Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with Dr. Fallon Patel, Toronto optometrist, owner of five LensCrafters sublease clinics, leader of a 50-person team, and creator of the upcoming AI platform Pulse IQ Solutions.

This conversation goes far beyond clinical care. Dr. Patel shares how she evolved from a full-time clinician to a true business leader—navigating chaos, hiring for culture, developing associate doctors, and building a thriving myopia management program across multiple locations.

She opens up about the mindset shifts that changed her career, the power of coaching, why empathy matters in leadership, and how stepping out of the exam lane allowed her practices to grow. Whether you’re an associate dreaming of ownership or a seasoned OD managing a team, this episode is packed with real-world wisdom.

Key Takeaways

1. You Can’t Scale From the Exam Lane

Growth required Fallon to step back from seeing patients every day. Leadership demands time for strategy, people development, and systems—not just more clinical hours.

2. Hire for Behavior, Not Experience

Skills can be trained; mindset cannot. Fallon hires based on ownership, accountability, adaptability, and respect rather than years on a résumé.

3. Culture Is What You Tolerate

Protect your A-players. Allowing one toxic team member can erode morale faster than any marketing strategy can fix.

4. Myopia Management Requires Belief First

Doctors need to experience success personally before fully adopting it. Start simple—one lens, one approach—and build confidence over time.

5. Leadership Starts With Personal Development

Tactics didn’t move her business—mindset did. Real growth began when Fallon invested in coaching and inner work.

6. Communication Fuels Momentum

Weekly meetings, Slack channels, and constant vision sharing keep large teams aligned across multiple locations.

7. AI Will Be the Next Practice Partner

Pulse IQ Solutions aims to turn business data into guided action for teams—training, SOPs, and performance insights in one hub.

Memorable Quotes

“If you want your external world to improve, you have to start with yourself and work internally.”

“People think working more days makes more money—but everything falls apart when you’re in the lane five days a week.”

“Hire slow, fire fast—experience can be trained; behavior cannot.”

“Leadership is not that employees work for you. It’s that you work for your employees.”

“Something is better than nothing—just pick one myopia option and start.”

“Opportunities show up like luck, but only if you’ve prepared for them.”

Topics We Cover

• Transitioning from clinician → leader
• Managing 5 clinics and 20 associate ODs
• Creating accountability without losing empathy
• Building myopia management across a team
• Using metrics to guide culture
• Why coaching changed everything
• Social media as a recruitment tool
• Inside Pulse IQ Solutions and AI for ECPs

About Our Guest – Dr. Fallon Patel

• Owner of 5 LensCrafters sublease clinics in the Toronto area
• Leads a team of 50+ staff including 20 optometrists
• Passionate about myopia management & leadership development
• Host of the Optical Accelerator Series on Optical Prism
• Founder of Pulse IQ Solutions, an AI-driven platform for ECP operations
• Wife and mother of two

Connect with Dr. Fallon Patel

• Instagram: @EyeDocFallon
• LinkedIn: Dr. Fallon Patel
• Pulse IQ Waitlist: pulseIQsolutions.com
• Optical Accelerator Series: opticalprism.ca

The Netflix show Stranger Things has become a global cultural phenomenon. In this solo Eye2Eye episode, Dr. Harbir Sian shares an unexpected but powerful lesson inspired by Stranger Things.

But the lesson learned may not be what you might expect. Fans of the show may expect something related to the comradery exemplified by all the friends fighting evil together.

Instead, using the resurgence of Kate Bush’s iconic song Running Up That Hill as a real-world case study, Harbir reflects on the importance of patience, consistency, and trusting that effort often pays off on a timeline we can’t predict.

This episode isn’t about TV shows or pop culture—it’s about doing the work, taking the shot, owning your value, and recognizing that impact and success can arrive long after the work is done.

Key Takeaways for Listeners

1. Your timing is not the universe’s timing

You may put in years of effort before seeing results—but that doesn’t mean the work wasn’t worth it.

2. Consistent effort compounds, even when it feels invisible

Kate Bush’s decades-old song became a global hit 40 years later. Impact doesn’t always come immediately.

