Blink Collective

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: What Optometry School Doesn’t Teach YouYou passed your boards, got your license, and finally became a doctor. So why does it feel like you have a million new questions? 😅McKenzie and Lisa are joined by fellow 2026 grad Dr. Taylor Keathley to talk about the real-world learning curve of becoming an OD—from insurance credentialing and endless paperwork to clinical decisions, pediatric patients, and specialty contact lenses.If you're a student or new grad, this one's a reminder that you don't have to know everything right away—and asking for help is part of the process.🎧 Watch Episode 9 of Blink Collective! https://youtu.be/OUecGr9OZH8#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #YoungOD #OptometrySchool #ScleralLenses #SpecialtyContactLenses #EyeCare

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: You Never Stop LearningMacKenzie and Lisa sit down with Dr. Carl Kramer to talk about what happens after optometry school—when you realize just how much there is still to learn.From new treatments and technologies to specialty contact lenses, keratoconus, finding good CE, and those moments when you have to admit, “I don’t know… but I’ll figure it out.”Plus, Dr. Kramer shares a memorable keratoconus case and why continuing to learn, asking for help, and staying connected to the profession matters throughout your career. 🎧 Listen to Episode 8 of Blink Collective.#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #YoungOD #OptometrySchool #Keratoconus #ScleralLenses #SpecialtyContactLenses

🎙️ New Episode of Blink Collective!Do you ever feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out by graduation? Spoiler: you’re not. And that’s okay. 👏In this episode, McKenzie and Lisa talk about the transition from student to doctor, navigating the things you don’t know yet, finding people you can collaborate with, and building confidence with specialty contact lenses along the way.Because being a good doctor isn’t about having every answer. It’s about knowing where to look, when to ask for help, and never stopping learning.🎧 https://youtu.be/qbEhknERTps#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #NewOD #YoungOD #OptometryLife #SpecialtyContactLenses #ScleralLenses #ContactLenses #LifelongLearning #FutureOD #EyeCare

Episode 6 is LIVE!Thinking about a residency after optometry school? 👀Hosts McKenzie and Lisa are joined by Dr. Megan Patterson for an honest conversation about residency—how to know if it's the right path, what the experience is really like, and how specialty contact lenses can make a life-changing difference for patients.Whether you're a student, resident, or early-career OD, this episode is filled with practical advice, career insights, and inspiring clinical stories.🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!#BlinkCollective #Optometry #OptometryStudent #OptometryResident #Residency #YoungOD #EyeCare #SpecialtyContactLenses #ScleralLenses #ContactLenses #Cornea #FutureOD #ValleyContax #Podcast

🎙️ Episode 5 is LIVE! 🎙️This week on Blink Collective, hosts McKenzie and Lisa tackle one of the most relatable hot takes in healthcare:📚 "If your medical history reads like a novel… please bring the book."From hilarious patient history moments to serious discussions about improving care through better communication, this episode is packed with practical pearls and real-world optometry conversations.👁️ Highlights include:✨ An inspiring Valley Contax Vision Project case where custom scleral lenses dramatically improved communication and quality of life for a patient living with ALS.✨ A deep dive into Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) screening, including the latest AAO recommendations every student, new grad, and practicing OD should know.✨ Why OCT and FAF are becoming increasingly important in detecting toxicity early.✨ Clinical pearls on dosing, risk factors, communication with rheumatologists, and protecting vision while supporting systemic health.Whether you're studying for boards, navigating externships, or already in practice, there's something in this episode for you.🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!💬 What's your biggest patient history challenge? Have a memorable Plaquenil case? We'd love to hear from you.#BlinkCollective #ValleyContax #Optometry #OptometryStudent #NewGradOD #EyeCare #ScleralLenses #Plaquenil #Hydroxychloroquine #Retina #ClinicalPearls #OptometrySchool #ODLife #FutureOD #EyeHealth #ContactLenses #VisionCare #OptometricEducation #BoardPrep #OptometryPodcast #StudentDoctor #OptometryCommunity #BlinkCollectivePodcast

