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How Frames Are Made in Japan

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 07:53:30 +0000

You will learn:

--Difference between Chinese and Japanese acetate

--How frames are polished

--How to determine if a frame is good quality

--How Asian fit frames are made

--The manufacturing steps

--Why frames cost so much to make

--How to design your own collection

--What made in Japan means

--The different types of equipment used

Guest: Christopher Esposito

In This Episode:

[2:44] Guest Introduction.
[9:17] Workshop tour.
[11:38] Acetate production.
[28:34] The design software they use.
[38:26] Average frame price.
[39:08] Japanese hinges.
[44:34] Japan's process vs China vs Europe.

Resources:

ethnicityeyewear.com

say-oh.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

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How To Be a Profit-Oriented Office Manager

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Credit cards, payroll, bookkeeping, insurance (fees fees fees)

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 09:53:21 +0000

In This Episode:

[8:08] Guest introduction.
[13:43] Credit card processing
[15:08] Tiered pricing.
[29:35] Reprogramming terminals.
[32:32] Chip vs Swipe fees.
[41:01] Background check.
[44:59] Payroll.
[52:17] Bookkeeping.
[01:05] Employee health insurance.

Tim Emerson

Tim has 28 years of experience in the financial service industry. He founded Emerson & Co. in June of 2006. His firm provides: Payroll, Merchant Services, and Insurance, working with public organizations and businesses to cut cost and provide efficiencies. Tim is currently a Deacon at Country Club Christian Church, President of Waldo Brookside Rotary Club in Kansas City, and a member of multiple chambers of commerce. He is on the board of directors for the Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce. Tim and his wife Darci reside in the Kansas City area, have 2 daughters Sophie and Zoey, and enjoy outdoors activities and travel.

Resources:

Learn how to sell eyewear online. Book a demo: https://calendly.com/wes-goddard/optify-

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Learn about Perry's consulting business at www.eyerockit.com

Connect With Us On Social Media!

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OFRMkLcgTj29cBZSmjeQPw

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Buy Now, Pay-Over-Time Technology

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 15:34:55 +0000

Discounting eyewear or any services is the best way to give profit away.

You essentially are apologizing for your prices when you offer 30% off. This sets a presidence for people to always expect a deal. We already make enough "phantom income" in eyecare with vision plans.

Change the way you offer payment options... Offer Sunbit payment plans. They are new to eyecare and give patients peace of mind with transparent application process and fees.

The best part! Scan state issued ID, and get application complete in nearly 30 seconds.

Webinar for more info August 25th at 7 Eastern.

Impatient and just want a demo of software technology now? https://marketing.sunbit.com/optical

Make Your Practice More Profitable

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 6 Aug 2020 19:40:23 +0000

In This Episode:

[2:24] Eyetrepreneur team introduction.
[6:05] The current state of private practice and profitability..
[21:13] Common bottleneck in the exam room and the optical when it comes to creating a profitable practice.
[44:56] Streamline check-in / check-out.
[47:08] Exam room hacks.
[52:44] Tweaker hack.
[56:34] Converting someone asking for prescription.

Resources:

Learn about Perry's consulting business at www.eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e1y9fyLvSMyqh5d4Dw2KfQ

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Learn to Sell Rx Glasses Online

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 03:52:37 +0000

Announcement: webinar tonight where Perry and Dr. Brill will talk for 1 hour about why and how to start selling Rx glasses online. It's the path forward to creating revenue opportunities outside the 4 walls of your practice.

Webinar tonight 7/27/2020 at 8:30 EDT

Perry Tells You How To Make Money

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:47:20 +0000

In This Episode:

[4:48] Perry's introduction and background.
[8:07] Big box vs independent box.
[13:20] Eyerockit Consulting overview.
[14:29] Eyerockit processes and steps.
[16:48] Crush your eyewear sales.
[22:53] Crush patient collections.
[30:07] Lower all cost of goods and services.
[35:18] Frame inventory assessment and plan.
[41:07] Develop optical executors not opticians.
[44:12] Private labeling.
[45:34] Create radical, happy and transparency culture.
[49:47] Office procedures perfection.
[53:48] Administrative duties.
[55:44] High tech office upgrade beyond equipment.
[01:02] Expert real world advice from an OD in the trenches.

Resources:

Learn about Perry's consulting business at www.eyerockit.com

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Make A Private Label Frame Line

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 16:52:29 +0000

Reasons to buy private label:

Cut your cost of goods on frames by 70%
Stop wasting time meeting with frame reps
Stop wasting money on shipping frames all the time to your office
Buy better quality at lower prices
Prevent yourself from being shopped online for cheaper
It's fun to design your own collection

In This Episode:

[5:41] Guests introduction.
[7:21] Eckhard Wirtz.
[9:07] Richard Keating.
[21:23] Frame licensing.
[31:27] Private label.
[35:40] Making your own frames.
[37:05] Custom frames pricing.
[37:19] Lead time and minimum order quantity.
[46:44] Cost per piece.
[50:55] Materials and where the frames are made.
[55:16] Creating your own warranty.
[1:16:26] Country of origin on the frame.

Resources:

https://eyetrepreneur.com/create-private-label-frame-line/

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Why Your Lab Is Ripping You Off

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 7 Jul 2020 16:43:07 +0000

In This Episode:

[4:42] Guests introduction.
[5:28] Black Lab Optical.
[15:14] What is a click fee?
[19:55] Lens design and why lenses cost so much.
[24:44] Why do companies come out with new lenses every year and say it's new and improved?
[32:03] Private label.
[41:57] Switching lens brand.
[50:05] Training
[52:47] Why are ARs expensive.

Resources:

https://eyetrepreneur.com/reasons-to-use-private-label-lenses-and-independent-labs/

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

https://eyetrepreneur.typeform.com/to/TqRZfh

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

VSP screws us again!

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 9 Jun 2020 18:07:07 +0000

VSP is reducing our doctor reimbursement by about 50% if we don't agree to use certain lens technology and brands. Can you say crooked? It all starts September 1st. Learn in this episode how managed care works and why it's a corrupt system that only hurts the patient.

Tell VSP enough bullying! Fill out your dissatisfaction survey anonymously here:

Perry will be mailing over 500 survey results to VSP CEO so we can open a meaningful dialogue and reform the system.

Black Diversity in Eyecare

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 3 Jun 2020 11:31:46 +0000

In This Episode:

[3:00] The Black Eyecare Perspective.
[6:05] Recruitment.
[14:16] Affirmative action in optometry.
[18:35] Black patients optical needs.
[21:21] Customizing Frames.
[41:46] Main improvements to cater to more African american communities.
[45:30] If you want to get involved with the Black Eyecare Perspective.

About The Guests:

Drs. Adam Ramsey and Darryl Glover are well respected key opinion leaders in the eyecare industry. They are passionate and dedicated to helping create an environment that is inclusive and recognizes the importance of diversity in the eyecare industry. Drs. Adam Ramsey and Darryl Glover are committed to facilitating open and authentic dialogue surrounding implicit bias, organizational structure, and policies which lead to a lack of diversity and exclusion.

Resources:

Watch Video Meeting Recording

Join our Facebook group

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

LensQuote Helps Sell Yearly Contact Lens Supplies

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 27 May 2020 00:46:46 +0000

Episode Recording: https://youtu.be/F5KGc-RC0jI

We are not professional salespeople in optometry! Frankly, we're terrible at selling our premium services. It's not our fault though...I blame the vision plans for lack of pricing transparency.

Techs or doctors selling contacts in the exam room have bad sales presentations. It's either verbal or done on a crappy paper form.

LensQuote is the sales tool that presents it beautifully on a desktop or tablet. The tool calculates contacts, insurance allowances, and rebates in 3-seconds!