3. You miss every opportunity you never try for

Progress only happens when you take the shot—publish the content, start the project, have the conversation.

4. Own what makes you different

Your personality, perspective, and voice are assets. Lean into them instead of blending in.

5. Own your work—literally and figuratively

Know your value, protect your rights, and charge appropriately so you can show up fully.

Key Quotes from the Episode

“Your timing, my timing, is not the same as the universe’s timing.”

“If we don’t try, if we don’t put out that content, we’ll never achieve that goal.”

“Kate Bush made more money 40 years later than she did when the song first came out.”

“Own your uniqueness—lean into it and leverage it.”

“If you’re good at something, don’t do it for free.”

“You might already be planting the seeds for something you haven’t even imagined yet.”

Who This Episode Is For

• Optometrists and healthcare professionals building long-term careers
• Entrepreneurs frustrated by slow or delayed growth
• Creators and leaders questioning whether their effort is “worth it”
• Anyone needing motivation to keep going—even when results aren’t visible yet

Final Thought

This episode is a reminder that meaningful success often arrives quietly, unexpectedly, and much later than planned—but only if you’re willing to keep showing up.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

Marketing an optometry practice is evolving faster than ever—and the strategies that worked even a year ago may no longer be enough.

In this episode of The 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian welcomes back digital marketing expert Tyler Kemp for a timely conversation on what practice owners need to understand about marketing heading into 2026.

They break down how Google’s AI-driven search updates have reshaped SEO, why awareness marketing is still massively undervalued in eye care, how AI tools like ChatGPT are changing patient search behavior, and why blending digital with traditional marketing may be one of the biggest growth opportunities for independent practices.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by algorithms, AI, and where to spend your marketing dollars, this episode brings clarity and practical direction.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Google’s AI updates are rewarding quality, hyper-local content
• Why patients search differently on AI tools versus Google
• The growing influence of Google reviews on both patients and AI-generated summaries
• Why awareness marketing matters more than “book now” ads alone
• How patient attrition impacts growth—and why retention isn’t enough
• Why direct mail is making a surprising comeback when paired with digital ads
• How independent practices can compete without massive marketing budgets

Key Takeaways

• AI hasn’t replaced Google—it’s made good Google content more important
• Patients choose practices they recognize and trust
• Most potential patients are in the awareness stage, not ready to book
• Google reviews now influence both visibility and credibility
• Sustainable growth requires balancing retention, awareness, and conversion

Memorable Quotes

• “People choose who they trust—and they trust who they know.”
• “If patients have never heard of you, they’re not choosing you.”
• “Awareness is the most underutilized part of the marketing funnel in eye care.”

About the Guest

Tyler Kemp is a seasoned digital marketer with over 10 years of experience, specializing in marketing for the eye care industry. Based in Calgary, he has spent the past six years with Marketing4ECPs, helping optometry practices across North America build patient-centred strategies that drive real results. He also shares marketing insights on Instagram at @TyTalksMarketing and co-hosts 4 The Record, a podcast powered by Marketing4ECPs.

Call to Action

If this episode helped you rethink your marketing strategy, share it with a colleague, post it on social media, and leave a review to help more optometrists find the show.

In the first episode of 2026, Dr. Harbir Sian reflects on the past year and shares six powerful lessons he’s intentionally bringing forward into the year ahead. Drawing from personal experience, professional growth, and the continued evolution of the optometry profession, this episode is a thoughtful reset for anyone looking to start the year with clarity, purpose, and momentum.

From the importance of consistency and avoiding complacency, to learning how to say no, value your time, and surround yourself with the right people, this episode is equal parts practical and reflective. Whether 2025 felt like a year you’re glad to leave behind or one you want to build on, these lessons are designed to help you move into 2026 with intention.

🧠 The Six Lessons

1️⃣ Consistency Is King

Big results rarely come from short bursts of effort. Whether it’s fitness, finances, content creation, or business growth, long-term consistency compounds in powerful ways.

2️⃣ Make the Most of Every Day

Rather than living each day like it’s your last, live it like it’s a day you’ll repeat forever. Small daily actions and meaningful interactions add up over time.

