Seen & Heard

Glaucoma Today

Improving MIGS Adoption Rates On MIGS Unplugged, Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC, and Arsham Sheybani, MD, host an episode to talk about the low adoption rate of MIGS procedures in the United States and how surgeons can move the needle and overcome barriers to entry for increasing MIGS adoption. Drs. Ahmed and Sheybani share insights into training, reimbursement, and workflow improvements that could drive further innovation in glaucoma surgery. Determining the Next Path in a Case of Progressive Glaucoma In Glaucoma Case Files, Mitch Ibach, OD, FAAO, outlines a recent case for John P. Berdahl, MD, and Tanner J. Ferguson, MD, in which a woman in her early 80s with a history of severe glaucoma presented with rising IOP. The patient had a history of cataract surgery, iStent (Glaukos) implantation, and subconjunctival surgery with a Xen Gel Stent (AbbVie) 5 to 7 years ago. She reported difficulty instilling topical drops due to Parkinson disease. The three physicians discuss options for safely managing her disease progression.

FDA Approves Label Supplement for iDose TR

Eyetube

The FDA approves a key label supplement for Glaukos’ iDoseTR; Nidek announces the European launch of a new open-field refraction system; and there have been several leadership changes announced during the first month of 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retina Coding Crash Course

This outline will help you begin to master this necessary skill.

Justin C. Muste, MD, and Omesh P. Gupta, MD, MBA

Retina Today

KEY TAKEAWAYS Understanding the fundamentals of coding early in fellowship helps you document correctly, communicate clearly, and avoid costly errors later in practice. Every claim links a Current Procedural Terminology code, which tells the insurer what you did, and an International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code, which tells them why you did it. Modifiers are short, two-character codes that give extra details about the service(s) performed, while J-codes identify a specific medication and dosage, so that the insurer can reimburse appropriately. Starting retina fellowship brings you a step closer to the complex world of coding. While attendings and billing teams often handle final claims, understanding the fundamentals early helps you document correctly, communicate clearly, and avoid costly errors later in practice. In addition, coding also plays a role in legal documentation by keeping care traceable. The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a standardized coding system created and maintained by the American Medical Association that describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures and services performed by health care providers. Each CPT code is a five-digit number (plus modifiers, depending on the circumstances) that tells insurers exactly what service or procedure was done (Table 1). This guide breaks down coding essentials from a retina fellow’s perspective with common examples relevant to retina clinics and surgery. THE BASICS Coding is, essentially, a form of standard communication between a specialist and insurer.