No more calculation errors
No more insurance errors
No more figuring out how many boxes
No more chasing down rebates

The tool you need can be found at www.LensQuote.net

Why You Should Buy An Edger and Do In-Office Finishing For Your Optical

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sat, 16 May 2020 01:25:10 +0000

An edger in your office allows eye care professionals to be in control of speed, quality, and pricing.

You likely have been in that situation numerous times wondering why a pair of glasses is taking 2-4 weeks to complete? It’s just a simple plastic progressive lens with a premium anti-reflective coating going into an acetate frame, what could be so complicated? The truth is laboratories are assembly lines and things happen. Equipment breaks, people type in the wrong data, items get lost, employees don’t show up to work, lenses are mishandled, etc.

You can combat all this craziness by using a stock lens inventory or ordering less expensive uncut lenses and edging them yourself. Uncut lenses from labs generally can arrive in your office in 24-72 hours. This will create less headaches for you knowing the lenses are in your possession quickly.

Don’t be afraid about screwing up expensive progressive lenses in the edger (like not blocking correctly or a lens slipping or breaking).

The edger does not know how expensive a lens is. It treats every lens the same when it cuts it. A good laboratory will understand you have spoilage in your in-office-lab too and will replace the lens at $0 charge many times. Just don’t make it a frequent occurrence with 30% of your work and you will be okay.

Furthermore, an added benefit of edging your own lenses is you can control the cosmetics of lenses within the frame by adjusting bevel placement, safety bevels, size of lenses, shelving, etc. Stop getting pissed off when labs send back work with temples splayed out on high myopes or lenses are off-axis. You can control the quality of your finishing work by buying an edger.

Don’t think of buying an edger as a sunk expense.

You will actually generate revenue with this machine by reducing costs of raw materials needed to produce lenses. You can buy an edger new or used or even finance one. There’s no excuse not to buy one. They even make a small footprint today and the noise can be contained. Don’t worry if you are not super technical. When you purchase an edger, companies will give you a few days of hands on training and will always be available for technical phone support. Most edgers are low maintenance and just require regular cleaning and the occasional parts replacement.

Frequently asked questions opticians and optometrists ask about edging in house

What do I do? I’m not handy and don’t know how to set up a lab.

When you buy an edger from a reputable company, whether it’s a used or new piece of equipment, a representative will fly out to your location and be onsite to train 1 or multiple staff members for a couple of days. All the tools you need to edge will come with the unit. If you are buying from an individual seller, you will be more reliant on asking them for help.

How much space do I need for an edger?

The piece of equipment can fit in a closet if you have to. Today’s edgers are small and compact and generally not more than 2ft x 2ft. Some edgers are “all-in ones,” meaning it has the tracer, blocker, and edger built into one compact unit while others require you buy separate equipment and place it on counter space.

How long does it take to edge a pair of lenses?

Dry edgers are fast, wet edgers are slower, but it’s not a race! The material and the coatings determine the time frame to edge. Lenses with slippery high quality anti-reflective coatings will take longer as the machinery goes slower to prevent the lenses from slipping and getting off axis. Also, hi-index lenses are tougher lenses and take longer.

A polycarbonate lens with a hard coat will take 60 seconds. A polycarbonate lens with a premium anti-reflective will take 2-3 minutes. While the edger is running, the operating optician should be multitasking by deblocking lenses, inspecting lenses in lensometer after edging, cleaning lenses, and preparing next jobs. It’s a small assembly line and you should never just sit and watch the lens rotate. That’s a waste of time!!! It’s like watching water boil.

It’s easier to send glasses to the lab for lenses, should I really edge?

It’s also easier to stay at home on unemployment and eat popcorn. Yes, when you make glasses in-house, you save time. Imagine how much you spend on shipping and labor costs always trying to track down orders with the labs. It’s nice to know where in the production cycle every job is. You can choose if you want to expedite a job for a patient as a rush glasses order.

Why are edgers so expensive?

They are not. Why are OCTs and Optomaps so expensive? Every piece of capital equipment when used properly and consistently will help you deliver faster service and better products to your patients quicker than your competitors. Today, people want all their products they buy speedy, including eyewear.

What maintenance does an edger need?

The best way to avoid any repairs is clean the machine daily after use. You are shredding up lenses so the main form of cleaning is using a shopvac to free up any loose debris left behind. Otherwise, there is really no maintenance to be done. Just like any piece of equipment, it has screws, springs, moving parts, and electronics that can occasionally need updating. Expect this but also know you are saving so much money on lenses these costs are nominal compared to your $300 lab bills for progressive lenses you are used to.

I see mostly insurance and vision plan patients, can I edge those jobs too?

Yes, you can edge single vision jobs with any coatings and lens features, including photochromics. You buy the lenses and submit the in-office finishing claim on the same websites. You will have to sign an IOF agreement with the vision plans that explains your new reimbursement schedule, which should be higher, and other legal information you have to follow. To get started edging in office with vision plans, reach out to a rep or find the info on the websites. For progressive lenses and all other lenses that need surfacing, you will still have to order these through the contracted labs.

You will make a ton more money edging single vision jobs in office on vision plans so it’s worth buying an edger still. Also, having an edger makes increasing the cash portion of your office easier since you control where and what prices you buy products at.

I’m worried the edger smells or makes too much noise, is this a concern?

No, when you hear the sound of an edger that means you are making money. Edgers today produce noise like any piece of industrial equipment; however, with a closed door on the room where the edger is housed, 80% or more of the noise is blanketed. The noise will not be a disturbance to the patient ambiance in your office. The smell of the edger only becomes a concern when you are edging high-index lenses, which tend to smell like onions. Yummy smell, right? It’s best to have an exhaust fan installed in the edging room to circulate the air in the room and not inhale or distribute the smell throughout the office.

Are there any limitations to what type of lenses I can edge?

No, you can edge anything from plano to +/- 10.00 and beyond. Although, we hope you don’t have to edge too many super high prescriptions. All coatings and lens treatments can safely be processed in the edger. All you have to do is select the right settings for each job.The pressure the edger puts on each lens and speed it rotates the lenses is different for every lens material. Don’t worry though, the edger has all these settings pre-set. You just hit the material you are using on the screen and it adjusts the machine internal settings so you get a perfect lens everytime.

How does the edger know what shape to cut to match the frame?

The piece of machinery that’s used to create the shape for the edger to cut is called the tracer. It digitally or robotically traces the inside of the bevel to create a 100% shape the lenses into metal, acetate, semi-rimless or drill-mount frames. The accuracy is dead on, it’s amazing. The tracer sends the file of the shape to the edger so it knows what shape to cut. Once the edger is done grinding away, it’s important you place the lens into the frame to make sure the fit is good. Don’t expect the lenses to fit every single time perfectly, sometimes the eyewire will have a little gap in it or the lens is a little big for the acetate frame. You will notice it’s hard to force into the frame even with heat. This is normal. Lots of factors affect sizing such as calibration of equipment or even humidity levels. To make the lens a hair smaller, you simply go into recut mode and edge down the lens 0.1mm to 0.3mm smaller to make it fit. It’s such a small amount, but this makes it fit perfectly. Take your time edging down lenses to fit, it’s not a race. However, most times things fit perfectly.

After edging both lenses, do I need to do any final inspection?

Yes, the same final inspection you would do with lenses from an outsourced lab you do with in-office labs. Make sure to check the pupillary distance, ocular centers, segment heights, axis, prescriptions, and anything else. Your lensometer is your friend for final inspection. Make sure to hold the lens into the light after cleaning to make sure there is no crazing, scratches or any other weird defects. Your lens spoilage in your in-office lab will be very low since you are taking your time and paying attention.

