The 20/20 Podcast

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:

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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.

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• 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/

During the recent Canadian Association of Optometrists Congress in Halifax, I had the opportunity to speak with outgoing President Dr. Martin Spiro and incoming President Dr. Allison Scott about how the CAO supports its members across the country.

From organizing meetings such as the Optometric Leaders Forum, to leading the charge to develop a national strategy around eyecare, to negotiating better reimbursements with insurance providers... there is a long list of ways that our national association serves Canadian optometrists and moves the profession forward.

Learn more about the CAO's iniatives:

https://opto.ca/policy

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the human brain. Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, founder and CEO of VisionFirst, explains how focusing on the eye-brain connection can lead to innovative vision and eyesight treatments and improvements. Joining Harbir Sian, he explains which vision therapies and training programs offer positive results – and which ones are actually doing more harm than good to your eyes. He breaks down why eye patching is bad, why pencil pushups are good, and how to be wary of bad health advice shared all over social media. Dr. Bryce also talks about his ScreenFit program that aims to minimize the damage of digital devices on vision and promote healthy visual habits for extended screen use.

Take the free online vision assessment: www.myvisionfirst.com/quiz

Try ScreenFit for Free: www.screenfit.com/preview

5 Steps to Better Vision - Free guide: www.screenfit.com/5-proven-secrets-to-relieve-eye-strain

Shop for Your Vision: shop.myvisionfirst.com

Learn more about MyVisionFirst at www.myvisionfirst.com

Learn more about ScreenFit at www.screenfit.com/

Social Media Links

Instagram: @drbryceappelbaum

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drbryceappelbaum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myvisionfirstoptometry

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bryce-appelbaum/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.bryceappelbaum

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How would you like to build your practice and develop a culture to a place that the growth of the business perpetuates even if you are not seeing patients yourself?

Sounds too good to be true?

Dr. Kiran Ramesh is a multi-practice owner, renowned speaker, business coach, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Ramesh shares how she built her first practice to a point that she could step away and use her business savvy to buy and develop more businesses both inside and outside of eyecare.

Dr. Ramesh shares her four pillars for building a thriving business:

1. Make time to work on your business
2. Develop an A Team
3. Create a winning culture
4. Understand KPIs and create incentives

Dr. Ramesh has developed a course called Owner to CEO to help share these concepts in greater depth. Learn more about the course:

https://ownertoceo.podia.com/owner-to-ceo-masterclass

Connect with Dr. Ramesh: [email protected]

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