Podcasts about Optometry

Dr. Kriti Bhagat joins the podcast to explore the intersection of optometry and her deep passion for reading. From launching a successful bookstagram during COVID to editing pre-release manuscripts for major publishers, Kriti shares how books help her decompress, connect with others, and become a better leader. We also dive into burnout, business ownership, favorite reads, and how fiction and nonfiction alike shape identity and creativity beyond the exam room. Follow Brew Reading: www.instagram.com/brew.reading Info on the Gateway Tour - gatewaytour.ai BookNerds page: https://www.practiceperformancepartners.com/pages/booknerds Join the BookNerds Discussion: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Kg7fQNNyEQq2HWUEwOX9GP Timestamps: 00:00 – The story behind Kriti's color-coded bookshelf 01:30 – Her journey through optometry and private practice ownership 05:00 – Launching @brew.reading and finding an audience 08:30 – Harry Potter and the book that sparked it all 13:00 – The power of reading nonfiction for personal growth 16:00 – Why “Buy Back Your Time” changed her leadership 19:30 – Editing for Penguin, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster 25:00 – Go-to rereads: Atomic Habits, Relentless, and more 30:00 – Graphic audiobooks and how we absorb content 34:00 – Writing in optometry vs. personal creativity 37:00 – Instagram, photography, and aesthetic storytelling 42:00 – How podcasting fuels creative connection 46:00 – Current reads: Burnout and All It Takes Is a Goal 50:00 – Thoughts on AI and being ready for disruption 54:00 – Identity, leadership, and knowing your “why” 56:00 – DNF culture and finishing what you start (or not) ------------------------- Go to MacuHealth.com and use the coupon code PODCAST2024 at checkout for special discounts Let's Connect! Follow and join the conversation! Instagram: @aaron_werner_vision

About Matthew J. Martin, OD, FIAOMC After graduating with honors in Pre-Optometry at Ferris State University, Dr.Martin Attended the Michigan College of Optometry graduating with honors in1999. Dr. Martin has been serving the Mid-Michigan area for 20 years providingcomprehensive care, managing ocular disease, and fitting specialty contact lensdesigns. He specializes in pediatric eye care and all types of myopia management,with an emphasis on Ortho-K. Dr. Martin is a Fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology andMyopia Control since 2005.  He has served on the Leadership and Planning Boardfor this organization and currently serves on the Fellowship Committee. He takesan active role in testing candidates sitting for their FIAOMC as well as keeping thetesting process up to date. Dr. Martin has a passion for education and has served as a mentor for manydoctors new to myopia management. In 2017 he was asked to present at VisionBy Design (VBD) Bootcamp for Newcomers. Based on reviews he has become apermanent member of the Bootcamp team. Dr. Martin speaks nationally andinternationally on the subject of myopia control, with an emphasis on Ortho-K.His most recent international lecture was Mumbai, India.Dr. Martin was a founding member of Mission Myopia Control. Its mission was toeducate and assist doctors in incorporating myopia management into theirprivate practices. While this organization has now been dissolved, Dr. Martin hascontinued his efforts towards educating doctors in the best specialty in eye care!

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!Dividend investing is one of the most passionately followed strategies online - yet much of the enthusiasm is driven by misunderstandings of how dividends work. In this episode, Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP® of Optometry Wealth Advisors, dives deep into how dividends actually work, why they aren't “free money,” and what ODs need to understand before chasing high-dividend stocks or funds - especially in taxable accounts. He also explores when, despite all of this, a dividend-focused approach might still be rational for the right investor.In this episode, you'll learn:What dividends actually are and how they function within public companies and your own optometry practice.Why dividends aren't “extra” return, and how stock prices adjust for them.The real-world tax consequences of dividends - especially in taxable brokerage accounts.Why fewer companies pay dividends today, and how stock buybacks often take their place.How dividend investing can actually reduce diversification and tilt your portfolio away from global opportunities.What explains the performance of dividend-heavy portfolios (spoiler: it's not the dividends).Why “I need X in dividends to retire” is a myth, and how to think about withdrawals and cash flow instead.When a dividend strategy can make sense - despite being suboptimal on paper.Resources mentioned:Dimensional's Research on Dividend Price AdjustmentsMeb Faber's “Shareholder Yield” BookBen Felix Video on Dividend InvestingRelated Episodes:Ep 135: Beyond Indexing – An Optometrist's Guide to Factor-Based InvestingEp 134: The Case for Index Funds – Why Optometrists Should Embrace Passive InvestingStay Connected:Click here to Subscribe to the Eyes On The Money Newsletter for weekly financial insights tailored specifically to optometrists.Have Questions? CLICK HERE to schedule a short introductory callThe Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

Why does your EHR feel more like a burden than a solution? Eugene Shatsman sits down with leaders from RevolutionEHR, Eyefinity, and practicing ODs to discuss the painful realities of optometric software — and what the next generation must do differently.

Unlock the fascinating connection between your eyes and your brain in this episode! Did you know that your retina can reveal early signs of brain disease—even years before symptoms appear? Discover how the eye, formed from brain tissue, acts as a window into your neurological and circulatory health. We'll dive into new research showing that simple eye exams may one day predict aging and age-related diseases like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and even Alzheimer's.You'll learn about the role of the optic nerve, the latest breakthroughs in retinal imaging, and how changes in the eye might signal Alzheimer's up to 8–9 years before a diagnosis. Plus, we'll discuss why prevention—through diet, exercise, and targeted supplements—is more important than ever for protecting both your mind and vision.Ready to nourish your brain and eyes? Here's our recommended list of essential nutrients:Taurine, lutein, zeaxanthin, mesozeaxanthin, B vitamins, bilberry, ginkgo biloba, omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, bacopa, lycopene, selenium, zinc, and the mushroom lion's mane.Stay informed and take charge of your health—tune in and visit us at naturaleyecare.com for the latest tips on protecting your eyes and brain!

Burnout in eyecare is no longer a silent issue. With over half of optometrists reporting symptoms of professional fatigue, the field is facing a mounting crisis that affects not only clinicians but also the quality of patient care. In a powerful episode of the Defocus Media podcast, Dr. Jennifer Lyerly and Dr. Kaleb Abbott, Assistant […]

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!As a private optometry practice owner, one of the most essential yet misunderstood financial decisions is figuring out how much to pay yourself. In this episode, Evon Mendrin dives into seven critical factors to consider when setting your own compensation from your optometry practice—especially if you're taxed as an S Corporation. Whether you're just getting started or running a thriving, established practice, this episode will help you balance tax strategy, financial planning, and long-term wealth-building with clarity and confidence.You'll learn:How income draws differ based on how your practice is taxed (sole proprietor, partnership, or S-corp)Why paying yourself “too little” can backfire with the IRSHow your wage affects your Social Security benefits, QBI deduction, and retirement plan contributionsThe surprising ways your compensation impacts practice valuations and financial planningHow to align your income with your lifestyle and financial goalsResources Mentioned:Independent Strong Article: How to Pay Yourself – Key Factors for Setting Your Owner CompensationIRS Guidance on Reasonable Compensation for S CorpsRelated Episodes:The Optometry Money Podcast Ep 51: An Optometrist's Guide to the Qualified Business Income DeductionThe Optometry Money Podcast Ep. 49: An Optometrist's Guide to Business EntitiesStay Connected:Click here to Subscribe to the Eyes On The Money Newsletter for weekly financial insights tailored specifically to optometrists.Have Questions? CLICK HERE to schedule a short introductory callThe Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

Nutrition discussion with an optometrist. Dr. Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS Dr. Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS is an industry key opinion leader in nutrition and ocular health. Master of Science in human nutrition and functional medicine; one of the first ODs to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist; frequent lecturer and author on nutrition and ocular health. Honored to have served as immediate past president of the Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society, serves on the Board of the American Nutrition Association BCNS, the Macular Degeneration Association, Women in Optometry, and the Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society.

Send us a textAbout Dr. Aaron Werner, OD Graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry, following his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather in becoming a doctor of optometry.  He is president of Werner Optometry in San Diego, CA a two-doctor multi-generation optometry practice that provides comprehensive primary eye care services. Aaron is passionate about helping others achieve their full potential and serves as the Senior Director Learning and Development for Vision Source. A native of southern California, Aaron is an avid hiker, runner, enjoys playing soccer, surfing and spending time with his wife, 3 children and grandson.Aaron hosts the Aaron Werner Podcast on EyeCode MediaApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eyecode-media/id1449429774Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6sGffC4Y3BXFc5pBxvcJNEYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYyWZ4Y_ub2_akEj2kielFA

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Christina Gratkowski, an optometrist who blends functional medicine with eye care to uncover the root causes of chronic eye conditions. With functional medicine gaining momentum—especially among younger generations seeking answers beyond traditional treatments—Dr. Gratkowski shares why this whole-body approach is transforming the healthcare conversation.We dive into how gut health, inflammation, and systemic imbalances often show up as eye symptoms, and why optometrists are in a unique position to spot early signs of internal dysfunction. From skin conditions like eczema and rosacea to persistent dry eye, Dr. Gratkowski explains how functional medicine offers long-term solutions by addressing the "why" behind the symptoms.The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD ConnectDownload Dr. Gratkowski's e-book on healing eczema around the eyelids through nutrition and lifestyle

Nutrition discussion with an optometrist. Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and excess sugar lead to accelerated aging and chronic diseases, including diseases of the eyes. Nutrition is the starting point to target these risk factors and should be a component of a healthy eye care routine. On this episode of Live Foreverish, Dr. Mike and Dr. Crystal have an insightful discussion with Dr. Julie Poteet, a Doctor of Optometry and Certified Nutrition Specialist. Discussion highlights include how nutrition impacts ocular health, top dietary considerations for cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and the important work of the Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society. Dr. Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS Dr. Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS is an industry key opinion leader in nutrition and ocular health. Master of Science in human nutrition and functional medicine; one of the first ODs to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist; frequent lecturer and author on nutrition and ocular health. Honored to have served as immediate past president of the Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society, serves on the Board of the American Nutrition Association BCNS, the Macular Degeneration Association, Women in Optometry, and the Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society.

