MOD LIVE 2025: A Recap

The annual MOD Live meeting, held November 7–9 in Austin, brought together leaders in optometry to discuss where the field stands—and where it’s heading. The program featured interactive panel discussions, hands-on breakout sessions, keynote presentations, and exhibitor receptions. Attendees were welcomed in with a conversation on the scope, standards, and soul of optometry, which set the tone for the rest of the meeting (Figure).

A RANGE OF RESOURCES

The first day kicked off with a session on surgical synergy moderated by Walter O. Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO. Katherine Rachon, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, opened with a talk on refractive surgery and myopia, noting that with 42% of Americans affected by myopia and 5 billion expected to develop the condition by 2050, most patients will eventually be surgical patients. This is where comanagement comes in, which Marie Huegel, OD, FAAO, stressed must be patient-centered and built on clear communication, upfront expectations, and mutual respect. Damon Dierker, OD, FAAO, and Justin Schweitzer, OD, FAAO, then covered the pros and cons of IOLs, including light-adjustable lenses, and how to choose the right treatment approach.

Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, next moderated a panel on presbyopia management. Joshua Davidson, OD, FAAO, FSLS, noted that there’s been no new movement on the contact lens front. He added that multifocal toric lenses still offer the best near-vision sharpness, and extended depth-of-focus lenses present a promising option for presbyopes. Dr. Whitley then highlighted the 2.17 billion presbyopes worldwide as of 2024 and 1.8 million new patients expected each year in the United States alone. He noted that increasing screen time will affect us all, making patient education on accommodation critical. He summed up presbyopia care into three main pillars: mitigation, measurement, and management. Dr. Schweitzer tied everything together with a case example of a post-refractive surgery patient with presbyopia.

Next, Dr. Schweitzer dove into all things glaucoma. He outlined the following minimally invasive glaucoma surgery must-dos:

• Collaborate and comanage
• Understand that side effects lead to progression
• Know the decision-making process
• Time medication cessation accurately
• Hone gonioscopy skills
• Set hyphema expectations
• Manage IOP spikes
• Educate on ocular hypotony

Kyle Klute, OD, FAAO, then discussed diagnostic testing, covering everything from standard methods, such as gonioscopy, to newer approaches, including corneal hysteresis, electrophysiology, OCT angiography, Rabin cone contrast testing, and AI. Dr. Dierker used a case to illustrate the utility of visual field testing and OCT in detecting progression and the importance of keeping up with the evolution of interventional glaucoma protocols. Patricia Fulmer, OD, FAAO, then discussed drops as a first-line therapy, noting that they can be prescribed by optometrists in all 50 states. She listed drop side effects and compliance issues as potential cons.

Saturday’s keynote speaker, Carlo Pelino, OD, FAAO, began the afternoon with a lecture on ocular oncology. He outlined several signs to be aware of on dilated eye examination, starting with the most common intraocular tumor, a choroidal nevus, which is present in approximately 8% of Caucasians and marked by proliferation of choroidal melanocytes. In pediatric patients specifically, he emphasized the importance of recognizing retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular malignancy in children and one of the most serious due to its life-threatening nature. While discussing other cancers to watch for, he noted that metastasis, including to the eye, can be common depending on the cancer. He used cases, statistics, and cancer classifications to emphasize the need for early detection and diagnosis using tools such as OCT, ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, and fundus autofluorescence.

Dr. Pelino then transitioned into a “retinal reality check” panel discussion. Dr. Rachon shared how to differentiate optic neuropathy from macular disease, using several case examples to illustrate the value of comprehensive testing and technology. Dr. Pelino then discussed diabetes and its role in metabolic syndrome. He emphasized the many factors influencing diabetic retinopathy development, noting that controlling these systemic drivers is key to improving patient outcomes. Osama Said, OD, presented on the differentiation of macular pathologies, stressing the following key steps:

1. Understand patient demographics
2. Look at the ocular layers
3. Analyze fluid patterns
4. Integrate steps 1-3 in decision making

Dr. Dierker concluded with a talk on age-related macular degeneration, sharing the various management options that range from complement inhibition therapy to drug delivery systems. He noted that retina innovation hinges on identifying candidates for advanced therapy and comanaging as necessary.

Saturday closed with a conversation on the business side of optometry. Dr. Klute provided an outlook on the profession, which includes subspecialization, consolidation and private quity, telehealth and remote examinations, health care commoditization, talent crisis, and AI. Dr. Fulmer then covered private equity and the factors that should be on every seller’s mind during this transaction. Dr. Davidson explored telehealth and remote monitoring, emphasizing their ability to increase accessibility, improve patient convenience, and drive practice growth. Ada Noh, OD, shared pearls from opening her dry eye specialty clinic and the patience and flexibility it took to see it through.

CLOSING CONVERSATIONS

The second and final day began with a talk on keratoconus. Dr. McGee introduced a case of corneal tissue addition keratoplasty, which aims to improve the shape of an eye with keratoconus using tissue addition. Dr. Whitley touched on corneal crosslinking and the critical nature of early diagnosis to avoid further complications with disease progression. He emphasized patient selection and education, in addition to postoperative management. Dr. Huegel then discussed infectious keratitis and proper contact lens wear and care methods to avoid visual impairment or even blindness. Nabila Gomez, OD, FAAO, wrapped up with examples of neurotrophic keratitis and neuropathic corneal pain to highlight how to proceed when corneal nerves go silent.

Dr. Said delivered Sunday’s keynote presentation on AI, discussing its evolution and how it has taken hold in optometric practice. ODs should leverage this tool not to replace critical components of ocular care, but to enhance it through diagnostics and management, he said. The meeting wrapped up with a session on the ocular surface. Dr. Said led with the psychology of dry eye to bridge the gap between patient experience and clinical presentation. Dr. Noh followed with dry eye therapeutics and Dr. Gomez with procedures that beautify and heal at the intersection of eye health and aesthetics. Dr. McGee presented a case on meibomian gland dysfunction, and Dr. Rachon shared one on ocular surface inflammation and neuropathic pain, both illustrating the need for timely recognition, appropriate treatment, and efficient patient education for the best outcomes.

THE FUTURE OF OPTOMETRY IS HERE

A few closing conversations rounded out yet another year of insightful and interactive content designed to give attendees actionable optometric knowledge. Thank you to everyone who attended MOD Live! Stay tuned for more upcoming Modern Optometry offerings, and head online to keep up to date with the latest issue!