For more advice on in-office edging or questions

Email: info@eyetrepreneur.com

Payment Plan Patient Tools and Strategy

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 15 May 2020 18:25:26 +0000

The easiest way to increase patient average spend is by offering some type of payment plan or financing option. Usually practices offer this option as a last ditch effort to save a sale, but we need to be proactive in our approach. Don't make people feel bad when they don't have enough money. Smile and offer a great payment plan tool!

Payment plans should't take 5 minutes or even 2 minutes to apply for...it should take 30 seconds and a quick driver license scan. And, more people should get approved. We have the best tool for you.

Register for the payment plan education webinar to learn how to effectively offer this solution in your office on Thursday May 21st at 7:00 EDT.

Signup here for webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8Sg7rlHORLOBIn3RA1MFdg

Colorblindness and Enchroma Lenses

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 12:34:45 +0000

In This Episode:

[3:48] Guests introduction.
[8:17] Origin of EnChroma.
[11:42] Manufacturing process.
[13:32] Why color vision is important?
[20:53] The ishihara test.
[23:06] The farnsworth d-15.
[32:26] EnChroma's business model.
[38:48] Cataract formation.
[47:16] Commonly asked questions about the product.
[1:00:40] Who is eligible to be an EnChroma partner.
[1:04:03] Enchroma color accessibility program.

About The Guests:

Mark Mattison-Shupnick

VP, Business Development
mark@enchroma.com

Master optician, Mark Mattison-Shupnick, is a member of the board of directors for EnChroma, Inc. and a veteran optical industry consultant. As an expert in ophthalmic optics, Mark has participated in the design and production of new lens materials, designs and treatments as well as develop technical marketing and training materials for optical professionals. He is a recipient of the Beverly Myers Award for Education from the National Academy of Opticianry, and is a regular contributor to industry publications like 20/20 Magazine and Vision Monday. Mark shares his decades of expertise in lectures around the country and world.

Kent Streeb

Director of PR & Partnerships
kent@enchroma.com

To EnChroma, Kent Streeb brings 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations and copywriting helping companies in technology, healthcare, utility-scale solar, non-profit and manufacturing. He has worked with organizations such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), VMware, NETGEAR, HopeLab, Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, Zamzee, Palo Alto Networks and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. He served in the Peace Corps in West Africa working in rural healthcare and community development.

Kent has successfully generated positive exposure, and driven sales, for organizations charting new ground in fields such as ‘games for health,’ incentivized activity meters to combat childhood obesity and others. He drives EnChroma’s media strategy, marketing partnerships, events and marketing for retailers.

Resources:

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

A Pharmacist View Of Drugs In Optometry

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 15:28:55 +0000

In This Episode:

[3:27] Who is Dan Richards?
[4:55] What made him decide to become an entrepreneur?
[6:56] Status on the medication for COVID-19.
[10:33] How are the patients reacting?
[14:25] The business side of pharmacy.
[22:32] Couponing.
[27:39] Saving time.
[43:39] Words of wisdom.

About The Guest:

Dan Richards

Dan holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from Roseman University. He worked in various retail pharmacies including Walmart, Shopko and Harmon’s before starting Meds in Motion. He is passionate about giving healthcare professionals the tools they need to provide the best care for their patients.

Resources:

medsinmotion

dan@medsinmotion.com

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com

Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Perry's 30,000 Foot View Of The Industry

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 13:38:22 +0000

This is a throwback episode where Perry appeared on another podcast, the Optical Journal Podcast. Perry discusses his upbringing in eyecare, his childhood, industry thoughts on what's jacked up and what's good, why frame manufacturers have marketing wrong, how to sell the best, and more.

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

4 Indie Opticans Discuss COVID-19

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 15:23:23 +0000

The guests:

Matthew Smith, That Glasses Guy Optique de Luxe

Kevin Kretch, Eyes on Chargin

Kimberly Odle-Peters, Eyes on Main

Joshua Hackney, Optical Express

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Cash Only Specialty Contact Lens Practice | Dr. Stephanie Woo

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 3 Apr 2020 15:06:39 +0000

On this special episode we talked to Dr. Stephanie Woo on how to open a cash only specialty contact lens practice, no insurance, no primary care and no optical. All that and more in this episode of Eyetrepreneur.

In This Episode:

[4:26] Who is Dr. Stephanie Woo? [12:42] What happened to her old practice? [15:39] Handling leads. [20:33] Fee discussion. [22:23] Initial evaluation. [25:34] Her marketing. [29:20] Other practices response. [33:25] Key performance indicator. [36:37] Her equipment. [41:21] Office layout. [57:35] Payment plan. [59:02] Handling price shoppers. [1:01] Handling transference.

About The Guest:

Dr. Stephanie L. Woo was born and raised in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a degree in Biology Science Education. She graduated with honors from the Southern California College of Optometry. She completed a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, where she was trained to fit highly irregular corneas.

She was the recipient of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute Award for Clinical Excellence and also the John R. Griffin Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy. Dr. Woo is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society.

She authored the Gas Permeable Lens Expert column in Review of Contact Lenses. She is a frequent author to several professional publications including Contact Lens Spectrum, Contact Lens and Cornea section of the American Optometric Association, Review of Cornea and Contact Lenses, and Review of Optometric Business.

She is an active GPLI advisory board member. Dr. Woo is a Past President of the Scleral Lens Education Society, a non-profit organization committed to teaching the art and science of scleral lenses to practitioners.

Dr. Woo is an adjunct professor at Midwestern University. Dr. Woo enjoys lecturing around the world on the subject of contact lenses and anterior segment ocular disease.

Dr. Woo owns the Contact Lens Institute of Nevada, a clinic dedicated entirely to custom contact lenses. The Contact Lens Institute offers revolutionary technology such as the EyePrintProsthetic and sMap scleral topography to assist in complex clinical cases.

In her spare time, Dr. Woo is an avid wine collector and is a Level 2 WSET Sommelier.

Resources:

drwoo@clinevada.com

clinevad

Perry's consulting business: eyerockit.com Perry's e-book: eyerockit.com/ebook

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

How To Buy And Inventory Eyeglasses

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Your optical can easily produce 50% or more revenue for your practice. Learn the tricks of the trade. Buying glasses is a skill. Selling glasses is a sport. Learn how to manage an optical from choosing vendors, buying, pricing, failing with frame lines, and more. Perry's funny vacuum sucking video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ezmzlm5q-Y&feature=youtu.be Read more about managing inventory: https://eyerockit.com/frame-inventory-assessment/ Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

How To Declutter Your Optical

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Cardboard tints with pictures, lame acrylic brand plaques, junky lens brochures laying around? Stop this nonsense in your optical and learn how to throw away the junk. Learn from the best retailers in the world (Apple, Microsoft, etc.) that simplicity is what consumers want. Frame and lens vendors do the bare minimum to provide practices and opticals with meaningful POP to share the brand story. You need to learn how to create your own brand materials to display in the office to share YOUR brand story and not someone else's. Put in the effort to develop a local brand and not some corporate boring brand. Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Blepharitis Management in the Viscous Cycle of Dry Eye

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 13:15:45 +0000

Dr James Rynerson talks about the cause, prevention, and treatment for Blepharitis. Dry eye is oversimplified today. It's a complex and vicious cycle that needs immediate and aggressive treatment. Dentists have done very well over the years preaching preventative maintenance. Listen to hear how eye doctors can adopt this same mentality.

This episode is filled with really technical details about Demodex, lid hygiene, and dry eye. If you want to be an authority on dry eye, this is a must-listen episode.

