In this episode recorded live at Vision Expo in Orlando, Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with two standout Canadian optometrists—Dr. Shaminder Dhaliwal and Dr. Kulvir Singh—for a candid, high-value conversation on building a modern optometry career.

This episode is packed with insight for both new grads and seasoned practitioners, covering everything from business ownership to developing a niche, getting involved in industry, and building influence in the profession.

Dr. Dhaliwal shares his journey into private practice ownership, including the realities of taking risks, navigating uncertainty, and learning on the fly. He emphasizes that ownership is not the only path to success—and that fulfillment comes from aligning your career with what truly matters to you.

Dr. Singh dives into how he built a specialty in dry eye, highlighting the importance of networking, learning from others’ mistakes, and taking small, consistent steps toward expertise. He reinforces that becoming “the expert” doesn’t start with equipment—it starts with intention and curiosity.

A major theme throughout the episode is the power of relationships—with colleagues, mentors, and industry partners. The conversation challenges the common perception of industry as purely transactional, reframing it instead as collaborative, educational, and full of opportunity.

Ultimately, this episode is about taking action—whether that’s starting a business, building a niche, creating content, or simply having your first conversation with someone in the field. The message is clear: you don’t need to have everything figured out—you just need to start.

Key Highlights

1. There is no single “right” path in optometry

Ownership, associateship, industry, and education are all valid paths

Success comes from aligning your career with what you actually want

Don’t let external pressure dictate your decisions

2. Networking is the foundation of growth

Career-defining opportunities often come from conversations, not courses

“Have a coffee” is more valuable than passive shadowing

One connection can change your entire trajectory

3. Start before you feel ready

There is no perfect timing—action creates clarity

Whether it’s business ownership or building a niche, just begin

Small steps build confidence and momentum

4. Learn faster by leveraging others’ experience

Learning from others’ mistakes accelerates growth

Conferences = “hallway CE” and real-world insights

Every expert does things differently—find your own lane

5. Build relationships with industry (authentically)

Industry partnerships open doors to opportunities and innovation

Early exposure to trends and products gives you an edge

Authenticity is key—only align with what you truly believe in

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

Recorded live at Vision Expo in Orlando, this episode of The 20/20 Podcast features a powerful and insightful conversation with Dr. Faten Edris—Miami-based optometrist, owner of eight clinics, and a leading voice in reshaping modern optometry.

Dr. Edris shares her perspective on one of the biggest challenges facing optometry today: the disconnect between clinicians and decision-makers in industry. She emphasizes the importance of optometrists having a seat at the table to influence how the profession evolves—particularly when it comes to scope of practice, reimbursement, and public perception.

The conversation dives deep into how optometrists can move beyond the outdated image of “glasses and contacts” and fully embrace their role as primary eye care providers. Dr. Edris highlights the need to shift both patient expectations and insurance models to better reflect the medical care optometrists provide.

From a business standpoint, she offers practical insights into successfully implementing new technologies in practice—stressing that systems, training, and team alignment are far more important than simply purchasing equipment. Her approach blends clinical excellence with strong operational strategy, showing how growth can be both patient-centered and profitable.

Looking ahead, Dr. Edris shares her excitement (and caution) about emerging trends like AI, telemedicine, and diagnostic kiosks. Rather than fearing disruption, she encourages optometrists to embrace innovation and actively shape how these technologies integrate into patient care.

This episode is ultimately about leadership, ownership, and stepping into the future of optometry with intention.

Key Highlights & Timestamps

• [00:01:20] – Dr. Edris’ mission: breaking generational barriers in optometry
• [00:02:50] – The biggest pain point: optometrists not having a seat at the table
• [00:04:00] – Why optometry must shift beyond “glasses & contacts”
• [00:06:00] – The compensation challenge and its impact on patient care
• [00:09:00] – Early career struggles and developing a growth mindset
• [00:11:30] – Why most clinics fail with new technology implementation
• [00:12:30] – Aligning your team and doctors for successful adoption
• [00:14:00] – Using data and performance metrics to drive growth
• [00:16:00] – Systems and protocols > equipment
• [00:17:40] – The future of optometry: AI, kiosks, and disruption
• [00:20:30] – Why innovation should be embraced, not feared
• [00:22:00] – Personal advice: navigating difficult seasons in life
• [00:23:10] – Hard work vs. luck—and the reality of failure behind success