John Marvin grew up in Kansas as a member of a family with significant medical experience. John's father, for example, was a family physician in a small Western Kansas town. John describes some about his life and how his thoughts and attitudes were greatly influenced by his father. Late in his high school career John told his dad that he did not want to grow up to be a doctor because, as he put it, he didn't want to work as hard as his father worked. John will explain that to us. As he also put it, his comment came from a young naïve boy.   In college John settled on securing a marketing degree. After college he ended up going deeply into marketing and eventually he entered the optical industry specializing in optometry.   John and I have some wonderful discussions about self growth, leadership and how to help people and companies grow. I got, and I think you will get, many great ideas from John's experiences and that we all will be the better for what John has to say and teach us.       About the Guest:   John D. Marvin is an entrepreneur and dynamic leader with a proven track record of success in healthcare, wellness, and the eyecare industry. As President and CEO of Texas State Optical (TSO), he has transformed the organization into one of the largest and most respected networks of independent optometrists in the United States, generating upwards of $110 million in annual revenue. With over two decades of experience at TSO, John has cultivated a member-owned cooperative that empowers optometrists to operate independently while benefiting from robust centralized support. His leadership has been pivotal in fostering a culture of innovation, professional growth, and exceptional patient care. John's career spans over 40 years, during which he has held executive roles across various industries, including marketing, consulting, and healthcare. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his strategic leadership during TSO's transition from a retail chain to a cooperative network in 2001. Under his guidance, TSO shifted its focus from product-driven services to comprehensive medical eyecare, reinforcing its reputation as a patient-centered organization. Beyond TSO, John serves as President of Texas Eyecare Partners and Health and Wellness Consulting. As a lifelong advocate of personal growth, John has studied the transformative power of mindset and the “inner game” of success. His insights into leadership, achievement, and business management have made him a sought-after speaker and certified John Maxwell Professional Coach. John passionately shares his experiences to inspire others to unlock their potential, offering actionable strategies to overcome challenges and drive meaningful change. John's dedication to education and collaboration is evident in his efforts to support emerging professionals in the field of optometry. He has fostered strong relationships with the University of Houston's College of Optometry and the Texas Optometric Association, contributing to scholarships, professional development programs, and initiatives that promote medical optometry. Through his vision and unwavering commitment to excellence, John D. Marvin exemplifies the principles of leadership, empowerment, and innovation, making a lasting impact on the eyecare industry and beyond. Ways to connect John:   https://www.facebook.com/jdmarvin  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdmarvin/  https://www.instagram.com/jdmarvin/ https://tso.com/   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hello, everyone. Once again, wherever you happen to be, I'm your host on unstoppable mindset, Mike Hingson, or you can call me Mike, whichever you prefer. And our guest today is John D Marvin. John is an entrepreneur. Has been an entrepreneur for quite a while, and he has been involved in a number of different kind of endeavors over his life. And he's worked, worked in the eye care industry a bunch, and is now in charge of Texas State Optical. We're going to learn more about that and and all the other things I don't know whether I care, does me a whole lot of good directly, but it's fun to talk about anyway. No, no doubt. So John, I want to really welcome you. I'm glad we finally made this work. I'm glad we got a chance to connect. So welcome to unstoppable mindset.   John D Marvin ** 02:13 Well, thank you, Mike. It's a real pleasure to be here.   Michael Hingson ** 02:15 Well, I'm glad that we we get a chance to really talk. We haven't really done too many podcasts on eye care and optical stuff, so I'm glad to be able to do it. But I'd like to start, as I'd love to do so often, tell us about kind of the early John growing up, and go from there.   John D Marvin ** 02:33 Okay, I was born and raised in Kansas. I that that's northern Texas, right? That's northern Texas. That's right, yeah, I actually grew up in western Kansas. I was born in Kansas City, but I grew up in western Kansas, and my father is a family physician, and had the kind of stereotypical country doctor practice small town, 2000 people, and my mother was his office manager for a number of years. And so it was a kind of a family business. And I have three siblings, sisters, and so we grew up in a small Mayberry type town, and it was great riding bicycles till the street lights came on at night, and catching fireflies and all that kind of good stuff. And then I decided to go to school. I chose to go to school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated, it's an emphasis in marketing and marketing and business administration, and ended up in the ad agency business for a little bit of a time, and just kind of really decided that wasn't for me, and ended up from there going into pharmaceutical sales. And really enjoyed that, and enjoyed the the outside sales aspects of it and calling on doctors. And my territory was western Kansas, so I used to say, and still refer to it as my territory looked like my high school football schedule. So we would go to these small towns. And of course, most everyone out there knew my father, and so the typical problem of trying to get past the front desk was made a little easier because people knew my family, and from that, I ended up taking an administrative, marketing administrators position with a group of surgeons in in Wichita, and that led to introduction and eating some ophthalmologists in Houston. Them and followed a job opportunity I had with them and came to Houston in 1989 I've been here ever since, but it was after four years of working with them, I ended up going out on my own and started my own business, which was Marketing Management Group, which did consumer research, and then we would develop marketing strategies based on that. And one of my clients, early clients, was Texas State Optical. And because of my background in eye care, both in Wichita, Kansas and in Houston, I had a better I got some insight into the consumer. And so the work I did with Texas State Optical was a lot we did a lot of work, and did several studies with them, and that kind of introduced me to the whole group of franchisees that made up the Texas State Optical organization. Subsequently, I helped them organize, the franchisees organize, and in the late 90s, 1999 I was hired by the franchisees to put together a Franchise Association, and through that, ultimately help them acquire the company, purchase it, and from that during that process, was asked if I would be willing to come on board as the new president of the company once they purchased it. And that was in 2001 and I've been president ever since. So here you go. It kind of takes you from Small Town Living to big city operations and a network of about 100 optometry offices.   Michael Hingson ** 06:47 So what exactly is Texas State Optical? Or maybe first, what was it and how is it morphed over time?   John D Marvin ** 06:56 Well, originally it was founded by four brothers in 1936 in Southeast Texas, little town called Beaumont, and famous for a lot of things in that part of the state. One of them is Janis Joplin, the others, Big Bopper and George Jones and but it also was the birthplace of Texas State Optical. And they grew a network of privately owned they owned them all over 300 locations throughout Texas, Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas, Louisiana and and then in the early 70s, they sold it to a pharmaceutical company, ironically, the same one that I had worked for when I was calling on western Kansas. But when they sold it, it got converted to a traditional franchise model, and it stayed that way until the franchisees purchased it in 2001 when we I was involved, and we turned it into a brand license business, taking that iconic license that had been around Texas optical since the 30s, 1930s and and then turning around and licensing the use of that brand to young optometrist who wanted to own their own practice, but saw the use of that brand as kind of instant credibility, because a lot of people were familiar with that brand.   Michael Hingson ** 08:40 So what does it provide? What did one of the organization provide under the brand? Well,   John D Marvin ** 08:46 we use the use of the brand, and so you got immediate notoriety in terms of just people's awareness of it, but also we put together kind of a la carte menu of optional services and support and resources that licensees could either take advantage of or not, and it was a really hands off model. We didn't have any, and still don't have any operational control over the way business was done. We We influenced that through best practices and sharing of information, but certainly we didn't require have any requirements of the way that they would operate. Reality is most private practice optometrists operate pretty well, and so we were there to kind of coach and help, but mainly it was them using our brand name, which had a really strong consumer value to it.   Michael Hingson ** 09:44 And so what kind of changes when the franchisees all joined together and bought the company and so on? How have you and they changed it over the years.   John D Marvin ** 09:59 I. I think the biggest change from 1999 to 2001 when they bought it, and to this day, has been the culture of the company. And that is, you know, it's something of a franchise opportunity, yeah, and a lot of your listeners probably either own franchises. Thought about franchises, and you know, it might you and I spent the next year trying to decide we were going to own a franchise. And we'd go out and do all sorts of research, and we'd look into this one and that one, and what kind of industry we want, and we'd finally select one that we were really impressed with. Thought about for great opportunity. We'd pay our $50,000 franchise fee, and about the second or third day of owning that franchise, we would decide that these people don't know anything about this business that we're in, and there's just this inherent adversarial relationship that exists between a franchisee and a franchisor. Some for good reason, some just because of the independent, entrepreneurial nature of a franchisee. Well, when the franchisees owned the company, they owned the franchise, or that adversarial dynamic kind of left. And so now there's nobody to kind of blame except yourself, and people are inclined not to do that as much. And so there was a greater tendency to kind of work together, work through things, come up with solutions to problems or resources that were needed. And it just created a much more homogeneous type of culture, and to the point where our annual meeting we host every year is referred to as our family reunion. And so we gather everyone together. It's really an atmosphere of all of us being as one family, sharing the same kind of core values, and all out to do the same thing, and that is just provide great quality eye care for our communities. And so that, that is a big change. Of course, there's always the things like collective purchasing, education and training. The main difference in those areas are engagement. When you are asked by a franchisor to engage in certain activities, there's that inherent reluctance to do that in our organization. There's an inherent acceptance of it because it comes from a colleague, it comes from others and doctors are more leading doctors than they are being led by some set of suits someplace in the Northeast.   Michael Hingson ** 12:50 Yeah, and that is such an extremely important thing to be able to really make it a family, a disciplined family, but still a family nevertheless, which is kind of cool. I'm curious about something being blind, and having been blind my whole life, and involved with blindness consumer organizations, one of the things that we have found often is that most people in the eye care industry, primarily in the ophthalmological industry, which is kind of a little bit more relevant to us, but tend not to really have a lot of knowledge about blindness and blind people. And so, for example, there are so many stories of a person going into the office of an ophthalmologist, for example, maybe they're losing their eyesight, but the ophthalmologist examines them and for whatever reason, will say things like, you're going blind. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do, and walk out and never provide any other kinds of resources or knowledge to help the person who's losing eyesight. I don't know whether you see that, given where you are or what your thoughts are on that, but I'd be interested to get your thoughts because it seems to me that there's a lot of opportunity to do significant education about blindness and low vision to recognize that the reality is, blindness isn't the problem. It's people's attitudes traditionally that are the problem.   John D Marvin ** 14:28 That's an excellent point. Mike, I you know my first thoughts are the profession of optometry is really involved in preventing right blindness, and so it's kind of one of the few areas of healthcare that is more prevention oriented than other areas. Most areas are treatment oriented. In other words, you become sick. And then we treat you right, and the profession of optometry is all about we talk to people all the time about protecting your vision and preventing problems from happening. Now, as we see patients that end up either through glaucoma or some form of pathology, retinal issues, start to lose their vision. There comes a point early in that process where they are, frankly, they are outside of the scope of care that an optometrist can provide. So they end up being referred to an ophthalmologist. That being said, there are several optometrists across the country that have decided to devote themselves to low vision, and that's kind of a form of blind and what I would call blindness care, and where it's not complete, there is some level of vision there, but it needs a lot of enhancement, either through equipment or through other types of therapeutics practices. And there are optometrists who say, I'm not going to sell glasses. I'm not going to focus on contacts. I'm going to just provide a low vision clinic. And they're not not there's not a large number of them, but there are some, and what I've experienced in that is it does take a particular type of practitioner to be successful with that. And when I say successful, I mean, to be able to establish the type of patient doctor relationship that actually produces some really positive outcomes and helps people better manage their loss of vision, either whether that's progressive and eventually will become complete, or whether It's stalled at a point where they just cannot function without special aid, like I said, equipment, or some type of therapeutics. And there's just not a lot of people go into Optometry for the refractive side of things, and and so there's, there's not that motivation, really, to learn much about it. We do as an organization. We're very involved with prevent blindness as a national organization, and we'd also have some involvement with low vision clinics that are in the Houston Medical Center. But outside of that, you're right. There's not a whole lot of folks that understand it, probably, or maybe it's just they don't have the patience for it, because it does require a different kind of patient care approach, even   Michael Hingson ** 17:55 so what I wonder is, if there is an opportunity, maybe to provide additional education, so that if your your franchisees, for example, encounter a person who's losing eyesight and they and they realize that that they can help refer them to sources or resources that can assist because part of the problem is that, typically in society, blindness is viewed as such a horrible, devastating thing. And I understand that eyesight is a very wonderful thing, and people want to have it, but the reality is for a variety of reasons that doesn't work for everyone. The problem is that we have so much fear of blindness that we don't tend to deal with and I just wonder if there might be a way to provide some sort of a system or program that would help teach your people that blindness isn't really the end of the world, which is not to say, don't try to prevent it if you can, but when you can't, you can also be an additional source. To say, here are places where you can go, or here are some things that you can learn.   