3️⃣ Avoid Complacency (The “Velvet Rut”)

Comfort can be deceptive. Growth often stalls not when things are bad, but when they’re “good enough.” The key is recognizing when comfort is holding you back.

4️⃣ Learn to Say No

As opportunities grow, focus becomes essential. If it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s probably a no. Time is your most valuable currency—spend it intentionally.

5️⃣ Be Intentional with Who You Spend Time With

Energy matters. The people you surround yourself with influence your mindset, ambition, and growth more than you realize.

6️⃣ Value Yourself — and the Profession

From charging appropriately for your expertise to advocating for optometry at a broader level, valuing yourself is foundational to sustainable success.

🎧 Why You Should Listen

• If you’re reflecting on the year that was and planning the year ahead
• If you’re feeling busy but not always fulfilled
• If you want practical, grounded insights without the hype
• If you care about personal growth and the future of optometry

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

In this episode of The 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with internationally respected myopia management expert Dr. Patrick Simard for a wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation recorded live at the OSI National Summit in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Dr. Simard—author, clinician, researcher, educator, and practice owner—shares his journey from associate to partner, and from primary care optometry to full-time specialty practice. With a rare blend of clinical depth and business insight, he offers practical guidance on ownership, long-term succession planning, and how independent optometrists can grow without selling out.

The discussion then dives deep into myopia management, from entry-level strategies to cutting-edge developments. Dr. Simard explains why there is no safe level of myopia, why early and even pre-myopia intervention matters, and what’s coming next in orthokeratology, optics, and pharmaceutical treatments.

This episode is packed with actionable advice, mindset shifts, and future-focused insights for optometrists interested in specialty care, business growth, and preserving independence.

🧠 5 Important Learning Points

1. There Is No “Safe” Myopia
2. Dr. Simard emphasizes that even low levels of myopia in young children carry long-term risk, reframing myopia as a disease that requires earlier and more proactive intervention.
3. You Don’t Need to Master Everything to Start Myopia Management
4. Optometrists can begin with one modality they’re comfortable with and build their toolbox over time—waiting for perfection only delays patient care.
5. Entrepreneurial Mindset Matters in Practice Ownership
6. Ambition, initiative, and a willingness to engage beyond the exam room are key traits that turn associates into future partners and help clinics grow sustainably.
7. Pre-Myopia Is the Next Frontier
8. Emerging evidence supports intervening even before myopia develops, using tools like atropine or optical strategies to delay onset and reduce progression risk.
9. Independence Is a Long-Term Strategy, Not an Accident
10. Dr. Simard highlights how thoughtful partnership structures, early succession planning, and collaboration can keep practices independent and thriving for decades.

💬 5 Key Quotes

“There is no safe level of myopia. A nine-year-old at minus one is not normal.”

“You don’t need to master the entire toolbox—just start with the one you feel comfortable with.”

“Giving up a piece of the pie doesn’t mean making less money. A bigger pie benefits everyone.”

“Specialists don’t compete—they collaborate.”

“If you hesitate to start myopia management, now is the right time to jump in.”

👤 About the Guest

Dr. Patrick Simard is a graduate of the Université de Montréal, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Vision Science and later an MBA from HEC Montréal. He is a Fellow of multiple international academies, a Diplomate of the AAO (CCLRT), a clinical instructor and lecturer since 2002, and a co-owner of Clinique d’Optométrie Bélanger. His clinical and research interests include myopia control, orthokeratology, scleral lenses, and aberrometry. He is also a co-holder of a patent for a contact lens design aimed at controlling myopia and axial elongation.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

In this episode, Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with Nancy Dewald — renowned leadership consultant, owner of Lead Up Training & Consulting, consultant with Kleinman Performance Partners, and named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optometry.

Nancy brings her extensive experience in staff development, leadership, and organizational culture to break down two major topics every clinic owner should understand:

1. The Working Genius framework — a simple, powerful way to understand team strengths and improve implementation.
2. Blending generations in the workplace — strategies to reduce conflict, build empathy, and support a stronger, more connected team.

