fire and other moments that tested Glaukos’ resilience Glaukos’ “we’ll go first” culture and investment in future technologies The future of glaucoma care over the next 10–20 years Why Burns believes interventional glaucoma may become as common as cataract surgery Chapter markers: 00:40 — Welcome to Season 3 and introduction to Tom Burns 01:34 — From history major to SmithKline Beckman, Allergan, and Chiron 05:07 — EyeTech, aptamers, and early retina therapeutics 06:18 — What glaucoma care looked like before MIGS 07:22 — Joining Glaukos in 2002 and the “strip mall of hope” 08:19 — Why the first iStent pathway moved through cataract surgery 11:37 — Creating a new category: manufacturing, safety, skepticism, and surgeon adoption 15:38 — From the original iStent to iStent inject 17:23 — iStent Infinite and the path toward standalone glaucoma intervention 19:12 — The safety profile of MIGS and the importance of education 20:52 — Interventional glaucoma and the “forever patient” 25:25 — The adherence problem and why glaucoma care needs a paradigm shift 26:57 — Procedural pharmaceuticals and the origin of iDose TR 31:26 — Manufacturing, early clinical trials, and building the San Clemente facility 34:00 — FDA approval and the “joyous all-nighter” 35:19 — The fire that nearly threatened the manufacturing facility 36:55 — “We’ll go first”: culture, reinvestment, and building new markets 40:18 — The meaning behind the Glaukos logo and the company’s focus areas 41:30 — Preserving mission clarity with a growing pipeline 42:31 — The future of glaucoma care over the next 10–20 years 45:09 — What Burns is most proud of at Glaukos 47:11 — Resilience, FDA challenges, CMS pressure, and “hitting curve balls” 50:21 — The most important innovations in ophthalmology 52:07 — Closing thoughts and sponsor acknowledgment
May 16, 2025
Tom Frinzi: Leadership, Mergers, and the Making of Modern Eyecare
In this episode of The History of Eyecare, Dr. Morgan Micheletti sits down with legendary medtech executive Tom Frinzi to explore a remarkable career that has helped shape modern ophthalmology. With over 40 years of leadership across some of the most transformative eras in eye care, Tom reflects on his journey through legacy companies like Chiron Vision, WaveTec, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. From the transition to phaco and the birth of LASIK to the rise of premium IOLs and intraoperative aberrometry, Tom shares behind-the-scenes insights into the technologies, teams, and timing that defined an era. This episode is a deep dive into the business, culture, and innovation cycles that continue to move our field forward. Key Takeaways: Tom shares how a rep job in Houston and early exposure to ophthalmic microsurgery with Ralph Berkeley and Steve Slade sparked a lifelong passion. He witnessed and led through the shift from extracap to phaco, the emergence of refractive surgery, and the dawn of the premium cataract era. Whether working in big strategics or venture-backed startups, Tom's work has impacted everything from LASIK and IOL development to aberrometry and refractive platforms. He discusses lessons from leading WaveTec to acquisition, the early promise of CK, and how timing can make or break a great idea. Tom emphasizes culture, mentorship, and building a "reservoir of goodwill"—offering hard-won insights for aspiring leaders in the medtech space. Takeaways -Tom Frinzi has over 40 years of experience in ophthalmology. -He emphasizes the importance of mentorship in career development. -Innovation in ophthalmology can come from both internal and external sources. -The relationship between industry and practitioners is unique and beneficial. -Frinzi believes that lens-based refractive surgery is the future. -Patient fear and cost are significant barriers to elective surgeries. -Collaboration among ophthalmologists and industry is crucial for advancement. -Regulatory bodies have become more receptive in recent years. -The myopic epidemic presents ongoing opportunities for innovation. -Frinzi is optimistic about the future of technology in ophthalmology. Keywords ophthalmology, medical devices, innovation, refractive surgery, mentorship, patient care, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory changes, industry evolution, technology
February 14, 2025
Steven Lane, MD: Chief Medical Officer of Alcon, Private Practice Research, Orbis
Dr. Stephen Lane shares his journey into medicine and ophthalmology, his experiences in research, innovation, and teaching, as well as his involvement with Orbis. He discusses his father's influence, his decision to pursue ophthalmology, and his work with Alcon. Dr. Lane also highlights his research on corneal transplants, intraocular lenses, and bimanual INA, as well as his teaching experiences and involvement with Orbis. Dr. Stephen Lane discusses his experiences with Orbis, the establishment of a cataract program, and his transition to becoming CMO at Alcon. He also shares insights on industry innovation and the future of ophthalmology. Takeaways Dr. Lane's journey into ophthalmology was influenced by his father's experience and advice, leading him to pursue a career in medicine and ophthalmology. His research and innovation in corneal transplants, intraocular lenses, and bimanual INA have contributed significantly to the field of ophthalmology. Dr. Lane's dedication to teaching and his involvement with Orbis reflect his commitment to sharing knowledge and improving access to eye care globally. Dr. Lane's involvement with Orbis and the establishment of a cataract program highlights the importance of providing surgical care in disadvantaged communities. The transition to becoming CMO at Alcon allowed Dr. Lane to contribute to industry innovation and strategic decision-making. Efficiency and innovation in ophthalmology, particularly in diagnostic instruments and surgical procedures, are crucial for meeting the growing patient needs and expectations. The impact of life cycle innovation in Faco and the potential of AI and cell therapy in ophthalmology are significant areas of development and change in the field. Keywords medicine, ophthalmology, research, innovation, teaching, Alcon, corneal transplants, intraocular lenses, bimanual INA, Orbis, Orbis, cataract program, Alcon, chief medical officer, industry innovation, ophthalmology, future of ophthalmology
26 total episodes available
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