John D Marvin ** 19:16 Well, I do think that it's important, and I'm aware of many, keeping in mind that our members who own locations that use our brand are independent, we have provided them local organizations, clinics, things like that, which help them in referring people that need that kind of help and in education, I think also an important factor is that it's not just the patient that can use that it's the patient's family, because it, while it's perceived as something that you know you. I know that people value their sight, and the thought of losing it and becoming blind is is frightening the individual, but it also is frightening and disruptive to family, who father, mother, wife, husband, son or daughter, to deal with the changes in lifestyle that are required to accommodate that. Loss of vision is significant. You mentioned you've been blind since birth, and that's certainly one group of people, but there's an awful lot of people that end up experiencing blindness when they're in their 30s or 40s, after they've had a large portion of their life with vision. And it's, I don't want to say it's easier by any means. I first of all, I have no right in even suggesting that, but it's a different experience, for sure, not ever having had vision, versus having had it for a number of years and then losing it. And sometimes it might be as scary and frightening for the family around that person as it is the patient themselves. And so we do place a high value on getting people the kind of help and resources they need to better adjust to those changes.   Michael Hingson ** 21:28 Well, when I was born, I actually became blind because of what we now call retinopathy or prematurity, which originally was retro enterofibroplasia, which is harder to spell, but I love the term anyway. At about four months of age, it was discovered that I was blind, and the doctors told my parents they ought to just send me off to a home, because no blind child could ever grow up to be a contributor to society, and all I would do would be a drain on the family and then later on society. And my parents were very unusual in taking the stand that, no, you're wrong. He can grow up to do whatever he wants, and we're going to give him that opportunity. And that was, and really to a very large degree today, still is, a very unusual attitude to take, because we fear blindness so much, and while I appreciate the reality of eyesight is very important for most people, what I would love to see are ways to create more of an understanding so that People understand that blindness isn't the end of the world, and that's what what we see all too often in society in general, which is unfortunate, and you're right. I don't know whether it's easier if you're blind from the outset or become blind later in life. I know any number of people who became blind later in life, who went to programs where philosophically, they were taught blindness was not a problem, and they learned that they could continue to be contributors to society, and they tend to intend to Do that, as opposed to many others from both camps and from birth or not who never understand. Blindness isn't going to be the end of the road if people let it be. So it's it's just one of those conundrums that we end up having to deal with on a regular basis.   John D Marvin ** 23:38 The name of your podcast dealing with mindset, right? A lot of it is exactly that. And if you're find yourself in a you know, the child who's born blind can either have a support system and family and parents that impact his his or her mindset in a way that creates the expectation and understanding that it it doesn't have to be limiting. And same goes with someone who's blind later in life, right? It's a matter of how you look at and decide for yourself. I mean, we all know people that, whether it's a loss of a one of the most five senses, the important senses, sight or hearing, so forth, there is a natural mind. There's one set of mind people that have a mindset that, oh, poor you. Now you've got insurmountable challenges in your life, and this is going to be difficult the rest of your life. And then the other mindset that many parents have recognizing their opportunity they have with their child is to say, yes, that's you. But that doesn't have to define you, that doesn't limit you. You can overcome those things and and I think that that is even in our business, where you have someone who comes into the office and through some type of diagnostic testing, it's determined that they are losing their sight, and that the natural outcome of this progression of pathology will be the total loss of sight. We have the opportunity there, at that point, to affect their mindset, yeah, and to either tell them this is a circumstance that will not limit you or define you, and here are some resources and education materials and opportunities in that area that can help you better understand what you're living with and how that you can overcome that, just from the census standpoint, because It doesn't have to be something you have to overcome in life, per se. It just has to be an accommodation you make, because you can't see when other people can right. And it is all about mindset.   Michael Hingson ** 26:13 It is all about mindset. No doubt about it, you're absolutely correct in that regard. And it is, it is something that we'll all be dealing with for a while, but hopefully over time, the mindset of people will change to recognize that there are always alternatives. Being a Star Trek fan, I love Spock and Kirk who are always talking about there are always options, and there are always ways to get around doing things or to accomplish things that you might not think about, but you have to be multi dimensional in your thought process.   John D Marvin ** 26:52 Well, the other exciting aspect of all of this is the the fact that those with growth mindsets are working diligently on technologies that can actually supplant the deficiency and come up with ways to correct blindness. And so there we may even, in our lifetime, live to a point where the pathological condition that you were born with doesn't have to be permanent. It can be reversed using technology that provides you with as good, if not better, vision than people who weren't born in that same situation.   Michael Hingson ** 27:33 Yeah, the only people who never will come out of it are politicians, because they take dumb pills when they become politicians. So we can pick up them.   John D Marvin ** 27:40 Well, listen, just you could be blind and still be able to see, right? Yeah, that   Michael Hingson ** 27:47 leaves them out. Yeah. No, I understand. I understand they're fun to pick on. But you what? What really made you decide to go into the eye care industry, into that, that whole environment, what, what attracted you to it, or was it just sort of so natural? Well, obviously, that's a mindset. Yeah,   John D Marvin ** 28:10 there's a couple of things. Think the thing that attracted me to kind of eye care in general, and put ophthalmology and Optometry in the same bucket for this. What attracted me to was this whole area of health care that I kind of grew up in with my father and family practice in a small town. Because, you know, my family practice in the 60s and 70s was a whole different discipline than it is today. Oh, I know, you know, especially in a small town where the closest specialist, if you would, is 90 miles away. And so my father had to be what we call today, functionally, you know, a functional medicine, meaning that he had to be able to kind of treat the whole person. I mean, he used to be very proud of the fact that a large percentage of the kids that were in the school that I grew up in, he delivered and so, you know, there was no obstetrician in this small town. So if a woman became pregnant, then he provided her prenatal care. He gave, he delivered the child, and then he gave the provided the pediatric care afterwards. And so having that sense of kind of the global care of of someone kind of gave me a real appreciation for the kind of the system, the the systemic aspects of health. And when I was given an opportunity to get into the eye care business. Because I saw it more as getting into the healthcare business, and even though it was very narrow, defined in eye care, it gave me a connection. And I I'm a big believer that you start down a path and you follow it. And what maybe forest and trees and gardens, they may turn into desert or mountains or valleys or otherwise. So when I started, I really didn't know necessarily where it would go. And I guess you could even back it up and say that my whole entry into the pharmaceutical industry kind of started me down that path and and then that led to being in the practitioner side, which ultimately led to going from ophthalmology into Optometry. I frankly think that all of that background best prepared me to do what I'm doing today, and understanding the whole system of eye care, not just refractions and glasses and contacts, right?   Michael Hingson ** 31:11 Well, you know, and you started out in in the whole marketing world, as opposed to going off and becoming a doctor directly, which which gave you a different perspective. So it really makes sense as to what you're saying and it but you've had exposure to both sides, and that has to really help you in terms of doing the job that you've chosen to do.   John D Marvin ** 31:38 Yeah, I think you're right. I remember having the discussion with my father because as I was like a junior in high school and, and as most juniors you know, you start thinking about what you're going to do when you graduate high school and, and I was graduating high school at a time that I had a draft number given to me, there was a war over in Vietnam that was still going on, and so I, you know, there for a period of time, I didn't know whether I would even have a choice. Yeah, it turns out by the time I actually that last year between junior and senior, the war had really started to wind down. And while I got a draft number, it was very high, and the likelihood of me actually being drafted into service was very low. And so I made some decisions about what I was going to do post high school, and I remember having the discussion with my father about would he be disappointed if I decided I didn't want to be a physician? And he assured me that he wouldn't be disappointed, but he was curious as to why I was not interested in doing that, and I told him, I said, just to be candid, I don't know if I want to work as hard as you do, because at that time, I had spent many Christmases with him, not at home, even though, our town, I mean, you could almost walk to the hospital. Our Town was small enough that, but he was taking care of people in the hospital on Christmas Day or delivering a baby on Christmas Day, and he just, you know, it was clear that in that profession, the way he practiced it in those days was that the patients came first, and the family understood that. And we were all in the doctor business to in that respect, and this whole concept of work life balance was, you know, no one looked at things like that. I mean, everyone understood that this was a commitment that had been made, and it involved the entire family. So I told him, I said, I don't know if I'm willing to do that or not. And so I thought at that time, I decided that I was going to pursue a career in theology, and so that determined where I went to school. And about after my first year in school, I the university I had chosen, their whole theological department was more pastoral, and I wasn't interested in that. I was more evangelical. I was more interested in being an evangelist and and so I not having that in front of me. I decided that it switched to a marketing degree. And it turns out that to be a pretty good evangelist, you got to be a little bit of a marketing person yourself. Anyway, true. So, so I ended up going down that path.   Michael Hingson ** 34:53 Well, I would say if you had chosen the pastoral approach, you would have been working just. Just hard as a doctor. Oh, very much. So, yeah, but I guess I would also ask this whole issue of not working as hard given what you do today, how's that working out for you? Well,   John D Marvin ** 35:14 those were words of a very naive young guy. Yeah, because I didn't take I didn't understand the fact that if you're going to accomplish anything, it's going to require hard work, and you need a family that understands what your what your passion is, and what you've decided to do, and because it is, I mean, no one builds a career by themselves. They they build a career with the involvement and support of other people, and if, if they, if those beliefs aren't aligned, then you're going to end up in conflict and be constantly be torn between what it is you believe you're wanting to do with your life, versus your obligations, your other obligations. And put it   Michael Hingson ** 36:04 that way, well, you've been involved in the whole mindset and activity of being a business leader for a long time. What kind of key lessons have you learned along the way about personal growth?   John D Marvin ** 36:21 I think the thank you for that question. I think the one thing that I have learned, that I've tried to pass on to people is start, begin we I think that we naturally have this reluctance to take risk, because we don't want to fail at anything and and so we kind of take the approach that, well, if I want to pursue something, whether it be personal development or growth or even some profession, I need to know everything there is to know about it before I start it. And that is just not true. The only way you learn is by starting I have a friend and acquaintance who his career and his profession is leading people on climbs of Mount Everest. So that's his job. If you want to climb Mount Everest, I can hook you up with a guy that will help you do it. And it's a fascinating profession that he's in. And I asked him one time, how do you learn how to climb mountains. You know, how do you learn this? He said the only way to learn how to climb mountains is by climbing   Michael Hingson ** 37:46 mountains. I was gonna say, to do it, yes. And   John D Marvin ** 37:49 so I think the number one thing is to start. And if you're committed to it and you start, you'll figure it out. The rest of it, because there are no failures, there's maybe a setback or two, but as long as you keep focused on where you want to be and moving forward and getting better and learning, you'll figure things out. And I think so personal growth is really a decision and a commitment to continual learning, continual improvement and and you're never too late to get started. It's never too late, even if you're at 80 some years of age and maybe limited health wise, you can still start because there's so much, there's so many different resources today that are available to people. I mean, I got an iPad Mike, that's, I bet you I've got three 400 books on it. And, you know, used to be you couldn't have three or 400 books without a library in your house. Now you can have one iPad on a memory card. And I was just, I had a doctor's appointment earlier today, and while I was waiting in the reception, I pulled out my phone and I started reading a book that I'm reading, you know, and I had, didn't have to carry the book The lot of people do, lot of people have, but I was able to do that. And then there's what's available in terms of resources, of books to read are just unlimited. So I think that there's, there's all sorts of opportunities, just a matter of getting started and doing it. Second is consistency. Everybody can start. Few people can be consistent, or few people are consistent. We all know the classic, never if you're if you're someone who goes to a gym and works out, you know. Avoid that gem the first month of the year in January, because it is overrun with people who are starting their new year, and then by February, you also know that you're back to normal, because most people don't stay consistent. So starting and then becoming consistent are the two things that are probably most important, that I've learned   Michael Hingson ** 40:25 well, and that kind of leads to something I was thinking about, and that is the connection between mindset and long term achievement. Because it would seem to me that, as you point out with the gym, the people who create the mindset that I'm going to do this and really decide that that's what they're going to do, are more likely to have analyzed it and made that decision intelligently and then we'll stick with it, than people who just go off and say, I'm going to do it, but really haven't established A mindset, right?   John D Marvin ** 40:59 That's exactly true. And you know, people tend to focus on volume as opposed to continuity. And what I mean by that is people go to the gym and they they put all this intensity into the first day they haven't worked out in weeks or months, or even maybe a few years, and then the next day they're so sore they can't get out of bed and they can't so they decide they're going to take the next day off rest, and then that turns into a week off. And I'm a student of John Maxwell, the author, and he talks about what he calls the rule of five, and he illustrates it by saying that if you have a tree in your backyard that you're wanting to take out, you can take an ax and you can go out there and you can swing that Ax five times, and put down the ax and come back tomorrow morning, hit it five times. Come back tomorrow morning, hit it five times. And over a period of time, that tree will come down, or you can go out there and just try to chop and chop and chop, and that tree will defeat you, because you will run out of energy and you'll be too tired to finish it, but if you'll just be consistent over a time with the rule of five, and he talks about it in any profession, if you want to get good at it, figure out what are the five things you need to do every single day to grow in that direction and to accomplish what you need to accomplish. And so I think that you're right that over a period of time, long term success is not done through intensity. It's done through consistency. And he also says, you know, you're never going to change anything in your life until you change what you do daily? And that is very, very true.   