⭐ Key Topics Discussed

1. The Working Genius Model

• Why burnout is often not “too much work” but the wrong type of work.
• The six Working Geniuses — Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity — and how every task or project requires all six.
• How identifying your team’s geniuses prevents false starts, failed initiatives, and implementation bottlenecks.
• Using team maps to see missing strengths and make better hiring decisions.
• Real-world insights on how certain genius combinations drive momentum, while others can unintentionally stall progress.

2. Avoiding Burnout Through Alignment

• Ensuring team members are doing work that aligns with their strengths.
• Why tasks in your “frustration zone” drain your energy and how to rebalance your workload.
• When to delegate, outsource, or strategically schedule difficult tasks.

3. Leadership Essentials

• Why clear expectations are the most commonly missed leadership skill.
• How leaders can build more effective teams by understanding roles, gaps, and what each person needs to succeed.
• Lessons from Patrick Lencioni’s Five Behaviors of a Team: trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, results.

4. Blending Generations in the Workplace

• Why “we are more alike than we are different” — and how focusing on differences harms teams.
• Understanding values and experiences that shape Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
• The importance of empathy, curiosity, and individualized support.
• Practical adjustments clinics can make to support different generations (communication styles, flexibility, additional benefits, etc.).

💬 Key Quotes from the Episode

• “Burnout really isn’t about doing too much work — it’s about doing the wrong type of work.” — Nancy
• “When we’re working in our geniuses, we’re more effective, the team is more productive, and we can get things done.” — Nancy
• “If things are going well, do we really need Wonder?”
• “Yes — while Walmart was trying to get more people into their parking lot, Amazon was bringing things to their door.”* — Nancy
• “Just because you're the leader doesn’t mean you have to have all the answers.” — Nancy
• “We tend to focus on the 1% that makes us different instead of the 99% that makes us the same.” — Nancy
• “At the end of the day, we’re human. We’re wired for connection. We all want to be seen.” — Nancy
• “When you hired them, they showed up and were a great employee. If something has changed, it’s not always them.” — Nancy

🎧 Why This Episode Matters

If you’re a clinic owner, manager, or anyone trying to lead a high-performing optometry team, this episode offers:

• A structured roadmap to implement ideas more successfully
• Tools to reduce burnout across your clinic
• A deeper understanding of how different generations think and work
• Strategies to build culture, improve communication, and get results

Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership skills or foster a more unified team, Nancy’s insights offer clear, actionable takeaways you can implement immediately.

Connect with Nancy:

https://www.leaduptrainingandconsulting.ca/about-me

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-dewald-69267112/

In this episode of The 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian reconnects with returning guest and dry-eye expert Dr. Claudine Courey, recorded live at the OSI Summit at White Oaks Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The conversation is completely unscripted — a candid mix of clinical pearls, entrepreneurial insight, and authentic reflections on optometry, business, and life.

Dr. Courey shares the latest from Eye Drop Shop, including its partnership with OSI and the launch of Rinsada, a new in-office ocular-surface rinse now available in Canada. They discuss how Eye Drop Shop empowers optometrists to retail dry-eye and clean-beauty products online without carrying inventory, creating new revenue streams and patient touch points.

The conversation flows into business mindset, patient education, and the difference between selling and helping. Harbir and Claudine also swap perspectives on personal growth, risk-taking, and what it means to build an authentic optometry brand. The episode closes on themes of humility, gratitude, and balance — with Harbir reflecting on the podcast’s 200-episode journey and Claudine reminding us that everything — good or bad — is temporary.

Key Topics

• Partnership between Eye Drop Shop and OSI Group
• Launch of Rinsada, a new in-office saline flush treatment for allergy and debris removal
• Empowering ODs through e-commerce and passive-income tools (like Auto)
• The importance of patient touch points and staying top-of-mind online
• Shifting from “selling” to presenting solutions
• Harbir’s behind-the-scenes story of how The 2020 Podcast began
• Handling tough industry conversations and asking hard questions
• Mindset: accountability, resilience, and self-leadership in optometry
• Work-life balance, gratitude, and the role of support systems

Featured Guests

• Dr. Claudine Courey, Optometrist & Founder of Eye Drop Shop (Montreal, QC)
• Dr. Harbir Sian, Optometrist, Speaker, Host of The 20/20 Podcast