In This Episode:

[4:07] Guest introduction. [7:42] The goal of his company [8:30] What is Blepharitis? [17:52] The effect of obliterating the biofilm [20:47] Examination [23:07] Recommendations [29:30] How do blepharitis and Demodex affect daily activities [36:40] Blephex [40:09] Process [44:54] Recurrence [48:27] Thoughts on the use of intense pulse light

About The Guest:

Dr James Rynerson received his medical degree from University of Louisville in 1990 and went on to complete an ophthalmology residency at LSU in Shreveport. After being in private practice for 17 years with an emphasis on LASIK and cataract surgery, Dr Rynerson became convinced that eye doctors could much more effectively treat blepharitis and dry eye, if they only had a tool that allowed for a complete exfoliation of the inflammatory biofilm on the lid margins of these patients.

In 2011, Dr Rynerson began to devote his full attention to bringing just such a device to the market, for the benefit of the millions of patients worldwide who suffer from these conditions. BlephEx was introduced to the market in 2013, as the first and only doctor treatment for blepharitis and dry eye. In just over a year, BlephEx was in over 1,000 offices worldwide, and in nearly every optometric teaching institution and numerous ophthalmology programs throughout the US and Canada.

Dr Rynerson became a pioneer in the understanding and treatment of lid margins disease, and was the first to propose the etiology of biofilms and exotoxins along the lid margin as the source of low-grade inflammatory damage to the tear glands. He was also first to recognize the similarities between the benefits of dental hygiene in keeping our own teeth, and lid hygiene in keeping our own tears. With this recognition, he developed the "dental model" in eye care when he first established training seminars for "Certified Lid Hygienists."

Under the guidance of Dr James Rynerson as President and CEO, BlephEx has achieved unparalleled success due to intuitive nature and ease of use in removing the inflammatory biofilm that is causing so much lid margin disease. Patients feel near-immediate relief from their irritating symptoms and save hundreds of dollars a year on the cost of artificial tears and prescription medications that have been so ineffective for so many years.

BlephEx is now in 15 countries around the world and is quickly being adopted as the new standard of care in blepharitis, MGD and dry eye treatment. BlephEx has been featured on NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates around the country as a breakthrough in the treatment of these chronic diseases.

Dr Rynerson continues to develop new technologies and innovations in the treatment of eye disease, and in his spare time enjoys classical music and spending time with his wife, 5-year-old son, and dogs.

Resources:

Eyecare Honesty Poll

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Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Create Your Own PAL Lens Brand | Save Money!

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

As an optician or eye doctor, you should be establishing your brand in your local community. Instead of promoting a lens brand, make your optical about YOUR brand. People grow emotional connections with small businesses because they provide high levels of customer service and great in-office experiences. Why would you talk to patients about lens brands and names when they can just go down the street to the next optical and shop on price alone? Patients don't care what the name of their lens is. They just want to sell really well. Stop confusing patients with detailed lens education, and just reassure patients you are the expert on the subject matter of progressive lenses and they will get your brand. It’s important you ditch all the phony marketing sales aids the lens vendors give you. The branding and marketing messages on brochures, desk mats, and table tents just confuse your patients. They have no clue what Hoya, Essilor, Zeiss, or Vision Source branding is. The moment you start introducing brands into the equation, your patients get lost. YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxKglDn1eAM&feature=youtu.be

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Patients Just Want WHITE Eyes

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sat, 8 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

You can have the fanciest exam, the best equipment, best doctors, beautiful office, coffee bar, treats, and the whole razzle-dazzle. But, what patients really want is WHITE EYES. We all want the feeling of beauty and youth. Patients love it when at the end of an exam you show them the simple affordable way to give them porcelain white eyes with LUMIFY Redness Reliever Eye Drops. Join our Facebook group for more intimate optometry tips: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2019102771713229/ Need help in your practice? Text our 24/7 FREE eyecare hotline at 913-660-2855. We give ideas for you on business, medical, marketing and pure inspiration. Connect With Us On Social Media!

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Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Garrett Leight: A Family Optical Story

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 7 Feb 2020 22:16:55 +0000

Are you interested in learning how an independent frame company is built? You have heard of the frame company Oliver Peoples. This family optical story is told by Garrett Leight.

He gives us an optical market perspective from the past and current. Building an indie eyewear brand doesn't just take money, it takes grit.

Garrett tells us how his family created one of the most famous eyewear brands. He then goes on to tell the story of how he created an iconic California eyewear brand at the age of 25.

In This Episode:

[3:01] At what age did he understand what his parents do for work [5:14] History of Oliver Peoples [8:58] Where did the name "Oliver Peoples" come from? [12:29] About selling Oliver Peoples [14:50] How did he decide he wanted to go independent [16:27] What was his first step in creating his own brand? [19:18] Garrett Leight talks about his brand [23:25] How Chinese production has changed [26:41] A virtual tour of his frame company [29:34] As a wholesale frame company, what are the barriers that he needed to overcome? [31:19] Trade show [33:05] Importance of retail [35:10] Why eCommerce? [41:08] Thoughts on how to improve an older store [42:45] Tips on opening a new store [43:55] Buying ads online [46:12] What does it mean to be an independent brand? [50:22 ] The importance of a good staff [53:53] What should you focus on?

About The Guest:

Garrett Leight was born in Los Angeles in 1984, immersed inthe eyewear and fashion industries as the son of the Founder and Creative Director of Oliver Peoples. Garrett grew up playing competitive tennis and attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, graduating with a degree in Journalism. After college he worked at Oliver Peoples, observing firsthand the development of his father’s iconic designs and brand building techniques.

In 2009, he opened his first eyewear concept store, A. Kinney Court, in Venice Beach, offering a curated assortment of hand-selected goods from his hometown. The store was the first of its kind, combining the knowledge and service of licensed opticians with the styling of a fashion boutique. Inspired by the unique atmosphere and creative characters of Venice and driven to find the perfect frames for his customers, Garrett founded Garrett Leight California Optical and released his first eyewear collection in 2010. Dedicated to creating the highest quality designs handmade with the finest materials and craftsmanship,

GLCO brings a fresh perspective to classically tailored frames by blending old and new, the iconic and the innovative.

Resources:

drcontactlens.com

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perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 01:21:29 +0000

Are you an optometrist that doesn't quite know how you fit into the overall health system? How do you get them to come to you, how do you get other practices to refer patients to you, and how do you find your place in the eyecare system? All that and more is answered on this episode of Eyetrepreneur.

In This Episode:

[3:00] Jim's journey into developing coherent eyecare.

[4:44] Clinically integrated eyecare network.

[10:47] The medical side of eyewear businesses.

[13:29] The lack of communication around optometry and primary care management.

[21:57] What practice will be referred to?

[23:04] The requirements providers need to meet with patients with diabetes at the end of the year.

[31:33] The first step for optometrists to get those new patients.

[36:42] Macra, meaningful use, and other such programs.

[41:55] Private equity groups.

[46:56] What the quality improvement person will ask.

[49:00] Avoiding organized optometry.

[53:57] Your medical eyecare practice.

[56:08] How to involve the services like those of coherent eyecare.

About The Guest:

Coming soon!

Resources:

Connect with Jim at (630) 292-6156 or at jim.brocato@coherenteyecare.com

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Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

How To Sell "Dog" Frames

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 00:03:03 +0000

There’s always UGLY “DOGS” at the animal shelter that people still love and adopt. But, people don’t adopt ugly frames. So, instead of returning the “dog frames,” how do you sell them in your optical? Returns are messy, ewww. You need to learn clever ways to CLEAR THEM OUT and make room for better sellers. Just face the facts, NOT ALL frames will sell. You need to be prepared for this and proactively use this as a way to give patients great eyewear at a great value. Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Versant Health (Davis + Superior Vision)

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 7 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Eyecare and optical is a growing industry, so how does Versant Health fit into it? This episode covers many different aspects of Versant Health (Davis Vision) as it fits into the eyecare market and as it relates to you.

In This Episode:

[5:44] How Scott got involved in healthcare and Versant Health.