Michael Hingson ** 43:09 I know I haven't really been the greatest at doing a lot of exercising and so on, and a lot of walking, and especially here in the winter, it gets really cold, and so I tend not to do it. But what I figured out, actually, a couple of years ago was we have a wonderful, great room with an island in the middle of it, and I will just put on a book and listen to it and do laps around the bar, and I'll get up to 10 and 15,000 steps a day just walking around the bar. Now it's not going uphill and downhill, but still a lot of good exercise. And I find that not only does that work, but I enjoy it, because I get to read at the same time or do other things. Of course, my dog probably thinks I'm nuts, and my cat, my cat avoids me. But by the same token, you know, it is exercise, and I found that I have no problem really doing that every day, absolutely.   John D Marvin ** 44:12 And you know, we we live in a gym, yeah, and whether it's your room, your great room with an island, or whether it's a backyard or your neighborhood, we lived in a gym. I think that was illustrated in one of the Rocky movies really well when he was held up in northern Russia and just worked out using the materials that were with him. And so there really is no excuse to doing something, and doing something is better than doing nothing at all, and doing something every day will deliver unbelievable results over time.   Michael Hingson ** 44:59 It's a. All about establishing the mindset. Yes, it is. Well, you know, you've done this work for a long time. What kind of advice would you give to people starting out to help them get the mindset and achieve what they want to do with their goals?   John D Marvin ** 45:19 Well, first of all, I think developing and writing a personal growth plan, and I mean writing, setting down and starting, for instance, I made a decision several years ago that I wanted to get better at communication. So that was a decision. And the side of all the things that I wanted to try to commit to developing or growing in or learning, I picked communication. Why did you want as one of it? Because I felt like it was extremely important that you never accomplish, or I didn't believe that I was going to accomplish what I wanted to in life without the ability to communicate well with others, whether that be my spouse or whether it be the people I work with the customers I serve. I wanted to be good at communicating. I wanted to become good at that. I also had a friend tell me one time said, you know, if you will read five books on any subject, you'll know more about that subject than 99% of the people. And so I decided, Okay, I'm going to find five books on communication, and I'm going to commit myself to reading those over the course of the next year. And I just, you know, went out and started trying to determine what are really good books about communication. Some of them I kind of knew, like How to Win Friends and Influence People. That was one that I knew. Okay, I'm going to put that one on the list. Now I need four more, and one of them I knew that John Maxwell had written. So I you know, everybody communicates, but few people connect, and I said, Okay, I'm going to be another one. So I just kind of put together my little library of five books, and I started so I had developed very narrow and limited, but I had developed my own personal growth plan as relates to communication. So as I would tell my grandson, or I would tell a friend, if you want to start on developing a mindset and developing personal growth, sit down and make a plan for what you're going to do. And it's interesting, because if you'll ask people, tell me about your and I do this with people who work for me, and when I'm hiring, tell me about your personal growth plan. What is your personal growth plan? And you know, most people don't even know what I'm talking about, so they start making stuff up, and it becomes real obvious that they don't have one. From my employees, I require that as a part of their job and their annual performance review, we go over their personal growth plan. I want them to become more valuable over the course of this next year, because to themselves, because if they do, then they become more valuable to the company, right? And so I would instruct somebody to sit down and start and make a plan and identify something you want to be better at and and start growing in those areas that that described as starting with communication, has grown now to seven different areas in my life, and I've got at least five, in some cases, more books in each of those areas. And so I've got a very busy personal growth plan that I I work on each year.   Michael Hingson ** 49:12 Do you find that, as you read books on these subjects, as you're dealing with your personal growth, that in reality, you know a lot of the stuff already, at least to a degree. But by the same token, reading what others have written tends to drive the point home a whole lot more. And I ask that from the standpoint of common sense.   John D Marvin ** 49:40 Well, I think so. I mean how to win, which   Michael Hingson ** 49:42 doesn't mean that you don't learn things from the books, but, but a lot of it is, is stuff that you Intuit   John D Marvin ** 49:50 Yeah, I think that you know, a great example that comes to mind is How to Win Friends And yes, people that book, if you read it, it's like, well, yeah, naturally. Of course, but if you read it and you focus, you know, if you read it with the attitude, I want to learn something from this, then you begin to internalize what you're reading. And as you internalize it, you develop more cognitive, a cognitive awareness of it. And what I find super interesting is that book is on my list every year, so I commit myself to read that book every year. So now you know, this year will be probably my 15th, 16th time reading it. What I find fascinating is, I'll read the same chapter I've read, and I'll learn something new, something new, yeah, each time. Because, much like the saying about you can't step in the same stream twice, because it's not the same stream and you're not the same person. Same goes with reading material. You can read that book a second time, and you'll get something out of it, because you're not the same person that you were the first time you read it. And as you mature in your understanding, you get more knowledge out of the reading. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 51:17 Which? Which makes perfect sense, which also says a lot about the quality of the author. But you're right. You will always, if you look for new things to learn, you'll find new things to learn absolutely, which is what makes it so cool. And I I tell people all the time, and I'm not sure they always understand it. If I'm not learning at least as much as anybody else by being involved in this podcast, then I'm not doing my job. Because I believe every episode gives me as much, if not more, of an opportunity to learn as guests or all the people who listen, which is why I think it's so much fun, because I think that learning is as fun as it gets.   John D Marvin ** 52:05 It is, I mean, you're absolutely right, you know, they also, there's a you never learn anything quite as well as when you have to teach it, yeah, you know. And in a way, by hosting a podcast, your your preparation for it, you're setting down, your concentration on it forces you to absorb from every interview that you do, and you can't help but walk away with being different than it was when you sat down to start it. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 52:42 one of my favorite books is a science fiction book written by Robert Heinlein. It's called the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. And I don't know whether you read my science fiction. I   John D Marvin ** 52:52 don't, but that sounds interesting. So   Michael Hingson ** 52:54 the basic premise is, it takes place in 2075 there's a hint, and it's all about the moon, which is being controlled by the lunar authority on earth. And it really parallels the American Revolution. The difference is that a computer on the moon, as they put it, wakes up and helps in doing the revolution that eventually gets Moon free from the earth, but one of the major characters is Professor Bernardo dela Paz, who is a teacher. And one of the things that the that the storyteller describes on a regular basis is how Professor dela Paz can teach on basically any subject, as long as he stays at least one lesson ahead of the people who he's teaching, which often does. So he teaches so many different things, but all he does is works to stay just a little bit ahead of the people that he's teaching, so that he can go back and teach it, and of course, as as you and I would say when he's teaching it, he also learns a whole lot more. But I think it's such a clever book.   John D Marvin ** 54:11 It sounds like it science fiction, but if I if that, when that strikes me that'll be one I put down to read.   Michael Hingson ** 54:23 I think it's the I believe it's high lines better. His best book. A lot of people talk about another one called Stranger in a Strange Land, which is about Mars and the earth. But I think that the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Was his best book, most imaginative book, which is kind of fun, yeah, but you know, it's, it's, it's just one of those things that I've just it's always stuck with me that dela Paz did that well. So over the time, being the president and CEO of Texas State Optical, i. Uhm, how has that shaped or changed your your views on leadership? Because I'm sure you've, you've had lots to do and lots to think about. I'm sure it's had an effect on you.   John D Marvin ** 55:12 Yeah, I, I think the biggest impact has been it's, it's of what it's required of me in in developing my leadership abilities and deep and making those abilities effective towards an outcome. And let me try to shed on that I mentioned earlier. I'm a student of Maxwell, and Maxwell has a definition of leadership is influence, and and he said leadership is is influence. It's nothing more than that. And, and so at first I didn't know what that meant. And then, as he goes on to explain, and it makes sense, oftentimes, you will, the leadership is not a matter of title. It's not a matter of position. Leadership is influence and the ability to influence. And you can walk into a room and you will observe the group, and in one corner, maybe somebody that is obviously the focus of the attention of the others, and that person is exerting leadership influence. They may not be the may not have title, and they may not be in any position of authority over the others, but the others will follow that person, because that person has influence on them. And so I've in my understanding of that, and then trying to live that I've seen that develop in my own ability. And then I have to sit down and say, okay, if I'm going to be a leader of my team, my executives that will report to me, how am I going to provide that influence. And so you begin to break that down and try to figure out because everyone's different. I mean, I I have four people that report to me, each one of them, I will have to affect and influence those people differently. And it starts with understanding them. And so what it's done is it's helped me to really understand that principle that offered by Maxwell, and then how to incorporate that into my life, so that I feel now confident in my ability to be a leader of any group or situation I find myself in, and I've just agreed to accept a new responsibility in a trade association, and I have confidence that I can provide a strong level of leadership, not because I'm the smartest person in the room, but because I have the ability of providing influence over that organization or in that group through better understanding of others that I Have a position over, so to speak. But you know, it's like the best arenas to develop leadership is a volunteer organization, because that's the only way you're going to get anything done, is to have influence, because these people don't have to do anything that you say. And so oftentimes, if you have the authority, you misuse it, and you provide nothing in the way of leadership to a group. That happens all the time.   Michael Hingson ** 59:13 I think that too many, and I use the term in quotes, leaders, think that the whole idea is that they're the boss. Well, bosses are not necessarily leaders, and you're right. Leaders are not necessarily bosses. Directly. It is all about influence. And unfortunately, all too often, the people who have influence may not be the designated leader, but then the leaders or bosses get jealous of those people, which is also extremely unfortunate they don't get it.   John D Marvin ** 59:45 It's a it can be threatening if you're a boss and you've got people that are supposed to report to you and they're listening or being influenced by someone else who may not be. Intentionally trying to subvert the boss. It's just they, they're more effective in that and so that's threatening. And so oftentimes, given that authority, they misuse it. And   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:15 the good leaders, however, when they see that happening, will try to go and understand from in part, the person who's the real influencer, what it is that they need to improve on to be able to be more effective. But that happens so rarely, by comparison to the number of people who are out there.   John D Marvin ** 1:00:38 Yeah, it's too often politics, and I don't mean that in the government sense, but corporate politics determines positions of authority, and you end up with a bunch of very ill equipped people with an awful lot of leadership responsibilities, but lacking in any kind of real leadership skill,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:02 yeah, which is something that we need to devote more time to teaching, but people also need to be willing to learn it, and that gets to be a challenge. Well, I have to tell you, this has been fun, and I know you have other things to do in the course of the day and enjoying the weather down there, so I want to let you go, but I really have enjoyed having you on and I've enjoyed all the different insights that you've brought. So I really appreciate you being here to do all of that. So maybe we'll have it again. That would be kind of fun.   John D Marvin ** 1:01:41 Well, my I've thoroughly enjoyed this as I mean, you make it so easy to visit. You're You're a tremendous host and good interviewer, good questions. You threw a couple at me there that I had to really stop and think about. And so anytime you'd be willing to have me back. I'd love to join you again sometime.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:02 Well, I want to thank you, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching us today. We really appreciate you being here. I'd love to hear your thoughts on today and what we've talked about. You're welcome to email me. It's easy. It's Michael, M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I V, e.com, or go to our podcast page, which is at www dot Michael hingson.com/podcast, and Michael hingson is spelled M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, S O, n.com/podcast, if you know anyone else who you think ought to be a guest on our podcast, love to hear from you. We're always looking for more people to chat with. And in part, my motivation is I want to learn too. But the more people who come on, the more people we get to learn about who themselves are unstoppable. So please don't hesitate to refer people to it. And you know, John, you as well. We really value that wherever you listening, give us a five star rating. We value that. We appreciate your ratings and and love them. But once again, John, I want to thank you. This has been absolutely fun, and I'm glad you came   John D Marvin ** 1:03:13 well. Thank you. Thank you very much.   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:20 you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!In this special Friday episode, Evon returns to break down the recently passed proposed House bill - the “Big Beautiful Bill Act” - and what it could mean for optometrists. While it's a long way from becoming actual law, it's helpful to know what exactly is one the table and what changes to expect related to tax planning and student loans. This episode explores key tax extensions, how they impact private practice owners, and the major proposed overhaul to student loan repayment plans that could significantly affect current and future borrowers.You'll hear what's in the bill, what's likely to change, and what it all could mean for your tax planning and student loan strategy. From extended tax brackets and deductions to a major overhaul of income-driven repayment plans, Evon walks you through the key points in plain language.He also shares what he's watching closely as this bill moves to the Senate, and why some of the proposed student loan changes may be concerning for current borrowers.This is a must-listen if you want to stay ahead of what could impact your personal and business finances in the near future.