Resources Mentioned

• Eye Drop Shop — dry-eye & clean-beauty products for clinics and patients
• Rinsada — new in-office ocular-surface rinse treatment
• OSI Group — Optometric Services Inc. network
• Otto Optics — integrated e-commerce solution for ODs

Quotable Moments

“We’re not selling — we’re giving patients solutions to their problems.” — Dr. Claudine Courey

“If it’s all my fault, it’s also all up to me to fix it.” — Dr. Harbir Sian

“Everything is temporary — whether it’s good or bad.” — Dr. Claudine Courey

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

During Summer 2025, the Contact Lens Institute (CLI) conducted an extensive survey among Canadian and U.S. residents that indicated substantial opportunity for increased contact lens adoption by Gen Z, as well as identifying purchase drivers that the eye care community can employ to encourage use.

The data showed an eight percent difference in Gen Z contact lens wear (35%) compared to Millennials (43%), with Gen X (22%) close to historic norms. The eight-point Gen Z-to-Millennial gap represents considerable unmet upside in patient volumes, practice revenue, and wearer lifestyle benefits.

In an attempt to understand how Gen Z may be distinctive from older populations when it comes to choosing a product or service, CLI also asked respondents to indicate the importance of eight values-centered factors in their decision-making, whether for eye care or otherwise. Three values ranked highest across all ages: affordability (85-89%), convenience of purchase (69-73%), and speed to obtain the product (66-71%). A remarkable Gen Z breakout was social responsibility, which influences their decision making substantially more than Gen X.

At Vision Expo West this September, a panel of CLI Visionaries including Andrew Bruce, Dr. Jade Coats, and Jennifer Seymour discussed some of these important preliminary findings and what they mean for how practice teams and retailers can shape their communications with current and potential patients alike.

About the speakers:

Andrew Bruce, LDO, ABOM, NCLEM, FCLSA, is a licensed master optician and contact lens fitting specialist in Vancouver, Washington, and founder of ASB Opticianry Education Services.

Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, is a nationally recognized optometrist from Bentonville, Arkansas, with clinical expertise in ocular surface disease, dry eye management, contact lenses, and perioperative care for premium cataract and refractive surgery.

Jennifer Seymour, LDO, FCLSA, NCLEM, ABO-AC, AAS, is a Nevada Licensed Dispensing Optician, ABO-AC and NCLE-AC nationally certified. Her passion for fitting contact lenses came during her schooling for licensure, learning how contact lenses change patients’ lives.

Learn more about the Contact Lens Institute and its Next Gen data:

https://www.contactlensinstitute.org/resources/see-tomorrow/shiftingfocusgenz/

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

IDOC, the largest independently owned alliance of independent optometrists in the United States.

In this episode, I chat with Dave Brown who is the CEO & President of IDOC. Since joining IDOC in 2014 and becoming CEO shortly thereafter, Dave has led IDOC through transformative growth–expanding its offerings, deepening member value, and advancing the organization’s mission to help independent optometrists live the practice of their dreams.

In this episode, we discuss the big rebrand the organization has just gone through. Dave shares the various resources and services that IDOC provides its members. We also discuss the recent investment that IDOC received investment from Doug and Mary Perkins who are the founders of Specsavers. I took a minute to ask Dave about how this investment will impact the future of IDOC and potentially the future of the profession in the US.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/

This year has big year for conversations regarding scope modernization in Canada (and on The 20/20 Podcast!).

We have had many guests and experts from across the country throughout the year sharing their insights on why scope modernization is important for the public and for optometry.

Alberta has long been the province that has lead the way in terms of scope in Canada. And once again, optometric leadership in Alberta is knocking on the door of broadening their scope and helping to set a new precedent in Canada.

In this episode, Dr. Michelle Duke, President of the Alberta College of Optometrists, discusses what Alberta optometry is asking for in their current scope proposal and the potential new optometry school in Alberta.

In recent weeks, Adriana LaGrange, Alberta's Health Minister tweeted that she is looking forward to finalizing an agreement with the Alberta College that would ensure they have the education and training required to provide "additional services". It will be exciting to see what changes are on the horizon in Alberta.

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review & share! http://www.aboutmyeyes.com/podcast/