The "Mite" Problem: Why You Need to Treat Eyelids Before Surgery | Dagny Zhu, MD
Over the years, I’ve learned that some of the biggest vision problems don’t come from inside the eye at all—they come from the eyelids. I see patients every day who are preparing for LASIK or cataract surgery and feel completely fine, yet their eyelids are quietly inflamed and their tear film is unstable. When that happens, vision can fluctuate, measurements can be off, and recovery can be more uncomfortable than it needs to be. Once you understand how much the eyelids influence the surface of the eye, it changes the way you think about eye surgery altogether.
What to Expect After Cataract Surgery: Recovery, Results, and Red Flags
After cataract surgery, the most common question I hear is, “Why is everything still blurry?” And truly — that’s normal. Your eye is adjusting, healing, and getting used to a new lens. The scratchiness, light sensitivity, and even those sudden floaters are all part of the process. What matters is steady improvement. And if something feels off or suddenly changes, I always want you to reach out. Your healing is uniquely yours, and I’m here to walk you through it.
Had LASIK? Here’s What You Need to Know Before Cataract Surgery | Neda Nikpoor, MD
When patients who had LASIK years ago come to me with new cataracts, the first thing they ask is whether that old surgery changes anything now. And the answer is yes—but not in the scary way they imagine. LASIK permanently reshaped their cornea, which means cataract surgery requires a little more nuance, a little more precision, and the right lens choice. It’s one of the reasons I love bringing experts like Dr. Neda Nikpoor into these conversations—because there are fantastic options. You just need to understand how your past eye history shapes your future vision.
Choosing the Right Lens: What to Know Before Cataract Surgery
Somewhere between caring for my pediatric patients and helping my own parents navigate aging eyes, cataracts stopped being an abstract “later in life” problem and became very real. Sitting down with Priya, who lives in the cataract world every single day, shifted even my perspective as an ophthalmologist. It reminded me that cataract surgery isn’t just a procedure—it’s often the turning point that gives people their confidence, independence, and joy back.
Digital Detox for Kids: Resetting Screen Time Habits | Michael Jacobus
As a mom of three, I see how much screens shape my kids’ world — from homework to friendships to how they relax. But lately, I’ve noticed something deeper: screens aren’t just stealing time; they’re reshaping how kids feel. In this week’s episode of In Focus, I sat down with Michael Jacobus, founder of Reset Summer Camp, to talk about what screen addiction really looks like in teens — and how families can help kids reconnect with the real world again.
How to End Screen Time Tantrums Without Power Struggles
As a mom of three and a pediatric ophthalmologist, I’ve seen screen time from both sides — the medical and the emotional. I don’t believe in banning screens, but I do believe in setting thoughtful, science-backed boundaries that help kids learn self-control and protect their vision. In this post, I’m sharing the exact checklist, apps, and daily systems that have made screen time more peaceful (and a lot less guilt-filled) in our home.
Why Kids Melt Down When Screens Turn Off (And How to Calm the Chaos) | Gabie Izralson PsyD
There have been moments where I’ve told my kids to turn off their screens and instantly regretted it — not because I didn’t mean it, but because I knew what was coming next: the tears, the frustration, the full emotional unraveling. For a long time, I felt powerless against the pull of screens. But as Dr. Gabie Izralson reminded me, we’re actually the ones in control. Once I reframed that, everything shifted. I stopped seeing screens as the enemy and started seeing them as something we could manage — with structure, communication, and a little more grace for everyone involved.
What's That White Spot in My Kid's Eye? | Jesse Berry, MD
I sat down with Dr. Jesse Berry, director of Ocular Oncology at CHLA, to talk about retinoblastoma—a rare childhood eye cancer that can first appear as a white reflex in photos. We discuss what parents should watch for, how it’s diagnosed, and the treatments that can save not only a child’s vision, but their life.