In this important episode, Dr. Emily Aslakson and Mr. Philip Himebaugh discuss how optometrists and vision therapists can play a crucial role in suicide prevention. Learn how to recognize suicide risk factors, initiate life-saving conversations, and connect patients to the help they need.What You'll Learn:How optometrists can identify suicide risk in patientsReal-life examples of suicide risk in vision careTools for asking difficult but vital questionsThe importance of triage and timely referralResources for suicide prevention trainingResources Mentioned:National Suicide prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK(8255QPR Training: Question-Persuade-Refer Training. Three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide:  https://qprinstitute.com/Psychology today to search for local mental health providers. https://www.psychologytoday.com/usISPATHWARM acronym: ideation, substance abuse, purposelessness, anxiety, trapped, hopelessness, withdrawal, anger, recklessness, mood changes.Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741If you liked this episode, click here to send me a message. I also appreciate guest and topic suggestions.Click the link above to message me directly. It comes to me as FAN MAIL! How great is that? Just click on the place that says, "If you liked this episode CLICK HERE:"

Dr. Masoud Nafey is a technology expert who brings a wide array of views about how Optometry might utilize the tools at their discretion to best connect with the 21st century health and eye care consumer.  He provides an excellent insight to how we might advance as a profession while the patients advance toward more of a consumerist approach to consuming their eye care.  From a family of Afghan refugees, he has an incredible sense of the importance of education and shares why that has shaped his path in Optometry, following a wandering career of entrepreneurism that started in his youth.  He's a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry and achieved an MBA to demonstrate his commitment to being a business person as much as a Doctor of Optometry.    The Stories within the Story include: 1:11 The Patient Mindset Story 4:53 The Online Shopper Story 9:22 The Professional Advancement Story 15:32 The Metaverse Story 20:04 The Afghan Refugee Story 28:06 The Athletics Story 31:23 The AI in Eyecare Story 36:03 The Mentorship Story 37:42 The Business Mindedness Story 42:13 The Hope Story   Runtime:  44 min.