[6:40] The background of Versant Health- Davis Vision.

[8:14] How does Versant Health stand out among the big manage care players?

[12:12] The state of the eyecare profession right now- can you still have a great career?

[15:44] How Versant Health is helping people see more value.

[18:48] How does Versant Health educate on the different types of lenses?

[20:22] How Versant Health helps their patients to use their benefits.

[21:54] When patients come in, how do you manage their expectations?

[26:28] The background of the lab that Versant Health used to own, why they closed it, and what they're doing with manufacturing now.

[30:12] When you call a lab, you might end up to talking to just a phone rep and not an optician. What is Versant Health's strategy around that?

[36:44] Why not go for the high end?

[38:04] Optimap

[43:38] If you're impatient to get an order done with Versant Health, what should you do?

[46:38] The future of Versant Health

[48:18] Alleviating other bottlenecks in offices: is Versant Health going to use electric fund transfer for reimbursement?

[54:30] The Davis Vision Collection.

About The Guest:

Scott Hamey, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Manufacturing for Versant Health

Scott Hamey oversees strategic development, manufacturing, and network operations at Versant Health. Scott has more than 20 years of experience in the vision care industry with a focus in business development, finance, and underwriting. A graduate from The Ohio State University, Scott has also served as Chairman at United Way and as Board Member and Treasurer at Prevent Blindness Texas. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his wife Sara and their daughter Isabella.

Resources:

Training Hub

Contact Link

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Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Basics of High Blood Pressure

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

This episode's guest is Dr. Stuart Brill (Perry's brother), resident neurology physician currently living in Detroit. Here's what we cover: -What is high blood pressure? -How do you measure it with a cuff? -What does the measurement indicate? -What negative effects will happen? -How do you prevent it? -How to live a happy long life Connect With Us On Social Media!

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Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Basics of Diabetes

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 22:44:48 +0000

Dr. Stuart Brill (Perry's brother), a resident neurologist in Detroit, shares why diabetes is nothing to mess with and leads to a painful life. Here's what's covered: - What is diabetes? -How is it caused? -How is the body affected? -What are the treatment options? -How to prevent? -How to stay healthy? We have a 24/7 eyecare hotline, text us at 913-660-2855 your questions, comments, or just to say hello. We like talking business especially! Connect With Us On Social Media!

Join our Facebook Group

Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Richard Dorer, Contact Lens Explorer

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Listen in to get insight on practice management, diseased corneas, and most importantly help with many kinds of specialty contact lenses. Enjoy!

Business Banking 101 + Section 179

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 02:38:16 +0000

Are you an expert in optometry, but not so much in business? Are you ready to buy equipment, but don't know if you should finance or purchase? Learn in this episode all about banking and finance as an entrepreneur in eyecare.

Optometry: Your Hobby or Profession?

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Optometry is a cushy career. let's face it. We don't have to deal with blood, the patients that visit us are usually well and not sick, we have normal office schedules, we get to sell retail goods to make us more money, and we get to put smiles on peoples faces when they see better. Some doctors like to spin the dials and go home, while others enjoy the chase of always keeping up on technology trends and catering towards their patients (even when age starts catching up with you). For myself, Dr. Brilll, I'm addicted to optometry. It's a drug. I always want to read more, go to more conferences, chat with OD friends until midnight about business and clinical stuff. Retirement can be hard for many of us and it brings me to the question is optometry your hobby or your profession? Connect With Us On Social Media!

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Text our 24/7 Eyetrepreneur HOTLINE at 913-660-2855. Ask us anything medical, business, or just vent to us.

Asking For Optical Salary Raise

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

How much money should opticians make? They should make what they are worth. Asking for raise can be very intimidating. Sometimes the raise comes every year at your performance review, and sometimes it never comes. . Here's a few tips to become a pro at asking your boss for a raise if you are an optician: . -Record your performance metrics -Don't base your performance off behavior and emotions -Have clear data -Show you are making the practice or optical money -Have a plan for future success and share it -Be confident -Be proactive vs. reactive -Be positive, not just leading up to the review, but always! -Be motivated intrinsically, and not when you are asked -and more.... Join Facebook Live Connect With Us On Social Media!

Stock Lens Buying Guide for In-Office Labs

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

The most profitable part of an eyecare practice is the optical. This was originally a YouTube video. This podcast will teach you how to buy stock lenses, what price is a good price, warranty information, mentality of edging in office, and how to stay motivated in optical. 50% or more revenue of a practice can easily come from optical eyewear and lens sales if a practice is driven and educated enough to operate it properly. The truth is, eyecare professionals are terrible at monitoring their costs of goods. They overpay for a lot of products and wonder why they work really hard and make slim profits. Insurance will never reimburse you more money. So, start taking control of your business by being proactive. Lowering your costs of goods is the easiest thing you can do to increase profits. Stock lenses come in various prices, low and high. The high priced product is generally not any better than the low price...it just has a brand name attached to it. Edging in office can be done by anybody and the skillsets can easily be learned. Related video podcast about edging in office Connect With Us On Social Media!

Improve Dead Phone Etiquette

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:53:46 +0000

Why do some receptionists sound like they just woke up to the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE? Watch the video version of this podcast...it's better! 1st impressions in offices are still 100% the most important. It all starts on the phone or online in the form of friendly knowledgable voices. Or, starts in the form of friendly, beautiful, knowledgeable websites. This is a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT to always have the receptionist be one of the most well-qualified and trained employees. How do you train your front-desk to be super knowledgeable about eyewear, contacts, exams, and medical? Text us at 913-660-2855 if you need advice. We're serious, we'll text back right away most times. Connect With Us On Social Media!

Start collecting data about your business in medical, exams, optical and eyewear.

Collaborative Eyecare with MD's + LASIK

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Going into eyecare is just as much about business as it is about actual eyecare. Are you going into business for yourself as an eyecare provider? If so, there are a lot of things you should know, and some big challenges you can avoid. Phillip C. Hoopes, MD dives into why he started his own practice and how he has been able to make it extremely successful. Enjoy!

A CEO View From The Top | ABB Optical

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 6 Dec 2019 17:49:57 +0000

The business of eyecare is growing. There are lots of moving parts, and there are a lot of ways you can structure your practice to be successful. Is your business as successful as it can be? Are you aware of what's going on with contact lenses? Learn all about the eyecare business with Thomas Burke of ABB Optical Group.

In This Episode:

[5:14] Thomas's journey, and his perspective.

[11:44] How do we help people to realize the importance of interaction with their doctor?

[18:27] Education... or lack thereof.

[23:14] Being fair with pricing.

[25:41] Why should you order from distributors?

[30:35] How is private equity going to shift where people are ordering?

[36:54] What can you implement in your practice to make money?

[44:14] A unique solution.

[47:18] Price integrity.

[49:35] What's going on with private label contact lenses?

[55:15] What should you be watching for?

[59:12] How are Thomas's phone representatives so polished?

About The Guest:

Thomas Burke joined ABB OPTICAL GROUP in August 2018 as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. His career spans nearly four decades in the distribution and healthcare industry with extensive experience in sales management, operations and employee development. Prior to ABB OPTICAL, Tom served as CEO of Massachusetts-based Medical Specialties Distributors, a supply chain solutions provider for the home infusion therapy, home medical equipment and oncology markets. From 2014 to 2016, he served as the Senior Vice President/General Manager of Innovative Delivery Solutions for Cardinal Health, developing and overseeing the strategy and execution of Cardinal Health’s acute care pharmaceutical distribution business as well as the organization’s numerous solutions companies. From 2012 to 2014, Tom served as Vice President/General Manager of Cardinal Health’s specialty distribution division. He was CEO and President of Miami-based Novis Pharmaceuticals, a start-up national distributor of therapeutic products, from 2007 until 2012, when it was acquired by Cardinal Health. Tom began his career in the healthcare logistics industry in 1979 as a warehouse employee for Daly Hospital Supply while studying business administration at Salem State University in Massachusetts. Daly Hospital Supply was later acquired by Cardinal Health, beginning Tom’s long tenure with the Fortune 500 company in a series of advancing executive leadership roles overseeing integrated solutions, pharmaceutical distribution, medical products and services, and general management for a number of divisions and regions at Cardinal Health. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Society of Health System Professionals, and the Health Industry Distributors Association.

