BLOG: Podcast series from AAO Committee on Aging

Since 2008, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Committee on Aging has been producing a podcast series that covers ocular diseases in the older population. In each episode the host discusses a hot topic with one or more experts who share their experiences from their clinical practice and the challenges they face. The topics are well chosen and discussions are lively, which make the interviews both informative and entertaining. By following the discussions, you are able to observe how an experienced ophthalmologist approaches issues, which I have found very useful as a supplement to reading a traditional textbook. My favorite episode is the one on giant cell arteritis (http://www.aao.org/audio/ocular-disease-in-older-population-giant-cell-arte) in which Dr. Andrew Lee, Dr. Neil Miller and Dr. Peter Savino discuss every aspect of diagnostics and treatment as well as the practical issues that arise.

I have found 30 podcasts to date, and they are accessible through AAO’s ONE Network, which requires an AAO membership. The podcast series is not so visible on the page; some of the episodes are included in the Eye Care for Older Adults section, but if you want the complete series you have to choose Multimedia and then Audio (http://www.aao.org/browse-multimedia?filter=audio). The episodes are released quite sporadically and are not available through iTunes or by other traditional means — you can only access them through the ONE Network. There is no transcript of the episodes so you have to rely on audio only.

I highly recommend this podcast series. The episodes are great to listen to and very informative. I just wish they published the episodes more regularly and with a subscription option through iTunes or other podcast services. Transcripts of the interviews would also be valuable.

For more information:

Helgi David Björnsson, MD, runs a website with a collection of his favorite finds on Ophtholinks.com. He can be reached at email: helgidavid@gmail.com.