🎙️ Episode 4 of Blink Collective is here — and this one dives deep into what it *really* means to care for patients beyond the eye chart 👁✨This week, Lisa & McKenzie sit down with Dr. Madison Moss from Raleigh Contact Lens Institute — a residency-trained cornea & contact lens specialist passionate about specialty lenses, myopia management, and patient-centered care.💬 In this episode:– Why Dr. Moss chose optometry after a life-changing mission trip to Africa– The hot take: “20/20 vision is overrated” 👀– Why “20 happy” matters more than perfect acuity– The problem with online “express exams” & expired contact lens prescriptions– Real talk about patient education, compliance, and protecting ocular health– A fascinating scleral lens case that changed a patient’s quality of life– Advice for students and young ODs interested in specialty careOne of our favorite reminders from this episode:📌 Real patients don’t read the textbook.And that’s exactly what makes this profession so meaningful.🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation.#BlinkCollective #OptometryPodcast #FutureOD #OptometryLife #ScleralLenses #CorneaSpecialist #ContactLenses #MyopiaManagement #EyeCare #ODLife #WomenInOptometry #PatientCare #SpecialtyLenses #DryEye #YoungOD #HealthcarePodcast #StudentDoctor

🎙️ Episode 3 is LIVE, and we’ve got our first guest!From externship realities to confidence in clinic, this episode of Blink Collective dives into what it really feels like to step into the role of a future doctor 👁✨We’re joined by a third-year student (aka @EyeOnThePrize 👀) who’s balancing externships, content creation, and everything in between — and keeping it real the whole way through.💬 In this episode:– The scrubs vs. business casual debate (it gets passionate 😅)– Why confidence matters just as much as knowledge in clinic– Real talk about externships: the highs, the doubts, and growth moments– Advice for students stepping into their 4th year– A wild clinic case that proves “routine exams” are never routineWhether you’re a pre-optometry student, in school, or already in clinic, this one’s packed with relatable moments and real insight.🎧 Tune in now & join the conversation.#BlinkCollective #OptometryLife #FutureOD #OptometryStudents #ExternshipLife #WomenInOptometry #ODLife #EyeCare #StudentDoctor #ClinicConfessions #ScleralLenses #DryEye #OptometryPodcast #HealthcareStudents #MedStudentLife

Hot takes, real talk, and things we’re actually seeing in clinic 👀From presbyopia drops to remote optometry… are we evolving—or losing something along the way?🎙️ Episode 2 is live.This is what students are really talking about.Follow, listen, and if you’ve got something to say…grab the mic 🎤Watch the full episode on YouTube (@BlinkCollectivePodcast) or TikTok (@blinkcollective).Listen to Blink Collective on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Blink Collective isn’t just something you listen to.It’s something you can be part of.If you’re a student or young OD with something to say, grab the mic.Visit: blink-collective.com#BlinkCollective #OptometryStudents #YoungOD

Welcome to the very first episode of Blink Collective, a new podcast platform by Valley Contax designed to spotlight optometry students and early-career ODs.In this inaugural episode, meet our first hosts, Lisa and MacKenzie, both Fourth Year Optometry Student | Class of 2026 who helped open the door to this new concept and set the tone for what Blink Collective is all about.They share:• Who they are and their journeys through optometry school• What inspired the creation of Blink Collective• Honest reflections on life as optometry students• A few pearls they’ve learned along the way• And how YOU, as a student or young OD can grab the micBlink Collective isn’t just a podcast you listen to.It’s a platform you can be part of.If you’re an optometry student or early-career OD with something to say, this is your invitation.🎙️ The mic’s on. You in?Interested in hosting an episode?Submit your proposal at: blink-collective.comFollow Blink Collective for new conversations every month.

🎙️ In today’s episode, Roya and Sheila explore some exciting innovations in ocular surface care! 👁️✨ They kick things off with the newly FDA-approved Prednisolone Acetate Suspension🧴 and personalized serum eye drops from Ocubio. Then, are thrilled to welcome Dr. Pooja Alloju—a rising star in anterior segment disease and specialty contact lenses! 🌟 With her background in applied mathematics 📊 and a residency focused on cornea and contact lenses , Dr. Alloju brings precision, passion, and practical wisdom to the table.Tune in as we discuss hot topics like:💧 Are artificial tears really tears?🔬 When to switch from OTC to autologous serum drops🤝 Tips for collaborating with corneal specialists🩺 Knowing when to refer for cataract surgery, corneal crosslinking, or scleral lensesWhether you’re managing dry eye or enhancing your referral skills, this episode is packed with insights—and a reminder that sometimes, the best medicine is collaboration! 💡🤝Got ideas or guest suggestions? Reach out at [email protected]! 📧SOURCESBlog from Optometry School with Dr. Pooja AllojuEye Health Texas on TikTokScleral Lens Education Society: Management of non-KCN CasesPooja linkedinShashi linkedinGlance: AmnealGlance: the Qualified Autologous Serum Eye Drops (qASED)Try Not to Blink Podcast  is powered by Valley Contax