Resources:

ABBoptical

One of the best spectacle labs in the country.

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$6.95 Zenni Glasses, How To Compete

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 4 Dec 2019 22:44:55 +0000

Can you beat Zenni Optical prices? HAHA. We are not kidding you; a patient brought in 14 pairs of old glasses to donate to Lions Clubs International.

You can't be the low price leader and be the best.

Choose which business value model you want to follow:

-More for more -More for the same

-More for less -Less for less

Less for more

Stop trying to compete and stay in your lane if you want to succeed in private practice or your indie optical.

Watch video on Youtube

Watch video on Facebook

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How To Markup Frames

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Are you running your optical on a 3x frame markup? UH OH. Optical is full of profits. Maximize it. You have to learn 3 things: 1. How to buy frames 2. How to price frames with the right multiplier 3. How to determine value Let the market determine the price, not the invoice. Watch the video Connect With Us On Social Media!

Price Matching. Good or Bad?

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

We know that price matching at big box stores like Walmart and Best Buy is a thing. You go into the big box stores ready to buy your dream 80 inch TV and come prepared with the local paper advertisement so you can price match.

This behavior is typical in the electronics space. However, in optometry, it's important to maintain your professional status and never succumb to price matching. Our fees are set at certain prices for a reason, we have a quality of care standards to maintain. When you price match for contacts, exams, glasses, dry eye treatments, etc., you set the precedence you are always willing to negotiate. There's a reason why patients go to professional practices and opticals, they want service and help. Give it to them and then don't apologize for your prices. Not everybody want's cheap. People enjoy a great in-office experience and paying a fair price because they want easy. Easy is not ordering online always, it's buying from a trusted source. Watch the video Connect With Us On Social Media!

Market Perspective | Former VSP Global CEO Jim McGrann & Current CEO of Healthy Eyes Advantage

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Are you worried that there aren't enough pieces of the pie for you? Jim McGrann of Healthy Eyes Advantage takes a deep dive into optometry from the business side. Should you adopt telemedicine? Should you expand into ecommerce? All that and more is on this episode of Eyetrepreneur. Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[3:20] How did Jim get into eyecare?

[11:19] Can the pie get bigger?

[17:36] Be a part of the brand story as an optometrist.

[25:30] The story of Healthy Eyes Advantage.

[35:08] How to provide more value to ECP's.

[39:20] The role of private equity.

[45:14] Should we adopt telemedicine?

[48:56] Expanding into ecommerce.

[59:15] Keeping patients engaged.

About The Guest:

Jim McGrann is an engaging, decisive and adaptable leader with a demonstrated history of delivering results in the healthcare, insurance, technology, supply chain and consulting industries. Mr. McGrann is an experienced CEO, CTO & CIO with a passion for helping businesses win in the marketplace while growing profitably and achieving change amid order, and order amid change. Mr. McGrann possesses the ideal mix of business skills, technology expertise and creativity to lead in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. He has been a C-Level executive for 20 years and has also served on both internal and external boards of directors. Mr. McGrann is the Chairman & CEO of Healthy Eyes Advantage a solutions company that empowers independent eye care professionals to succeed in the rapidly evolving optical industry. Prior to joining Healthy Eyes Advantage, Mr. McGrann was the President & CEO of VSP Global, a $5.3B vertically integrated healthcare organization with the mission of helping people see. He successfully navigated the needs of a complex set of stakeholders, including 83M customers, 60K clients, 37K doctors, 6K global employees & numerous business partners including fashion houses, lens & lab, software and eyewear companies. From December 2008 to November 2011, before becoming CEO of VSP Global, Mr. McGrann served as VSP Global’s President of Eyefinty, the largest practice management and electronic health record company in the Optical industry serving 25K doctors, VSP Global’s Chief Technology Officer and President of VSP Vision Care, the largest healthcare company in the world (by membership) providing vision benefits to 83M consumers (including 1 in 4 Americans). From December 2011 to September 2015, while President of VSP Vision Care, Mr. McGrann focused on winning in the marketplace and the business grew by $1.02B (34%) and 23.7M members (42%) while delivering record EBITDA and NIBT. He also led the creation and strategic development of VSP Global’s innovation lab, The Shop. Mr. McGrann leveraged revolutionary techniques such as design thinking, user-centered design and nexus management to successfully launch The Shop in a three-month period of time. While President of VSP Vision Care, Mr. McGrann was Chairman of the Board for the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP). The NAVCP is the national association established in order to act as the unified voice representing the managed vision care industry. Mr. McGrann was elected as Chairman by his peers at competing organizations. Mr. McGrann’s employer Marchon Eyewear was acquired by VSP Global in August 2008. From August 1999 to November 2008 Mr. McGrann was the CIO of Marchon Eyewear and the CEO of OfficeMate Software Solutions (a Marchon Company). Mr. McGrann led the post-acquisition integration team following VSP Global’s acquisition of Marchon. Before joining Marchon, Mr. McGrann spent 15 years as a management consultant and partner for Accenture, IBM and EY. Mr. McGrann lives in New Yok City with his wife Taryn. He has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Columbia University. He was a Member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council from 2015 to 2017.

Resources:

Connect with Jim at jmcgrann@hea2020.com

Check out Healthy Eyes Advantage

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Watch Dr. Brill explain the importance of a topographer in your practice.

Outsource Admin Staff | Save Money

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

We believe outsourcing is how you scale your business by capitalizing on what others are good at. Focus on your practice or optical, and let niche business partners pick up the slack in other areas. Other people can do tasks at a fraction of the cost it would take a full or part-time employee. Why hire one person when you can hire a team? Outsourcing areas to consider: --Insurance Billing --Bookkeeping --IT --HIPAA Compliance --Website + Marketing (still have to be hands-on) --Payroll --Janitorial

Topographer, 5 Reasons to Own One

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

In This Episode:

Here are the top 5 reasons to have a corneal topographer in your practice:

1. Refractively more accurate

2. Diseases processes (Keratoconus)

3. General contact lens fitting (flat cornea vs. steep cornea)

4. Dry eye (look at tear film)

5. Specialty contact lens fittings (Orthokeratology + sclerals + RGP)

Corneal topographers are the standard of care. Your investment in one will boost your practice income and give your patients better outcomes.

Don't worry about insurance not paying for images. Most patients are happy paying cash for the images knowing they are getting the highest quality of care possible.

Our recommendation for the best topographer is one from the good folks at Medmont. We like this one due to the friendliness of the company, and the fact the computer that powers it is separate from the instrument.

Connect With Us On Social Media!

Youtube channel with 100s of educational optical videos

Lens Business | Secrets + Lies | Janet Benjamin

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

How much do you really know about the optical labs that all want to "partner" with you? Janet Benjamin of Laramy-K Optical takes a deep dive into this as well as many other topics that will certainly help you and your practice get to the next level. Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[3:16] How should you really choose a lab?

[5:46] What does "partnership" mean to big optical?

[10:06] Choosing a real partner when it comes to labs.

[11:54] Why proximity from your office to the lab does not matter.

[18:15] Establishing your brand in the marketplace instead of relying on others.

[27:22] How to get unstuck.

[39:28] Scams that go on in optical labs.