This episode explores the connection between untreated vision loss and brain health. We follow 78-year-old Walter Kuntz, a retired Canada Post employee, as he recounts his vision challenges – and consequent triumphs – and the steps he undertook to alleviate deteriorating eyesight caused by cataracts. He also shares his experiences with eye surgery and the life-changing benefits afterwards. Dr. Walter Wittich, Associate Professor at the School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, and Québec's first Certified Low Vision Therapist, shares his work with older adults facing vision and hearing loss, exploring dual sensory impairment and acquired deafblindness. Dr. Wittich shares how vision loss can impact the brain and tangible strategies and resources on how everyone can protect their vision and reduce their dementia risk.

Dry Eyes No More: The Revolutionary Drink Saving Your Vision Theeyedrink.com About the Guest(s): Dr. Roger Wu - Dr. Wu is an experienced optometrist who has been in private practice for over 25 years. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Rutgers University and obtained his Doctorate in Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Leveraging his extensive experience in eye care and his passion for innovation, Dr. Wu has co-founded 20/20 Incorporated, dealing with eye health beverages. Jorge Olson - Olson is a beverage industry expert with over 20 years of experience. He has launched a plethora of beverages and has been instrumental in taking five companies public, raising over $100 million. He is the author of several business and marketing books, including "Build Your Beverage Empire." Olson serves as the CMO of 20/20 Incorporated, bringing his expertise to the forefront of eye-health functional beverages. Episode Summary: In this enlightening episode of The Chris Voss Show, Chris dives into a fascinating discussion with Dr. Roger Wu and Jorge Olson about the new venture by 20/20 Incorporated. The company has introduced a breakthrough product, the Eye Drink, a functional beverage scientifically formulated to address eye health for digital device users. This episode brings to light the burgeoning issue of digital eye strain affecting millions globally, and how this pioneering beverage proposes a convenient solution. Dr. Wu and Jorge Olson delve into a detailed conversation about the formulation and benefits of the Eye Drink, which targets dry eyes and macular health. The rise in digital device usage has led to an increase in eye-related issues, impacting individuals even at a younger age. The Eye Drink, backed by scientific research and designed to maintain eye health, becomes particularly relevant in this digital age. From insightful case studies to discussing the societal implications of prolonged screen usage, the guests provide listeners with in-depth knowledge and practical solutions to better eye health. Key Takeaways: The Eye Drink by 20/20 Incorporated is the world's first ready-to-drink functional beverage created specifically to aid in eye health for digital device users. Digital device usage has been linked to an increase in eye-related issues such as dry eyes and macular degeneration, affecting even younger populations. The beverage is based on the AREDS2 formulation, incorporating essential nutrients and Omega-3 to combat screen-induced eye problems. Both over-the-counter eye drops and prescription medications have limited efficacy, while the Eye Drink offers a convenient and scientifically-backed solution. Jorge Olson and Dr. Wu stress the importance of reducing screen time and investing in blue light filtering lenses to protect eye health further. Notable Quotes: "We know the cause of digital eye strain and are focused on developing an effective, scientifically-based solution." - Dr. Roger Wu "One bottle a day can help maintain your eye health if you spend two hours or more daily on a screen." - Jorge Olson "It's not just about solving a health problem; it's about addressing a massive social issue created by technology." - Jorge Olson "Our formulation is based on the large international study AREDS2 to ensure efficacy and support macular health." - Dr. Roger Wu "The Eye Drink is made to solve a societal problem, and our go-to-market strategy includes both wholesale distribution and direct from doctors' offices." - Jorge Olson Resources: Visit the Eye Drink website for more details and orders: theidrink.com Explore Jorge Olson's books such as "Build Your Beverage Empire". Follow Chris Voss for more episodes: Goodreads, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok. Embark on a journey to healthier eyes by listening to this full episode! Stay tuned for more innovative conversations and insightful stories on the Chris Voss Show.

When we visit the doctor, we routinely measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight, and heart rate.  For years, we've known that early life experiences—especially stress and adversity—leave long-lasting marks on the nervous system. But we rarely stop to ask: How can we see those marks?That's where the eye comes in. Why the Eye Reveals the BrainThe corneal nerve plexus is a dense network of sensory nerves at the front of the eye. It's part of the peripheral nervous system, which connects directly to the brain.Emerging research shows that these corneal nerves reflect the state of the broader nervous system, including:Stress loadInflammatory markersNeurodegenerative changesIn other words: When we look at the eye, we're not just seeing vision structures—we're seeing a living map of how the brain and body have been shaped over time. I had the fortunate opportunity to do study leave at UC Berkeley in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, a research project with Drs Katie Edwards and Luisa Holguin Colorado  and Kerri Gillepie at QUT and Dr Suzanne Fleiszig  and Dr David Evans at UC Berkeley.Why Isn't Nervous System Analysis Routine?Here's the bigger question.When we visit the doctor, we routinely measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight, and heart rate. But the nervous system—the control center of our entire body—is rarely assessed in standard care.Why?We know that chronic stress increases risk for mental illness, metabolic disease, cardiovascular conditions, and cognitive decline. We know that early life stress reshapes neural pathways and immune responses. Yet we lack accessible, affordable, and scalable tools to routinely check the health of the nervous system.That's what makes the eye so exciting. It offers a non-invasive, real-time window into nervous system health—and a chance to shift medicine toward prevention and early detection, rather than just reacting to crisis.In this episode we discuss:How the eye reveals hidden stressWhat we're learning about the links between early life adversity and neural healthWhy public engagement is critical as we develop these new toolsThis is a conversation not just for scientists, but for everyone who cares about mental health, brain health, and the future of healthcare. I'd love to hear what excites or concerns you about this emerging field. When we truly see how early life shapes the brain, we can no longer treat people as just symptoms or diagnoses.It opens a new kind of care: Asking what happened to you? not just what's wrong? Making nervous system health part of routine care Prioritising prevention, resilience, and healingBy measuring the hidden imprints of experience, we can design treatments that help rewire the brain, not just manage symptoms.This isn't just science. It's a transformation in how we care for people.Let's build that future, together. Support the showSubscribe and support the podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/newLearn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Ciano shares insights into his journey in pediatric optometry. Dr. Ciano moved to Indiana and started an adult clinic 18 years ago, expanding into pediatric care 12 years ago. Now with four practices, he discusses the unique challenges and rewards of pediatric eye care. Highlights include essential qualities for pediatric specialists, the significance of compassionate staff, and effective marketing strategies, particularly the benefits of consistent communication with pediatricians. Dr. Ciano also emphasizes the importance of creating an inviting environment for children and the importance of balancing fun and professionalism in pediatric care.   Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Lee Raykovicz, OD, a mortgage broker with Go Rascal Mortgages.   On today's episode we dive into what goes into the mortgage underwriting process, how practice owners can get creative when it comes to purchasing their homes, the details on what Physician loans actually are and how they work, how to think about the total DTI ratio when thinking about your mortgage & student loans, and ARM strategy ideas in today's rate environment.   As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that's filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also set up a Triage conversation to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you're interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more.   And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Lee Raykovicz.   Resources: 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Contact Lee   ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Last month, UC Berkeley researchers published a study about how they tricked the eye into seeing a new color. It was a highly saturated teal, a peacock green, the greenest of all greens. The scientists produced this color, which they named “olo,” by shining a laser into the eye and stimulating one type of color-sensitive photoreceptor cells called cones. Austin Roorda, a professor of optometry and vision science at Berkeley's School of Optometry, developed the optical imaging platform they used in this project. It's called Oz, after the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In the 1939 film adaptation, the lead character, Dorothy, goes from her black-and-white farm in Kansas to the color world of Oz.“Ozvision is really directly tied to the book and to the movie where the Emerald City is this unearthly green color,” said Roorda. “The intent and the aspiration was to elicit that same kind of response by going from a natural-colored world to a supernatural-colored world by a direct stimulation of these cones.” It has enormous potential, he said, to transform how we understand and treat eye diseases, and to expand the way we see the world around us.Listen to the episode and read the transcript on UC Berkeley News (news.berkeley.edu/podcasts).Music by Blue Dot Sessions.Photo via Unsplash+This is the last episode of our Berkeley Voices series on transformation. In eight episodes, we have looked at how transformation — of ideas, of research, of perspective — shows up in the work that happens every day at UC Berkeley. We'll be back with a new series in the fall.See all episodes of the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!In this rewind of a popular episode, Andrew Berkin, PhD - head of research at Bridgeway Capital Mangement and author of The Incredible Shrinking Alpha - joins the podcast to discuss why active investment management fails, and why you're unlikely to get the outperformance you're looking for. Evon and Andrew dive into:Research behind why active management fails - both for individual investors and professional managersWhat an "efficient market" means, and why stock markets are efficientWhat is passive investing? Why passive investing goes beyond index fundsWhat investor SHOULD focus on, if not trying to actively pick investments.And so much more!Andrew brings so much wisdom and expertise to the conversation. Hopefully this helps optometrists better understand their own investment approach and why it may or may not make sense.And hopefully it encourages you to take an evidence-based, research-based approach to investing, just like you might take an evidence-based approach to optometry.Have questions on anything discussed or want to have topics or questions featured on the show? Send Evon an email at podcast@optometrywealth.com.Check out www.optometrywealth.com to get to know more about Evon, his financial planning firm Optometry Wealth Advisors, and how he helps optometrists nationwide. From there, you can schedule a short Intro call to share what's on your mind and learn how Evon helps ODs master their cash flow and debt, build their net worth, and plan purposefully around their money and their practices. Resources mentioned on this episode:Andrew Berkin, PhD - Bridgeway Capital ManagementPerspectives - Bridgeway Capital ManagementThe Incredible Shrinking Alpha bookYour Complete Guide to Factor-Based Investing bookSPIVA Active vs. Passive ScorecardSPIVA US Persistency ScorecardThe Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

With so may IOP-lowering drops on the market, it can be challenging to know which is the most appropriate drop to start a patient on for glaucoma.  How does one choose between the variety of prostaglandin analogs, beta blockers, alpha agonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors that are available?  When whould one choose monoterapy vs combination therapies?  How do the drops' side effect profiles influence one's first choice on which drop to start?  Glaucoma specialist Dr. Irfan Kherani joins the podcast.This episode is sponsored by Thea Pharma Canada - https://www.theapharma.ca Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/blind-spot-the-eye-doctor-s-podcast--5819306/support.

Dr. Verruto shares his life journey to what is now New Paltz Eye Care.

Dr. Jeanine Cook-Garard learns about eye care—specifically, cataracts and the surgical options available to restore clear vision. Learn about what causes cataracts, how they affect your sight, and what you need to know about cataract surgery.  She speaks with Dr. Daniel Charles Hamou, an Ophthalmologist at the Northwell Health Eye Institutes at Port Jefferson, Ridge and Riverhead, NY.

Ian is back for his third time on the podcast to discuss his experience healing from Lyme Disease, Bell's Palsy, and what his plans are moving forward after graduation. Ian and I have always found it easy to talk about a wide variety of subjects. In this longer episode we openly discuss our ideas and behaviors we believe have and are helping us to not only do what we enjoy, but do it better than we did before. Ian has always had a strong interest in biology and wellness, and he always comes up with interesting scientific research. He has plans to work in the Optometry field in order to help others live healthier lives, and I have no doubt he will one day accomplish this goal. We hope you enjoy the discussion!

You don't need more patients — you need more from each visit.  That's the lesson Dr. Janelle Davison learned after transforming her practice into a lean, high-performing operation that runs on technology and trust. She didn't scale by adding exam slots. She scaled by designing a smarter model, one that prioritizes revenue per patient and gets patients saying “yes” before they even walk in the door. 

