Eye Own a Business

In this episode, industry experts Dr. Jessilin Quint and Dr. Janelle Davison share their insights on integrating new technologies in optometry practices. They discuss the impact of innovation on patient care, particularly through the lens of dry eye treatments and the new Precision7 contact lenses. The conversation covers strategies for convincing both staff and patients to adopt new technologies, emphasizing patient comfort, innovative treatment plans, and the importance of clear communication. The episode also touches on the benefits of the new Precision7 lenses, including its intuitive one-week disposable schedule, sustained comfort, and blue light filtering technology.    WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE Resources for Independent Optometrist! Follow Us on Instagram - EyeOwnABusiness If you are interested in more ways to help your business IDOC has great resources! 2023 Optometry Benchmarks Report Download How is Your Website Really Performing? Free Website Audit Case Study: See The Strategies Needed to Say Relevant in The Market

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo and Dr. Justin Kwan from CooperVision discuss how optometrists can effectively respond when parents say "not interested" to myopia management recommendations. They share insights gathered from a recent workshop with over 60 doctors and explore strategies to handle patient objections with empathy and clarity.     WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE Resources for Independent Optometrist! Follow Us on Instagram - EyeOwnABusiness If you are interested in more ways to help your business IDOC has great resources! 2023 Optometry Benchmarks Report Download How is Your Website Really Performing? Free Website Audit Case Study: See The Strategies Needed to Say Relevant in The Market

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Dr. Garrett Whitmore, a successful optometry practice owner who expanded from one to six locations, doubling revenue multiple times. Dr. Whitmore shares insights into the challenges of scaling a practice, emphasizing the importance of leadership, systems, culture, and marketing. He discusses the role of strategic planning and communication, offers strategies for maintaining consistency across multiple locations, and highlights the benefits of utilizing third-party services. The conversation also touches on effective partnership communication and the impact of structured marketing strategies on practice growth.  WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE Resources for Independent Optometrist! Follow Us on Instagram - EyeOwnABusiness If you are interested in more ways to help your business IDOC has great resources! 2023 Optometry Benchmarks Report Download How is Your Website Really Performing? Free Website Audit Case Study: See The Strategies Needed to Say Relevant in The Market

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo challenges traditional notions of business success by emphasizing the importance of embracing failure. Contrasting the usual focus on success strategies, Dr. Vargo advocates for taking risks and learning from failures, highlighting how an experimental mindset can drive growth and innovation in optometry practices. Through practical examples and industry insights, he illustrates how small, low-risk tests can provide valuable data and lead to significant improvements. He also emphasizes building a culture of experimentation within practices and encourages staff empowerment to test new ideas.  WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE Resources for Independent Optometrist! Follow Us on Instagram - EyeOwnABusiness If you are interested in more ways to help your business IDOC has great resources! 2023 Optometry Benchmarks Report Download How is Your Website Really Performing? Free Website Audit Case Study: See The Strategies Needed to Say Relevant in The Market

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo speaks with Johann Van Zyl, Business Development Manager at Younger Optics. They discuss the vital role of second pair sales in the profitability of independent optical practices. Johan shares insights on effective communication strategies for both doctors and opticians, the importance of understanding patient needs, and how independent practices can learn from the success of corporate optometry. They also explore the role of discounts, the significance of dedicated sunwear sections, and how to educate patients about specialty lenses to enhance their visual experience.    Find more information about how IDOC can help grow your practice at Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Dr. Allie Markowski, an optometrist specializing in migraine management using Avulux lenses. Dr. Markowski shares her journey of incorporating this technology to help patients suffering from migraines and light sensitivity, drawing from her own experience as a migraine sufferer. The discussion covers how to effectively integrate a migraine subspecialty into an optometry practice, emphasizing patient communication, staff training, and the potential for both improved patient outcomes and practice profitability. The episode highlights the benefits of differentiating a practice through specialized care and offers insights on how to get started with Avulux lenses.

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Bart Higley, an IDOC member and owner of New England Eyeworks, to explore the story of his highly successful optometry practice. Dr. Higley shares insights on how he has never accepted vision plans, highlighting the benefits of operating a cash-pay model, focusing on quality of care, and emphasizing the importance of brand and patient experience. The discussion touches on metrics, marketing strategies, and managing patient expectations, offering valuable advice for practice owners contemplating a similar path.    Learn more about how IDOC can help your practice at Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

In this episode, special guest Dr. Scott Moscow, Clinical Director at Roswell Eye Clinic, shares insights on preventing contact lens dropouts and reigniting interest in contact lenses among patients. The discussion covers the benefits of contact lenses for both patients and practices, methods to increase contact lens capture rates, and the importance of consistent staff training. The episode also explores how to address common patient complaints about contact lenses, the business impact of fitting more patients with contact lenses, and innovative strategies for effectively presenting contact lenses to patients.    Learn more at Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Robert Rivera from Shamir about their advanced lens technology aimed at enhancing driving safety and comfort. Rivera, who has extensive experience in optics, explains the features of Shamir’s Driver Intelligence lenses, including special nighttime myopia correction and advanced AR coating to reduce visual noise. They discuss how these specialty lenses can differentiate optical practices and drive sales by addressing specific needs of patients. Rivera emphasizes the importance of product knowledge and patient engagement, suggesting methods for opticians and optometrists to introduce and market these lenses effectively.     Learn more about IDOC: Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Norm Kester, founder of the outdoor lifestyle brand RLVNT. Launched in 2019, RLVNT specializes in eyewear designed to meet the unique needs of outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and golf. Norm discusses the unmet demand in the market for specialized eyewear and how his products fill that gap. The conversation covers relevant statistics about the outdoor activity market, the innovative features of their eyewear, including UV and screen-view technology, and the importance of understanding and catering to patients' passions. The episode concludes with recommendations on how optometry practices can integrate and promote specialized eyewear solutions to better serve their patients.  Learn more at Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