Key Takeaways

• Optometrists must actively engage with industry to shape the future of the profession
• The perception of optometry needs to evolve toward full-scope medical care
• Proper compensation is essential to delivering high-quality patient care
• Successful implementation of new services requires systems, training, and team alignment
• Data and transparency can drive accountability and growth within practices
• AI and automation are coming—optometry must adapt, not resist
• True success is built on resilience, failure, and consistent effort—not luck

 Memorable Quotes

“We weren’t sitting at the table… and by the time decisions were made, it was too late.”

“Our profession has been shaped as glasses and contacts—and we need to change that.”

“If you always do right by the patient, you will make a difference.”

“You can buy equipment—but if you don’t implement it properly, it will just collect dust.”

“Systems and protocols are more important than the equipment itself.”

“We can’t be afraid of change—we have to be part of it.”

“You will make it through the darkness into the light.”

“People call it luck—but they don’t see the failures behind the success.”

Connect with Dr. Faten Edris

• Instagram: @blinkingowleyecare
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faten-edris-o-d-5934b43/

In this solo Eye2Eye episode, Dr. Harbir Sian shares reflections from a recent three-week family trip to India—his first time visiting the country his parents once called home. What started as a long-overdue trip quickly became something deeper: a reset, a perspective shift, and an ongoing internal conversation about gratitude, presence, and what it really means to have enough.

From walking through the village where his father grew up, to unplugging from the daily grind of clinic life and business, this episode is a candid and vulnerable look at the tension many of us feel—between ambition and contentment, growth and gratitude.

At the heart of the episode is a powerful realization: while we often chase a future version of success, we may already be living a life we once dreamed of.

Episode Highlights

• A firsthand look at how travel—especially to places rooted in your family history—can reshape perspective
• The unexpected power of unplugging from work, metrics, and constant connectivity
• Why gratitude often becomes most clear when we step outside our everyday environment
• Observations of community, simplicity, and contentment in developing regions
• The internal struggle between ambition and the feeling of “enough”
• A powerful retelling of the businessman and the fisherman parable—and why it hits differently now

A Story That Stuck

This episode revisits the classic parable of the businessman and the fisherman—a story that perfectly captures the tension between striving for more and appreciating what already exists.

We spend years building a life we hope will bring us peace… only to realize that peace was available to us all along.

Enjoying the Podcast?

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Share it with a friend or colleague
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• Leave a review to help us reach more of the optometry community

This milestone episode marks the first COPE-approved CE activity offered through The 20/20 Podcast in partnership with the New England College of Optometry. Dr. Harbir Sian presents his signature lecture on “The Business of Myopia,” focusing not on clinical refraction techniques, but on the real-world systems required to deliver effective myopia management in everyday practice.

Dr. Sian reframes myopia as an ocular disease with a refractive component and outlines how optometrists must move beyond simple correction toward comprehensive, lifelong management. The lecture walks listeners through the entire patient experience—from online discovery and front-desk scripting to consultation design, equipment decisions, treatment selection, documentation, pricing, and marketing.

Whether you are just starting with myopia control or refining an established program, this episode provides a practical blueprint for building a scalable, profitable, and patient-centered myopia service.

Key Takeaways

• Think Beyond Correction → Think Management

Myopia must be treated as an ocular disease, not just a refractive error. True management spans prevention, treatment, monitoring, and lifelong eye health.

• The Patient Journey Starts Before the Exam

Websites, phone scripting, intake forms, and in-office messaging determine whether families engage in myopia care before the doctor ever enters the room.

• Start Small, Build Systems First

Begin with one treatment modality and focus on protocols, staff training, and communication tools before expanding to multiple options.

• Axial Length Is the Critical Metric

Just as IOP guides glaucoma care, axial length measurement is essential for tracking myopia progression and treatment success.

