Dr. Will Flanary (Dr. Glaucomflecken)

Ophthalmologist and medical communicator

3Episodes

220 minAnalysed

2Topics

Last reviewed: May 29, 2026·Credential: MD·First indexed: May 29, 2026

About the expert

Practicing comprehensive ophthalmologist. Better known online as Dr. Glaucomflecken, where he uses physician comedy to teach medicine and to critique the US healthcare system. Survivor of cardiac arrest and two separate testicular cancers. Co-hosts the Knock Knock, Hi! podcast with his wife Kristin.

Why this matters

Practicing comprehensive ophthalmologist and physician-communicator who survived an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in his mid-thirties; tends to view medical events as family events, not patient-only events, and pushes for system-level support of co-survivors who respond to emergencies. Strongest on lived-experience framing, professional ethics in physician media, and naming opaque mechanics of the US healthcare system in plain language; less rigorous as a source on cardiology specifics or population-level recovery data, where his account is one informed personal case rather than a clinical evidence base.

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Topics covered

Life After Cardiac Arrest (Human)Flashes, Floaters & Retinal Detachment (Human)

Episodes with Dr. Will Flanary (Dr. Glaucomflecken)

What the Cardiac Arrest Anniversary Feels Like—For Both of Us | Glauc Talk

A major cardiac event can leave two people changed, not one. In many cases the survivor remembers little or nothing of the event, while the person who performed CPR carries the entire memory. Recognizing this co-survivor experience may shape how families ask for help and how clinicians follow up.

55 minHuman

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Flashes and Floaters: Retinal Tears & Detachments

A sudden shower of new floaters or lightning-like flashes in one eye can sometimes signal a retinal tear or detachment. The retina is the light-sensing wallpaper at the back of your eye, and when the gel inside the eye pulls on it, it can tear. Getting a dilated eye exam within 24 hours is the standard of care. Seek urgent medical attention sooner if you also notice a dark curtain, shadow, or missing area in your vision.

37 minHuman

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The Day Dr. Glaucomflecken Died

Surviving cardiac arrest is only one side of the story. The person who did the chest compressions, often a spouse or parent, may carry their own quiet trauma for years. The medical system rarely checks on them, and many do not know they should ask for help.

128 minHuman

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