ASCRS 2025: Michael Rivers, MD, shares his takeaways as a panelist at the inaugural SightLine event

At the inaugural SightLine meeting—held the day prior to the 2025 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting in Los Angeles, California—Michael Rivers, MD, shared some of his takeaways, particularly around the evolving relationship between physicians and industry. “The aspect of SightLine that I thought was very interesting was that people from industry talked about some of their challenges in industry, and how they dealt with that,” Rivers noted. The transparency from industry partners, such as candid discussions about events like a lens recall, helped bridge empathy and understanding. “As a physician, we feel terrible about [recalls] for our patients. But hearing industry insiders, we understand that it's really terrible for them, too... That was very heartening.”

Rivers spoke on a panel focused on pathways for physicians to engage with industry. The session highlighted roles such as chief medical officers, private equity advisors, and physician-executives like Rivers, who is now working in software. A key takeaway: mentorship. “These were all older physicians who, in general, were very interested in being mentors… we talked about ways that younger doctors could become involved in industry and different avenues that would be open to them.”

Artificial intelligence was another prominent theme. Rivers emphasized pragmatism over hype: “It is important to understand that AI is a tool... just like GPS.” He shared how AI is being practically applied to reduce administrative burdens. One example: an AI tool that pre-screens insurance claims for potential denials. “It flags them and alerts the billing team… Here’s an area where we’re augmenting the intelligence of the billing team, which I think is really exciting.”