• Compliance Drives Outcomes

The “best” therapy is the one the child will actually use—treatment selection must be individualized around lifestyle, motivation, and family preferences.

How to Earn Your CE Credit

Listen to the full episode on your preferred platform.

Visit: https://neco.pdx.catalog.canvaslms.com/

Register for the course and complete the short quiz.

Download your COPE certificate for 1 hour of CE credit.

Connect with Harbir:

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

In this candid conversation, Joseph Croft pulls back the curtain on how Gunnar Optiks emerged from clinical research rather than marketing hype. He describes how early collaboration with optometric researchers highlighted the real drivers of digital eye strain—dramatic reductions in blink rate, tear film evaporation, accommodative lag after prolonged screen use, and loss of contrast—long before “blue light glasses” became a consumer buzzword. Croft explains the engineering decisions behind Gunnar’s high-base, close-fit lens geometry designed to improve the micro-environment around the eye, and the rationale for incorporating a small +0.25D boost to offset accommodative drift seen after hours of near work.

The discussion is highly relevant to everyday practice, focusing on how ECPs can approach screen-related complaints with the same task-specific mindset used for sports or occupational eyewear. Croft challenges fear-based blue light messaging and instead frames digital lenses as tools for comfort, contrast, and performance. He also shares how many undiagnosed refractive patients are uncovered when they trial low-plus lenses, reinforcing the role of comprehensive exams. Throughout the episode, the emphasis remains on partnership with optometry—using clinical evaluation first, then positioning digital eyewear as a complementary solution rather than a shortcut around professional care.

5 Key Takeaways

Digital eye strain is multifactorial.

Symptoms stem from blink suppression, tear evaporation, accommodative fatigue, glare, and contrast loss—not simply from “too much blue light.”

Frame design can influence ocular comfort.

A closer, higher-base fit may help stabilize the tear film by increasing humidity around the eye, similar in concept to moisture-chamber strategies used in dry-eye management.

Small plus power can have a big clinical impact.

A +0.25D add aligns with research on accommodative lag and mirrors what many ODs already prescribe through anti-fatigue or low-plus computer Rxs.

Digital eyewear should be positioned as task-specific equipment.

Just as patients accept different glasses for driving or sports, screen use warrants its own optical solution integrated into the exam and dispensing workflow.

ECPs remain central to the process.

Proper screening for refractive error, binocular vision, and ocular surface disease should come first—digital lenses are meant to support, not replace, comprehensive care.

Memorable Quotes

“I hate the term blue light glasses. It’s a disservice to consumers and to optometry—blue light isn’t the enemy; context is.”

“You can’t run a marathon in loafers. Eyewear should be task-specific just like footwear.”

“We’re here to help in a massive epidemic of digital eye strain, not just sell another pair of glasses.”

Learn more about Gunnar Optiks:

Gunnar.com

Connect with Joe Croft:

[email protected]

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

In this candid conversation, Joseph Croft pulls back the curtain on how Gunnar Optiks emerged from clinical research rather than marketing hype. He describes how early collaboration with optometric researchers highlighted the real drivers of digital eye strain—dramatic reductions in blink rate, tear film evaporation, accommodative lag after prolonged screen use, and loss of contrast—long before “blue light glasses” became a consumer buzzword. Croft explains the engineering decisions behind Gunnar’s high-base, close-fit lens geometry designed to improve the micro-environment around the eye, and the rationale for incorporating a small +0.25D boost to offset accommodative drift seen after hours of near work.

The discussion is highly relevant to everyday practice, focusing on how ECPs can approach screen-related complaints with the same task-specific mindset used for sports or occupational eyewear. Croft challenges fear-based blue light messaging and instead frames digital lenses as tools for comfort, contrast, and performance. He also shares how many undiagnosed refractive patients are uncovered when they trial low-plus lenses, reinforcing the role of comprehensive exams. Throughout the episode, the emphasis remains on partnership with optometry—using clinical evaluation first, then positioning digital eyewear as a complementary solution rather than a shortcut around professional care.

5 Key Takeaways

Digital eye strain is multifactorial.

Symptoms stem from blink suppression, tear evaporation, accommodative fatigue, glare, and contrast loss—not simply from “too much blue light.”

