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.

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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.

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When we think of implementing a specialty in our clinics, we often think of equipment we need to purchase, whether we have the patient base, and perhaps what type of training is needed. What often gets overlooked is the cost of seeing the patients who fall into the particular specialty.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Lyerly shares some of the key metrics, costs, and fees that are associated with getting a myopia management practice to become profitable. Some of the key details include:

- How to calculate chair cost

- Comparing average revenue to revenue from specialty care

- How to determine fees for specialty care

We also discuss what US doctors can expect with the introduction of the Stellest myopia management spectacle lenses. Having prescribed this technology to many dozens of children in Canada, Harbir shares his experience with the lens.

This episode will help doctors understand what important factors they should evaluate whether they are just starting out in myopia management or looking to elevate their existing myopia practice.

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You know those people who seem to master every chapter of their career evolution — effortlessly moving from launching a tech startup to leading a multi-location optometry empire? Dr. Henry Reis is one of them. But don’t be fooled by the accolades — his path was anything but effortless. In this deep-dive interview, we pull back the curtain on Dr. Reis’s remarkable journey, uncovering the power of reinvention, the grit behind a groundbreaking AI startup, and the secrets to building an optometry practice that truly puts patients first. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and maybe even nudged to step outside your own comfort zone.

Connect with Harbir:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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Elevating the patient journey is about more than just good care — it’s about crafting a seamless experience from the first online search to post-visit follow-up. Dr. Wes McCann, owner of Doctors Vision Group, shares practical strategies for optimizing every touchpoint in an optometry practice, from streamlining intake and cross-training staff to refining handovers between doctors and opticians. With insights on marketing, clinic flow, patient communication, and even community engagement, he reveals how intentional design of the patient journey can reduce bottlenecks, increase efficiency, and build stronger patient relationships. This conversation offers a roadmap for practitioners ready to transform patient care into a complete, memorable experience.

Connect with Harbir:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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

Specialty eyecare is one of the fastest-growing opportunities in optometry — and two trailblazers are showing how to make it your own. In this live interview, Dr. Ying Zhao shares how she turned a personal passion for myopia management into a thriving specialty practice, while Dr. Janice Luk reveals how she built expertise in dry eye and beauty-related ocular conditions by stepping outside her comfort zone. Together they discuss overcoming imposter syndrome, collaborating with other industries, leveraging social media to attract patients, and building a specialty that elevates optometry beyond refractions. Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned clinician, their insights will help you carve your own path into specialty care.

Connect with Harbir:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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

Business ownership in optometry can feel like a leap of faith—but it’s also one of the most rewarding paths a new graduate can take. In this live event, Dr. Michelle Mann and Dr. Sara Kirby share their contrasting journeys—one building a cold-start practice from the ground up, the other buying into an established clinic—and reveal the real-world lessons behind financing, staffing, equipment investment, adaptability, and finding joy in the process. Their insights demystify practice ownership, showing how passion, preparation, and the right partnerships can help you build a thriving business and a fulfilling career.

Connect with Harbir:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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

In the latest episode in the Scope Optimization series on The 20/20 Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Mark Eltis who is the President of the College of Optometrists of Ontario, a Director of the ABO, and well-renowned speaker/educator in the industry.

In the episode, Dr. Mark Eltis touches on variety of topics related scope modernization including:

• Optimizing scope is in the best interest of the public
• Optometrists are already equipped with the tools to perform many advanced procedures
• His experience with completing the Advanced Procedures Program at the University of Waterloo
• Why he believes it is an exciting time to be in optometry

Watch/listen to previous episodes in the Scope Optimization Series:

https://aboutmyeyes.com/scope-expansion/

Stay tuned for more episodes in the series.

Big thanks to the CAO for giving us the space to record these episodes during the Biennial Congress in Halifax this summer.

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From escaping Vietnam as a child to changing patients lives in his clinic, Dr. Vi Tu Banh has had some of the most unique life and work experiences you could imagine.

In this episode, Dr. Banh shares the stories of how his family was rescued from a deserted island in the Pacific by a few generous citizens in Canada and how that has shaped his mission to help a billion people.

Dr. Banh has been doing some incredible work helping patients who have been suffering from concussion, vertigo, and many other neurological conditions that have caused vision issues but applying prism and tints in unique ways.

Why (and how) do tiny amounts of prism change the way the brain works? How does color affect our emotion and ability to process information? How can we apply these methods in our own offices?

These are all questions that we explore in this lively conversation

Purchase 12 Elephants and Dragon:

https://a.co/d/88TIfxQ

Learn more about Dr. Banh:

https://uxbridgeoptometry.com/

Register for Dr. Banh and Peddle's Prism Prescribing course:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HxXz5Tu8YadQUJUGeHHruSJVoFcTZ5y5/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108690642443164677922&rtpof=true&sd=true

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To fully master your craft, you have to put the work in – and there is no such thing as overnight success. Harbir Sian chats with Dr. Julian Prosia, dry eye specialist and CEO/co-founder of Ophthalogix Canada, who emphasizes the need to spend “10,000 hours” to truly become a trusted expert in the medical field. He stresses the importance of continued education and collaboration for the optometric community to better serve their patients and communities. Dr. Julian also breaks down how to use amniotic membranes to treat dry eye and other related diseases while prioritizing accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

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