What happens when the doctor becomes the patient?

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!In this episode of the Optometry Money Podcast, Evon Mendrin talks with Dr. Neda Gioia, the owner of Integrative Vision. Dr. Gioia shares her journey into optometry, what led her to cold-start her own practice, and how a personal health crisis inspired her to adopt an integrative healthcare approach within optometry. She discusses how she blends traditional eye care with holistic health practices, addressing root causes of dysfunction rather than just treating symptoms.Dr. Gioia also dives into her transition from insurance-based to a concierge model of care, the challenges of integrating holistic healthcare into an optometry practice, and how she navigates patient education and staff training to make her practice unique and impactful.Key Takeaways:Integrative Healthcare in Optometry: Dr. Gioia explains how addressing root causes rather than just symptoms benefits patients holistically.Transition to a Concierge Model: She shares insights into moving away from insurance and creating a more personalized, patient-centered approach.Education and Patient Engagement: Learn how Dr. Gioia educates her staff and patients about the benefits of holistic health practices.Practice Management Tips: Practical advice on starting small, trial and error, and gradually building a holistic model within an optometry practice.Overcoming Challenges: Discover the biggest obstacles Dr. Gioia faced, from patient communication to system integration.Links and Resources Mentioned:Integrative Vision WebsiteDr. Neda Gioia's WebsiteAmerican Academy of Anti-Aging MedicineOcular Wellness and Nutrition SocietyAmerican Nutrition AssociationInstitute of Functional MedicineConnect with Us:Visit our WebsiteSend your questions to podcast@optometrywealth.comSubscribe & ShareIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. Share it with your colleagues!Thank you for listening! Stay tuned for more episodes of the Optometry Money Podcast.The Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

As clinical research expands within the optometry field, the research coordinator's role is gaining long-overdue recognition. These professionals make research feasible and compliant in everyday eye care settings. Whether you're an optometrist seeking to diversify your services or a professional exploring a new career path, understanding the function and value of the research coordinator can open doors to innovation and impact.

In this episode, Dr. Manning shares some key takeaways from the 2025 PECAA Annual Meeting and the power of storytelling. Key takeaways:Humans are far more likely to remember details, facts, and information when they're wrapped in a story v. just shared individually. In fact, facts are up to 22x more likely to be remembered when they're wrapped into a narrative than shared individually.Humans primarily make decisions in the right hemisphere of the brain - tapping into more of the emotional creative side - and then it reaches the left hemisphere where we use logic and rational thinking to justify the decision. If we only lead with the logical and rationality with our patients, we miss the most critical aspects of their decision making process.There are multiple ways of crafting a story but two of them work really well in business - the PIxar method and the Storybrand method.Story provides extra significance and value to the products you sell. In 2009, two journalists purchased 100 random useless items for a total of $129.  They listed the items on eBay and had writers craft a story for the item itself. In the end, they were able to sell the items for more than $3,600 all due to the value a customer associated with the item due to its story.Practice Advantage Reading List** Don't miss out on an extra $10 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Earn up to an additional $60,000 in 2025 just by taking great care of patients. Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!How can optometrists improve their portfolios beyond basic index funds, without risky trading? Evon Mendrin provides an OD's guide to Factor-Based Investing.Evon discusses:What factors are and their role in investment returns.Five criteria to identify reliable investment factors.Key factors: Market, Small, Value, Profitability, Investment, and Momentum.Why factors exist, explained through risk and behavioral finance.Common misconceptions around factor investing.Practical tips for implementing factors in your portfolio, including tilting and core-and-satellite approaches.Who should and shouldn't consider factor investing based on goals and risk tolerance.This episode highlights a disciplined, long-term investment strategy. While it's certainly not guaranteed, it can be an evidence, research-backed approach to improving your portfolio without falling into the trap of active investment trading. Resources Mentioned:Ep 94: Why Active Investment Management Fails with Andrew Berkin, PhD"Your Complete Guide to Factor-Based Investing" by Andrew Berkin and Larry SwedroeMovie: DFA's Tune Out The NoiseQuestions?Email Evon at podcast@optometrywealth.com.Stay Connected:Click here to Subscribe to the Eyes On The Money Newsletter for weekly financial insights tailored specifically to optometrists.Have Questions? CLICK HERE to schedule a short introductory callIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it!Thanks for listening!The Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

In this episode of "Lunch Date with Rachel and Kate," the hosts dive into a data-driven discussion on optometry salaries, highlighting key findings from three major sources: Eyes on Eyecare, Review of Optometry, and ODs on Finance.

All the colours of the rainbow, plus oneResearchers have fired lasers directly into the eye to stimulate photoreceptors, and produce the perception of a colour that does not exist in nature. They describe it as a “supersaturated teal,” and hope the technique will allow them to better understand colour vision and perhaps lead to treatments for vision problems. Austin Roorda has been developing this technology using mirrors, lasers and optical devices. He is a professor of Optometry and Vision Science at University of California, Berkeley. The study was published in the journal Science Advances.Following in the footsteps of an ancient ankylosaurPaleontologists have found fossil footprints of an armoured dinosaur in the Canadian Rockies that fill in a critical gap in the fossil record. The footprints belonged to a club-tailed ankylosaur about five to six metres long, and are the first evidence of this type of dinosaur living in North America in a period known as the middle Cretaceous. The research was led by Victoria Arbour, curator of paleontology at the Royal B.C. Museum, and published in the journal Vertebrate Paleontology.Did the Neanderthals die from sunburn?Neanderthals disappeared 40,000 years ago, and new research suggests this corresponds to a period of weakness in the Earth's magnetic field that allowed an increase in the solar radiation reaching the surface. Researchers think they have evidence that modern humans were able to protect themselves from the sun better than Neanderthals could, and this might have contributed to the Neanderthal extinction. Raven Garvey is an anthropologist at the University of Michigan. Her team's research was published in the journal Science. Cloudy with a chance of ammonia mushballsNew observations and models of activity within Jupiter's stormy atmosphere is giving a weather report for the giant planet, and it's pretty extreme. Most interestingly, researchers predict conditions that could lead to violent lightning storms producing softball sized frozen ammonia “mushballs” that would rain through the upper atmosphere. The research was led by Chris Moeckel, a planetary scientist and aerospace engineer at the University of California-Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, and was published in the journal Science Advances.Shattering heat records: climate change is turning out to be worse than expectedIn the last few years, we've seen global temperatures rising faster, with more extreme localized heatwaves, than climate models predicted. Climate scientists are trying to understand this by investigating the underlying factors behind these heating trends. Richard Allan, from the University of Reading in the U.K., was expecting a larger than normal rise in global temperatures due to natural fluctuations, but global temperatures in 2023 and 2024 were much higher than expected. Their recent study in the journal Environmental Research Letters found a growing imbalance in the earth's heat system, with increasingly more heat coming in than leaving, in large part due to changes we've seen in global cloud cover.This global heating is not happening evenly around the world. Kai Kornhuber, from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and Columbia Climate School in New York, found regional hotspots that are experiencing unexpected extreme heat, likely due to a combination of factors. That study is in the journal PNAS. 

What is functional optometryHow we get stronger vision todayWhat should parents know about screen timeHow do we combat eye strainIG: peek2peakvisionEmail: peek2peakvision@gmail.comWebsite: www.peekeyes.comJacinta Yeung Olson has always been fascinated by how intricate the human body is. When she first explored a career in optometry, she was intrigued by the area of vision therapy. However, she never expected how broad her area of interest has become through understanding and addressing functional vision. As she moves into the next step of her career, she's excited to partner with other providers and help individuals enhance performance through vision. Jacinta and her husband, Josh, also an optometrist, have been practicing in Boulder for the last 7-10 years and they look forward to expanding their care in the Erie/Lafayette area. 1) what is functional vision exam and how is it different from any eye exam?2) Post-concussion/TBI recovery3) either developmental vision in kids /vision and learning or improving vision for longevity

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!How should optometrists approach investing their hard-earned money? With thousands of mutual funds and countless investment strategies, deciding can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Evon dives deep into index investing—explaining clearly why passive investing through broad market index funds consistently outperforms active management.He explores the fascinating history of index funds, the robust academic research behind them, and exactly why an evidence-based, passive approach makes sense for optometrists. Evon also breaks down common misconceptions around "settling for average" and explains how choosing simplicity, lower costs, and broad diversification can significantly boost long-term investment success.You likely aim to take an evidence-based approach to optometry, and Evon's suggestion is to take the same approach to finance and investing.Highlights of the Episode:What Exactly Are Index Funds? Evon defines indexes and index funds clearly, showing how they provide easy access to broad markets at low cost.The Fascinating History Behind Index Funds Learn how groundbreaking academic research in the 1960s and 70s led to the creation of index funds, and why the initial skepticism turned into widespread adoption.Evidence of Index Funds Outperforming Active Management Evon shares compelling data, such as the SPIVA Report findings, showing that over 80-90% of active managers fail to beat their benchmark index over long periods.Why Active Investing Often Falls Short Explaining why consistently outperforming the market through active investing is incredibly challenging.Fees and Taxes Matter Understand how high fees and tax inefficiencies can significantly erode your returns, making index funds even more attractive.Diversification is Your Friend Evon details shocking statistics about individual stock performance and shows how index funds naturally diversify your portfolio, increasing your odds of owning top-performing stocks.Simplicity is Strength Discover why investing doesn't need to be complex, and how simplicity through index investing can lead to better investment behavior and results.Resources Mentioned:Ep 94: Why Active Investment Management Fails with Andrew Berkin, PhDSPIVA Report - Year End 2024S&P's US Persistency Scorecard - Year End 2023Morningstar's Active/Passive BarometerHendrick Bessembinder (2018): Do Stocks Outperform Treasury Bills?Movie: DFA's Tune Out The NoiseBook: A Random Walk Down Wall StreetStay Connected:Click here to Subscribe to the Eyes On The Money Newsletter for weekly financial insights tailored specifically to optometrists.Have Questions? CLICK HERE to schedule a short introductory callThe Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

With so much change in the geopolitical landscape and in the world of optometry, it is natural that many current and prospective optometry students may be worried about studying in the United States. In this episode, I sat down with two current students at the New England College of Optometry, Nyah Miranda and Ewan Kelly, about their journey as pre-optometry and current optometry students. Learn about what life is like in Boston and how NECO is supporting students through these tumultuous times. Big thanks to NECO for providing space and organizing these conversations!Connect with Harbir:InstagramLinkedInYouTube

In this episode of Eye Give a Damn, Dr. Allen is joined by Dr. Neal Troyer — optometrist, educator, and co-founder of the Eyecare Republic — for a powerful conversation about the future of eye care and the deeper connections between vision, nutrition, and wellness. They discuss why Dr. Troyer helped launch a new independent ECP alliance and the challenges facing traditional optometry in the age of tech and telehealth. With a shared passion for how lifestyle impacts eye health, Dr. Allen and Dr. Troyer also dig into the science behind nutrition and its role in preventing conditions like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. They also explore the potential benefits (and limitations) of intermittent fasting, and what ODs can do to better educate patients about dietary choices that protect their vision. Eye Give a Damn hosted by Dr. Joseph Allen is produced by FluoreSCENE Media. For more information on Dr. Joseph Allen visit https://doctoreyehealth.com/ Visit https://odcommunity.com/ to learn more about FluoreSCENE Media. 