Frame design can influence ocular comfort.

A closer, higher-base fit may help stabilize the tear film by increasing humidity around the eye, similar in concept to moisture-chamber strategies used in dry-eye management.

Small plus power can have a big clinical impact.

A +0.25D add aligns with research on accommodative lag and mirrors what many ODs already prescribe through anti-fatigue or low-plus computer Rxs.

Digital eyewear should be positioned as task-specific equipment.

Just as patients accept different glasses for driving or sports, screen use warrants its own optical solution integrated into the exam and dispensing workflow.

ECPs remain central to the process.

Proper screening for refractive error, binocular vision, and ocular surface disease should come first—digital lenses are meant to support, not replace, comprehensive care.

Memorable Quotes

“I hate the term blue light glasses. It’s a disservice to consumers and to optometry—blue light isn’t the enemy; context is.”

“You can’t run a marathon in loafers. Eyewear should be task-specific just like footwear.”

“We’re here to help in a massive epidemic of digital eye strain, not just sell another pair of glasses.”

Learn more about Gunnar Optiks:

Gunnar.com

Connect with Joe Croft:

[email protected]

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

Innovations in eye care are changing how we treat dry eyes and enhance facial aesthetics. Dr. Harbir Sian explores these advances with Dr. Vicente Rodriguez, Global Medical Director of Jett Plasma, who explains how this revolutionary technology uses low-intensity electrical stimulation to target the conjunctiva, eyelid margin, accessory glands, and orbicularis muscles. He shares the evolution of Jett Plasma from non-invasive facial rejuvenation to advanced ocular applications, detailing techniques for treating blepharitis, Meibomian gland dysfunction, and lid wiper epitheliopathy, while also highlighting emerging possibilities for retinal stimulation and veterinary applications. This conversation offers a rare, in-depth look at how precise electrical stimulation is improving patient outcomes and expanding the frontiers of ophthalmology and optometry.

Connect with Harbir:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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 MaryAnn Klassen, a long-time leader in the eye care industry whose career has closely mirrored — and influenced — some of optometry’s most significant clinical shifts over the past four decades.

MaryAnn takes listeners through her journey from the early days of contact lenses, when extended-wear lenses first disrupted traditional practice models, to the evolution of AMD management, and ultimately to today’s rapidly expanding understanding of dry eye disease. Having worked with major industry players such as CIBA Vision, Novartis Ophthalmics, and Bausch + Lomb, she offers a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on how optometrists adapt to change — and what it takes for new ideas to gain traction in a profession that values evidence and patient safety above all else.

The conversation then turns to MaryAnn’s entrepreneurial leap: the creation of the Meivertor, a patented medical device designed to make upper eyelid eversion easier, safer, and more efficient. Sparked by a real clinical frustration she experienced firsthand, MaryAnn shares how the idea moved from a simple observation to a globally patented product now used in practices around the world. She walks through the realities of device development, including prototyping, patenting, workflow challenges, and the often-overlooked importance of technician confidence and training.

Beyond the device itself, this episode explores bigger themes — innovation in optometry, behavior change in clinics, empowerment of staff, and the mindset required to build something meaningful while still working full-time. It’s a candid, insightful conversation that blends clinical relevance with business wisdom and personal reflection.

Key Takeaways

1. Optometry evolves when evidence supports change — history proves it repeatedly
2. The upper eyelid contains critical diagnostic information that is often overlooked
3. Small workflow improvements can create outsized clinical and efficiency gains
4. Empowering technicians improves diagnostics, confidence, and job satisfaction
5. Successful innovation requires persistence, clarity, and hard work — not luck

Memorable Quotes

“Optometry continually has to evolve — and it does when the evidence supports the shift.”\

“There has to be a single-handed solution to this problem.”

“The upper lids matter.”

“If you give optometrists a legitimate reason and support it clinically, they will adopt it.”

“I don’t believe in luck. Your goal affects your behavior — it’s all hard work.”

Learn More

Meivertor: https://meivertor.com

Connect with MaryAnn Klassen on social channels and via email: [email protected]

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

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/