Link To Part 1 Episode Of Lab Business Revealed About The Guest:

Janet Benjamin, is the owner and president of Laramy-K Optical. Janet has been in the business of making the impossible happen in optics for 46 years. Together with her now-deceased husband, Jack Benjamin, she has been at the head of two cutting edge independent optical laboratories that have pushed the boundaries of lens surfacing with the help of an amazing team.

"People are what make the difference here, both in the lab and the customers we serve," said Janet. "I have seen many changes over the decades in the optical field, from technology advancements to corporate buyouts, and I've made it her goal to continue doing business the way I have her whole life: breaking rules with independence, innovation, and heart. It is important for us to have real relationships with our customers because if you truly know your customer, you can serve them better."

If you ever call Laramy-K, you will notice the difference in customer service from pretty much anywhere else. Janet is always there to talk to people personally and spends most of her days answering customer questions and solving problems to help their patients see the best they possibly can.

Independence in the optical industry is Janet’s passion. She has many times called Laramy-K “fiercely independent,” and in addition to serving mainly independent opticians and practices, she also supports independent vendors. The majority of the work that comes through her lab is done using products from these vendors. She strives to provide the very best products, from digital progressives, to anti-reflective and mirror coatings, to simple, high-quality standard surfacing, all out from under the thumb of the “big guys.” Janet can answer questions, calculate formulas, deliver top-notch lenses, paint her nails and throw out some snark, all while running her business like a boss. Because she is the boss...The Independent Optical Boss.

Resources:

OpticianWorks.com

Laramy-K.com

Check out the first part of this episode!

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The Journey: Optician, Manager, Frame Rep | Hector Miranda

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Hector Miranda is the Northwest territory sales manager for Etnia Barcelona. He originally thought he would spend his adulthood as a historian. But early on, he got a job at Sunglass Hut selling plano suns. This was his journey into eyecare. He later ended up working at private practice, taking on managerial roles, and then transitioned it being a frame sales rep. Hector walks us through keeping positive, delivering ambition in the job, staying true to yourself as a brand ambassador, and why optometry is a great profession. Thanks to The After Party for letting us record the magical moments. The After Party is lit! Checkout the Instagram here

Neurolens w/ Contoured Prism | Facebook Live

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 08:24:55 +0000

Neurolens tells us about their prescription lenses that add a contoured prism to bring the eyes into alignment and how Dr. Timothy Fierce helps his patient using the Neurolens system. Enjoy!

Science of Frame Making |Chris Esposito

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 7 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Eyewear design and creation is an art and science. This episode covers the really technical topics about eyewear making that gets ignored. There's no book or college program to learn how to make frames. Chris owns http://www.say-oh.com in Japan and is generous enough to share is intellectual knowledge. Share these facts with your patients when selling frames and they will be amused. Thanks to http://www.eyewearafterparty.com/ for sponsoring this podcast. Check out the website to learn more about how you can attend the next local event in your neighborhood.

Oculoplastics and Aesthetic Medicine | Michael Chappell, MD

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 5 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Dr. Michael Chappell goes into fantastic detail in this episode of Eyetrepreneur in all of the different areas of his expertise being an ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon. Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[3:35] How did Dr. Chappell get into ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery?

[10:06] What does Dr. Chappell do when he comes across a botched plastic surgery?

[11:56] What are the entry points for patients to Dr. Chappell's practice, and what are the different approached Dr. Chappell uses?

[34:26] What can people do to decrease a baggy eye look?

[39:26] Dr. Chappell's experience with dry eye.

[48:04] The different types of tapes for lids.

[55:26] How do we all form a better bond?

[1:11:02] What you need to know about Bell's Palsy.

[1:19:50] How can you improve what you do?

About The Guest:

Dr. Michael C. Chappell is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids, tear drainage system, bones and contents of the orbit around the eye, and the face. He is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, and received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, before earning his medical degree, graduating with honors (Alpha Omega Alpha), from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Dr. Chappell completed an internship in internal medicine from St. Mary’s Medical Center and an ophthalmology residency at California Pacific Medical Center both in San Francisco, California.

Following his residency, Dr. Chappell completed a two-year oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery (oculoplastics) fellowship accredited by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), at the University of Washington in Seattle. At the conclusion of his fellowship, he received the Marvin H. Quickert Thesis Award – a prestigious recognition given to the most outstanding research conducted in the United States by oculoplastics fellows for that year. Dr. Chappell enjoys the breadth of the field of oculoplastics and is continually fascinated by the form and function of the periocular and facial tissues.

Dr. Chappell is married, and he and his wife Mandi are very excited about being in the Kansas City area with the opportunities that Kansas City offers to them and their three children. Outside of medicine, Dr. Chappell enjoys listening to and playing music, playing soccer, running, travel, and spending time with family and friends.

Resources:

moyeseye.com

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https://eyetrepreneur.com/new-and-changing-business-models-dr-jeffery-sonsino-and-andy-barrow/

Eyecare Marketing 101 | Stop Being Lazy

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

What is the INTERNET? It's this tool optometrists and opticians DON'T UNDERSTAND. >>> 1991, the year the internet went live

Optical Sales Training Wheels | Kayla Ashlee and Dr. Rook Torres

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 22:18:39 +0000

What really is sales? Where do you start with a new employee who doesn't know anything about optical? Learn about that and so much more with Kayla Ashlee and Dr. Rook Torres of Spexy on this week's episode of Eyetrepreneur!

In This Episode:

[4:55] Why is Kayla qualified to be giving optical training?

[6:35] What is sales, really?

[9:45] How are new opticians trained?

[11:22] Where do you start?

[15:02] How to help new hires be more outgoing?

[21:00] What is the necessity of video?

[24:44] How is Kayla able to get more people into her program?

[28:18] What should you be doing with sales and manage care to remain profitable?

[39:38] Where to start with a new non-optical employee.

[43:26] Should you use incentives with sales?

[50:02] Is spexy more business management or optical training?

It's said, nothing happens until something is sold.

As an optician, just helping people to get what they want is selling.

To be a better optician, you need to be a better salesperson.

How do you become a better salesperson? You need help. Even Tiger Woods has a coach and practices every day.

Here's how:
Train
Train again
Focus on sales
Educate with real knowledge and not marketing bullshit from lens and frame manufacturers.
You are the brand
Train one more time

Kayla Ashlee of bespexy.com is a professional independent optical trainer who breeds the finest opticians in the USA. She's going to spill the beans this week!

About The Guests: Kayla Ashlee

In 2006 Kayla stepped into optical and has sought out ways enhance the magic of our industry ever since. Finding a passion for optics as an optician, she began incorporating her business and marketing education into her love of optics. Developing as business consultant for multiple opticals, she created a unique tool for maximizing the profitability of frame boards. She was asked to work for a lens distributor and used her skills as a speaker to solidify partnerships with the independent opticals they serviced. This expanded her skillset to making a difference in the Northwest United States.

The next step needed to be something big! This is when she joined forces with SPEXY. Sharing the belief that the independent can do more, if they just had access to it. Since uniting with SPEXY she has patented her frame board creation. She has become an international optometric speaker. She has created an online portal for opticals to access education. Most importantly, she has empowered independent opticals to think about our eye-world differently.

Kayla lives in her home state of Idaho, where she and Rook have built a beautiful home for their family in downtown Boise. There, they are surrounded by fantastic friends that have helped them to grow and loads of family that keep them busy and have supported their adventures from the beginning.

Dr. Rook Torres, B.S., C.C.E.P, D.C.