Dr. Howard Purcell is one of the most well-known names in the optometry community. From his vast experience working in industry (from Johnson & Johnson to Essilor) and now his role as the President and CEO of the New England College of Optometry, Dr. Purcell truly is an influential figure in the industry.In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Purcell at NECO about a variety of topics that are affecting both students and optometrists. From changes in board exams to navigating student debt, there are a lot of topics on top of students' minds at this time. Beyond optometry school, there are questions about the future of the profession including how to continue attracting high-quality candidates and improving access to care. Is the answer more schools? Does increased industry involvement help? How much industry involvement is ok?This conversation will bring a lot of value to students, new grads, and veteran optometrists who are interested in thinking of new ways to improve optometry school and elevate the profession as a whole.Connect with Harbir:InstagramLinkedInYouTube

Send us a textAbout Dr. Mila IoussifovaDr. Mila Ioussifova graduated with honors from the New England College of Optometry and completed a residency program in community health and ocular disease in Boston, MA. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is on the leadership team of the Anterior Segment Section of the AAO. Dr. Mila served as an adjunct clinical faculty at the Pacific University College of Optometry and was an examiner for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. She is involved with her state association and advocacy efforts, and she is the Director of Education for the Oregon Optometric Physicians Association. Dr. Mila is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist and is a fellow of the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society. Dr. Mila owns a private practice in Portland, OR, with special interests in advanced dry eye treatments, nutritional counseling, and aesthetic services.

Dr. Michael Neal, the visionary behind Build My Team, transforms private practice hiring with insights inspired by industry giants like Disney and the Four Seasons. As a former optometrist, Dr. Neal witnessed firsthand the pitfalls of traditional hiring methods plagued by high turnover and deceptive resumes. Join us as he shares his groundbreaking approach, which focuses on evaluating candidates' natural strengths, such as stress tolerance and learning speed, rather than relying on embellished work histories. This strategy not only enhances employee satisfaction and retention but also revolutionizes the way private practices across North America recruit talent.Discover how Dr. Neal's innovative system redefines efficiency in the hiring process, particularly for medical practices. By using a unique combination of a 15-minute assessment and video interviews, employers can swiftly eliminate unsuitable candidates, saving invaluable time and effort. This episode also delves into profit growth strategies that allow business owners to optimize both work efficiency and profitability. We encourage listener feedback to help us refine our approach and continue providing insights that boost your business success. Whether you're a practice owner or a hiring manager, these insights are invaluable for making informed decisions that lead to long-term success.

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! What would I do if I were starting an optometric practice from the ground up? A listener posed the question—and I went deep. In this episode, I walk through everything from choosing the right location (hint: geography is everything) to building the skills that matter most when you're just getting started. We cover:   Why defining your Ideal Patient Avatar (IPA) is mission-critical The underrated value of sales coaching and communication training Why I'd buy a small-town practice instead of cold-starting in suburbia The non-negotiables when assembling your professional advisory team   Whether you're dreaming about opening your own practice or wondering how you'd do it differently if you had a do-over, this episode is full of real-world insight and practical advice. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that's filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also set up a Triage conversation to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you're interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more.   Resources: 20/20 Money Membership Information OD Masterminds Request Form Tim Ferriss Fear Setting Jen Stewart from IDOC 2024   ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!Are you pulling the right levers in your tax planning?In this episode, Evon walks through key strategic levers you can (and should) be using to improve your tax outcomes as an optometrist—especially if you're a private practice owner. aWhile most conversations focus on deductions, this episode takes a step back to look at the full tax picture and the levers that truly move the needle in your personal and practice finances.You'll learn:How the flow of a tax return works and why it matters for planningThe types of income that trigger different tax treatmentWhy Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is one of the most important numbers to watchWhat to know about the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction—and how to avoid phasing outA strategic case study showing how one planning move unlocked multiple tax benefitsHow to think about tax payments, safe harbor rules, and avoiding surprises at tax time

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Steve Faith, co-owner of Livermore Optometry Group in Livermore, CA to discuss data driven decision making with vendor partners, what a good partnership looks like, and leveraging the right data to drive practice success. Key Takeaways: Best advice: "Independent practice is not that difficult. You only have to do two things. Make sure people like you and control your personal and professional overhead."At one point, LOG worked with over 40 different vendors. When looking only at their optical, they had 30-35 reps calling on them regularly. It cost the practice $100 an hour in staff costs to see reps, equalling more than $40,000 a year.LOG looked at various industries for insight on how to improve their vendor purchasing habits and their data to influence their  purchasing. EdgePro made a huge difference in tapping the data in the EHR system to make better purchasing decisions.Vendor data has not been all that impactful for Livermore as it's focused primarily on the vendor partner's product but does not take into account the practice as a whole. Bringing the practice level data into the conversation has a much greater impact.Great vendor partners are ones that know the practice individually and provide the support the practice needs. Great partners are willing to work with the needs of the practice based on the data the practice has.For Livermore, the VSP practice report has been valuable to providing even greater insight into their patient base and other practices in their area.Practice Advantage Reading List** Don't miss out on an extra $10 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Earn up to an additional $60,000 in 2025 just by taking great care of patients. Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

In this episode of the Aaron Werner Podcast, Dr. Aaron Werner is joined by Dr. Carl Urbanski and Dr. Andy Morgenstern—two key leaders behind the AOA's Evidence-Based Optometry Committee. Together, they pull back the curtain on the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) that shape how optometrists diagnose and manage disease. What You'll Learn: • What the AOA Clinical Practice Guidelines really are—and why they matter • The 14-step, evidence-first process behind each guideline • How to use CPGs in real-world clinical settings to improve patient care • Why prevalence data should change how you see your schedule • The difference between “great pickups” and just doing your job well • Why CPGs are NOT influenced by industry or billing priorities—only evidence • How students, staff, and even patients can benefit from engaging with guidelines To access the AOA Clinical Practice Guidelines (Free Access) CLICK HERE (https://www.aoa.org/practice/clinical-guidelines/clinical-practice-guidelines?sso=y) Whether you're in private practice, academia, or a hospital system, this episode is packed with insights on how to be a better doctor, not just a busier one. Share with your team or students—this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to elevate care through clinical clarity. ________________________ questions@eyecode-education.com Go to MacuHealth.com and use the coupon code PODCAST2024 at checkout for special discounts Let's Connect! Follow and join the conversation! Instagram: @aaron_werner_vision  

Questions? Thoughts? Send a Text to The Optometry Money Podcast!In this episode of The Optometry Money Podcast, host Evon Mendrin welcomes back Erich Mattei of Akrinos for a follow-up conversation focused on creating a pathway for associate doctors to become partners in your optometry practice.Whether you're an owner thinking about bringing on a partner or an associate doctor aiming to own part of a practice, this episode unpacks the key considerations you need to know.In this episode, you'll learn:The motivations for bringing on a partner (succession planning, growth, and shared leadership)Why starting the conversation early is critical for practice ownersWhat owners should look for in a future partner beyond clinical skillsHow modernizing business operations can make ownership more attractiveThe essentials of structuring a partnership: timelines, financing options, and compensationLegal documents you must have when structuring partnerships and exitsFinal tips for owners and associates to create win-win opportunitiesResources Mentioned:Ep 124: Scaling and Freedom – When, Why, and How to Add an Associate Optometrist with Erich MatteiWomen in Optometry: Guiding the Future: Doctor's Transition Plan Begins to Take ShapeLearn more about Akrinos: Akrinos WebsiteEyes on the Money Weekly Newsletter - Get 2025's Most Important NumbersThe Partnership Charter by David GageThe Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

In honor of the podcast's fifth year anniversary, Deepon and Amrit host another popular Happy Hour episode and play an Optometry version of “Have You Ever”. So grab your drink, sit back, and listen as our two hosts go down memory lane of their most wild patient experiences!

Is Arkansas the best place to practice optometry in the United States? Thanks to a groundbreaking new law targeting Vision Benefit Manager abuse, the state has made a powerful case. On February 25, 2024, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Act 142 into law—legislation designed to protect optometrists and their patients from anti-competitive practices orchestrated by […]

John D. Marvin is a visionary entrepreneur, acclaimed columnist, and influential leader dedicated to empowering others to unlock their full potential. As President and CEO of Texas State Optical, John has cultivated a thriving business network while spearheading initiatives in health and wellness consulting and eyecare partnerships. With a steadfast commitment to personal growth, John has spent years studying the transformative power of mindset and the “inner game” in achieving success. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Through his unwavering dedication to making a difference, John D. Marvin epitomizes the essence of leadership and empowerment, making him a compelling guest for any podcast seeking to inspire and motivate their audience. TSO brings in around 110M$ in revenue annually.      

In this insightful episode, Aaron Werner and Dr. Masoud Nafey explore the role of technology and AI in transforming the field of optometry. They discuss the challenges of building the perfect EHR, the impact of AI on patient care, and how automation can free optometrists to focus on more meaningful interactions. From real-time data insights to the potential for AI-assisted refractions, this conversation offers a glimpse into the future of medical eye care, operational efficiencies, and the importance of embracing change. Tune in to hear about the opportunities and challenges AI presents for eye care professionals and how it can ultimately lead to better patient outcomes. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-masoud-nafey IG: @drnafey ________________________ questions@eyecode-education.com Go to MacuHealth.com and use the coupon code PODCAST2024 at checkout for special discounts Let's Connect! Follow and join the conversation! Instagram: @aaron_werner_vision