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What happens when a science-fiction movie about extraterrestrial life brings together conversations about iris color, specialty contact lenses, career growth, and the importance of having a life outside optometry?
On the OD in Our Movies podcast, Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson welcomed Dr. Lisa Wahl, OD, to review Disclosure Day. The conversation moved from Steven Spielberg’s take on alien life to real-world eye care, complex pediatric cases, professional collaboration, and Dr. Wahl’s unexpected second career in the Los Angeles food scene.
Disclosure Day Blends Science Fiction, Mystery, and the Human Eye
The group gave Disclosure Day strong reviews, with ratings ranging from approximately 8 to 8.5 out of 10. The film follows characters who discover a deeper connection to extraterrestrial life while a secretive organization works to keep the truth hidden.
Dr. Wahl praised the movie’s mystery, suspense, and pacing, while the hosts highlighted Emily Blunt’s performance and the film’s ability to remain engaging throughout its lengthy runtime.
Naturally, the optometrists also found the eye care angle.
Changes in iris color and pupil size within the movie led to a discussion about real clinical conditions that can alter the appearance of the eyes. The doctors explored heterochromia and conditions associated with acquired changes in iris color, including herpetic uveitis and Horner’s syndrome.
It was a classic example of the podcast’s unique formula: watch a movie, find the eye care connection, and turn entertainment into clinical conversation.
A Career That Evolved Into Specialty Contact Lenses
Dr. Wahl graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2013 before completing an ocular disease residency with additional low vision training. Her career included private practice and work in an ophthalmology clinic before she returned to academia as clinic director at University Eye Center, Los Angeles.
Despite training heavily in ocular disease, her career gradually shifted toward specialty contact lenses.
During residency, Dr. Wahl was the only resident at her site, giving her flexibility to explore additional clinical interests. She began taking on specialty lens patients, and once she entered practice, referrals from optometrists and ophthalmologists helped that patient population grow.
What started as curiosity eventually became a major part of her clinical identity.
How Specialty Contact Lenses Can Change a Child’s Vision
One of the episode’s most powerful stories involved a 12-year-old patient with severe chronic blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. Years of inflammation had caused corneal neovascularization, scarring, and reduced vision through glasses.
Through collaborative care, the disease was managed while Dr. Wahl fit the patient with a scleral lens. The child was ultimately able to achieve 20/20 vision in both eyes.
Dr. Wahl emphasized that specialty contact lens care requires careful expectation management. Rather than promising a specific result, she invites patients to try the lens and discover what may be possible.
“You really have to temper the patient’s expectations,” she explained.
For pediatric patients, the process may take time. Dr. Wahl gave the young patient homework to practice putting in eye drops, become comfortable touching around the eyes, and watch an instructional video before returning for training.
The lesson was clear: progress should move at the patient’s pace.
Why Collaboration Makes Better Eye Care Possible
The case also demonstrated the value of collaborative care. Dr. Wahl works alongside clinicians with different areas of expertise, allowing complex patients to benefit from multiple perspectives.
She also described identical 11-year-old twins with severe keratoconus who underwent corneal cross-linking and were being fit with rigid gas-permeable lenses. Their vision improved from approximately 20/200 or worse to around 20/30.
For young patients with complex visual conditions, specialty expertise, family involvement, and patience can create life-changing functional vision.
Building a Life Beyond Optometry
Outside the clinic, Dr. Wahl has built a completely different identity through Lisa Eats LA, a food-focused social media platform with more than 90,000 followers.
What began about a decade ago as a personal place to share restaurant photos gradually evolved into what she describes as almost a second job. Many of her followers do not even know she is an optometrist.
“We can be optometrists and get a lot of gratification out of our day job, but we also have enough time to do other side quests.”
From reviewing Disclosure Day to restoring vision with specialty contact lenses and exploring the Los Angeles food scene, Dr. Wahl’s story reinforces one message: the most interesting careers are often built by staying curious enough to follow where the next opportunity leads.