In this episode, host Dr. Steve Vargo dives into the intricacies of digital advertising, specifically focusing on Google Ads, to help practice owners increase visibility and attract more patients. Dr. Vargo is joined by Onyé Anyanwu, Senior Marketing Strategist at IDOC, who offers detailed insights into creating effective Google Ads campaigns. Key topics include keyword research, optimizing ad copy, tracking performance metrics, and understanding the future trends like AI in digital marketing. This episode is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their practice’s marketing strategies.    Learn more about Optometry Marketing Services: https://optometrymarketingservices.com/

In this episode with Dr. Shane Swatts of Eastern Virginia Eye Associates and Riley Azevedo, marketing manager at Science Based Health, the focus is on helping practice owners develop successful dry eye specialties without significant upfront investments. Dr. Swatts discusses his diverse career, including working with professional athletes and his transition to specializing in dry eye treatments. Emphasizing the importance of foundational home therapy, Dr. Swatts talks about practical strategies like using a slit lamp, stains, and minimal but effective tools like meibography and slit lamp cameras for diagnosing and treating dry eye. Riley Azevedo contributes insights on integrating nutraceuticals and highlights the necessity of effective internal branding and marketing. Both guests underscore the importance of patient education, persistent follow-ups, and setting realistic expectations for treatments. The episode also touches on the future of dry eye management, emphasizing the roles of AI and proactive strategies in enhancing patient care.    Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/idocnet/   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IDOC.OptometricAlliance   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/idoc     Interested in an optometry specialty? Join our community FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/idocspecialty     Find more information about how IDOC can help your practice: Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

Dr. Susan Elizondo shares her journey of transforming her practice into a private pay model and focusing on high-end optical services. By dropping insurance plans and offering a premium experience, she has increased her revenue per patient and created a practice that aligns with her values and goals.  Learn more about IDOC: Optometry Practice Management & Alliance | IDOC

Artificial intelligence can’t replace eyecare providers (not yet anyway), but it can certainly make our work lives easier. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on ChatGPT – a remarkable tool that harnesses AI to generate human-like text, images, and conversational dialogue. We'll share specific examples of how ChatGPT can simplify tasks and workflows in an eyecare practice, potentially saving you countless hours of work each week.   The future is here! With the help of AI technology, you can take working smarter, not harder, to a new level.

Nathan Hayes, the director of financial services at IDOC, discusses the importance of comparing practice financials to other practices. He explains how the Books and Benchmarks service can provide accurate and reliable data to help practice owners make informed decisions about their business.  Download the report here: https://bit.ly/44HRX0V

Technology will continue to disrupt the eye care profession. This poses both opportunities and threats for ECPs. In this episode with Travis Beaven, Alcon’s Global Vice President of Vision Care Digital Health, we discuss the role technology will play in the future of eye care.  A few things we discuss are which technologies will have the greatest impact on the eye care profession, artificial intelligence, adapting to change, privacy issues, and much more!    While change and disruption can be unsettling, it also opens the door for innovation and new opportunities that improve the experience for both provider and patient.   Learn more about MARLO: https://home.meetmarlo.com/

Managing billing operations has historically been one of the most challenging tasks of practice ownership. In this episode we explore the reasons for this, how practices are handling (or not handling) these challenges, and the evolving role of technology in billing. One of the more exciting platforms to hit the market is OneSpot, a centralized digital hub to streamline billing processes. OneSpot is productivity software for your insurance biller. The tool helps billers organize, manage, track, and resolve outstanding insurance claims. OneSpot also gives eyecare practice owners and managers visibility into their insurance billing operations, something that the PMS/EHR has not been able to do. Tune in to gain insights into the future of billing and the role OneSpot plays in shaping it.

Resistance to a sale is often countered with additional patient education, assuming that more information will lower the barrier to a sale. In reality, many of our purchase decisions are not driven by what we KNOW about something, they’re driven by what we FEEL about something.   Fear, excitement, anticipation, trust, safety, confusion, curiosity, and certainty are some examples of emotions that influence our purchase decisions. Research shows the overwhelming majority of our decisions are primarily driven by emotions, not logic.  In this episode we explore some of the not so obvious reasons people resist making a purchase, along with strategies to counter these situations.

In this episode, Selin Olmsted (founder of Selin Olmsted Studio) shares her expertise on a topic many ODs marginalize. Eyewear fashion and design!  A few things we discuss are insights on the latest eyewear trends, factors to consider when selecting frames, options for implementing private label, and adapting to future trends.  Doctors know a lot about the clinical side of eye care. Patients want great vision and healthy eyes, but don’t neglect something that is also very important to your patients… Looking good!  More about Selin and her company https://www.selinolmsted.com/

In this episode, Sharon Carter shares her strategies for getting “unstuck” and taking your practice to the next level.   We cover a lot of reasons practices fail to reach their full potential and how to put strategies in place to maintain growth. Spoiler alert! You can’t do this alone. After a certain point, designating a leadership team is necessary. However, those efforts can be sabotaged by putting the wrong people in these roles. It’s also possible that you have the right people with the right attributes, but your approach to promotion and development sets them up for failure.  What’s the best way to track success? Numbers! In Sharon’s words, “The numbers don’t lie.” In this interview we cover the importance of KPI’s (key performance indicators), which KPI’s to track, and how to hold employees accountable for outcomes.  Sharon is the owner of ECOC Optometric Consulting. Learn more about her company here: https://ecoc.biz/