When I was a kid my dad worked in management for a major insurance company. Years later, he became self-employed and I distinctly remember the relief in his voice when he said, “Finally, I fear no man! Rook, I never want you to have to fear a boss.” Those words stuck with me. As a self-employed entrepreneur since age 12 being independent has always been critically important to me. Naturally, this helped me tremendously in choosing my doctoral education and career as a chiropractor (and also created some of my biggest challenges haha!). When I met Kayla and learned about the unique struggles in the optical industry I was fascinated and extremely excited by the opportunity to help Independent ECP’s and Opticians.

Boring Stuff about Dr. Rook:

Completed 8.5 year Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Doctor of Chiropractic degree education in 6 years.
Graduated with doctorate degree at age 23.
Diplomate Degree in Extremity care: C.C.E.P. Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner.
Certified in Webster’s In-Utero Constraint Technique.
100% success turning breech babies.
Clinical expertise in care for pediatrics, pregnancy, biomechanical kinetic chain function, sports for professional and recreational
Specialize in Lifestyle Wellness education. Physical, Bio-chemical and Psychological well being.
National TV appearance on QVC for fitness product.
Accomplished continuing education speaker.
Author of 4 books.

Resources:

bespexy.com

frameturn.com

Office Culture, Hiring, Brand Messaging | John Schrieber | The After Party

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:12:51 +0000

What's more important than having a solid workplace where everyone feels like family and comfortable to come to work? NOTHING. John's wife owns Myoptic Optometry in Portland, Oregon with 3 locations. They have created procedures and protocols to create a smooth workplace. John is a branding and messaging expert as he has worked with companies like Nike and Coca Cola in his career outside of optometry. This episode hits hard on creating great experiences online, in-office, choosing the right staff, and being true to your brand. Thanks to The After Party eyewear show for sponsoring us at the event. www.eyewearafterparty.com www.pdxeyes.com

New and Changing Business Models | Dr. Jeffery Sonsino and Andy Barrow

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 20:48:51 +0000

Online contacts, direct to consumer business, internet refractions, managed care vision buying into retail. What the heck is going on? Dr. Jeffrey Sonsino and And Barrow of a new startup called Eyeris are making a safe place for optometrists to practice. Get ahead of the game now!

In This Episode:

[3:40] The backgrounds of both Dr. Jeffery Sonsino and Andy Barrow

[16:42] How is their approach to eyecare changing?

[20:50] State and national organizations and how they work with optometrists.

[26:28] Bad players tactics.

[29:56] Where are the industry supporters for general eyecare?

[39:26] Good players and good tactics like Eyeris.

[47:24] How has the patient finder worked so far?

Get in touch at https://myeyeris.com/

Money, Sales, Profits. Yeah baby!

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 12:00:00 +0000

We're doctors, opticians, and industry professionals. While we do good deeds, we also deserve to make a living and profits. Here are 5 financial tips:

Don't match prices
Always charge for nosepads
Sell solutions and accessories, your patients want convenience
How to handle giving optician raises
The biggest opportunity in the exam room

Thinking is easy. Executing is hard. Hit is up on our texting platform. We want to hear from you about ideas you have, advice you want to give or just to say hello. Our number is 913-660-2855. www.eyetrepreneur.com

Stump The Eye Coach | Robert Bell

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Listen to Robert Bell take a deep dive into the side of optometry many optometrists are unprepared for: sales.

In This Episode:

[2:04] Break it down. Why did they walk through your door?

[2:52] Should you charge for adjustments even if the frame wasn't purchased at your store?

[7:22] What challenges are employees presenting, and how to overcome them?

[11:54] Handling the retail side of optometry.

[20:18] How much should you chat during a sale?

[24:30] How to make your presence more widely known.

Check out Robert on Facebook

Random Eyecare Tips + Thoughts

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 19:06:48 +0000

6 practice tips and topics to ponder about.

The public is confused about eyecare
Is optometry your hobby or profession?
Music matters in your office. It sets the vibe
Should family work in your practice?
Optometry's dirty little secret. ODs don't refer to ODs
Phone etiquette is super important for first impressions

Make sure to text us your thoughts on our new texting platform. Hit us up at 913-660-2855 to communicate with Perry and Dr. Brill. Ask us questions, just say hello, or get advice. Watch our educational videos at https://eyetrepreneur.com/our-videos/

Eyewear Disruption | What's Next? | Dennis Zelazowski

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:18:53 +0000

In This Episode:

Eyewaer retailers must adapt and change, sell out, or slowly die.

Dennis Zelazowski and Perry Brill sat down on January 16, 2019 in London to discuss the future of the retail eyewear market.

The times are changing as vision plan companies are buying large chain operations and going vertical.

Watch as Dennis and Perry discuss how to thrive and the future of customized eyewear.

Perry also did a podcast with Dennis earlier in the year!

About The Guest:

Dennis is a third generation optician, Inventor of the Chemistrie magnetic lenses, founder of Eyenavision, and Co-Founder of 3DNA Eyewear, recipient of Japan's "Good Design Award" and recently named to the "Top 50 Retail Innovators of Hong Kong. Growing up inside the optical business has positioned Dennis to be a leading innovator in the industry. Dennis has been involved with Marketing and Development of optical solutions for over 20 years. Dennis has worked in nearly every facet of the optical industry, including: private practice; retail locations; and the wholesale supply chain. He has worked for a variety of companies, ranging from independent, single-location practices, to multi-location hybrids, and optical conglomerates. Dennis, a native to the greater Pittsburgh area, has apprenticed in optical trade locally, as well as in Colorado and Washington. Dennis’ educational background includes course work at Northern Arizona University, University of Pittsburgh and the Robert E. Cook Honor College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Dennis has also earned his certification as a Microsoft Systems Engineer. Dennis holds Seven US patents for optical frame and lens design and several additional patents-pending. Dennis has successfully designed and implemented software for Retail, Wholesale, Laboratory, B2B, and B2C applications in the optical field.

Resources:

3DNA.org

Learn more about 3DNA Eyewear

Link to Patents

https://www.instagram.com/3dna_eyewear/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dzyne

Contact Dennis: dz@eye-dna.com

WhatsApp: +852 5527 0678

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Augmented Reality Digital Eyewear | Michael Freeman

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Tue, 8 Oct 2019 11:30:00 +0000

Michael Freeman takes a deep dive into some exciting new tech coming to eyecare: virtual reality and augmented reality. Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[5:13] The invention of the mobile video, and how it was applied at first.

[6:44] How Michael made it into eyecare.

[8:10] Virtual reality and augmented reality, and how it relates to eyewear.

[15:32] The device itself: what does it look like, and how does it work?

[26:55] Will eyecare providers be necessary for these devices?

[40:21] Is it comfortable?

About The Guest:

Freeman is an award-winning innovator with over 150 patents filed, with over 60 patents issued in the Sectors of: Multi-Channel Streaming Mobile Video, Augmented Reality Eyewear, RFID Location Base Tracking, Nano-Chemicals, and Ultra-Hight Efficiency Muxcapacitor® Transformerless Power Supplies. Freeman also won the 2015 and 2016 Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards for Best Product to Power the IoT while CEO of Semitrex a company Freeman founded based on his Switch Cap transformerless power supplies invention which provides over 95% efficiency.

While President of PC Designs, Freeman invented the first streaming mobile video technology in 1994 which garnered him a two TV Emmy Awards. This revolutionary mobile video technology was licensed by virtually all cell companies throughout the 1990's and acquired by Samsung who asserted the patents in the Apple vs. Samsung II litigation, where Mr. Freeman testified. In that Appsung litigation Freeman was identified as developing the "forerunner" of Smart Phones because his team was the first to combine the connectivity of cell phones with the intelligence of computers. His streaming mobile video was the basis for the 802.11(n) MIMO protocol.

Freeman also served a stint in the Major Motion Picture Industry as a Sr. Executive Vice President for a leading Hollywood Company, 1492 Studios, Inc.

Resources:

oculenz.com

Hoya Q&A Facebook Live | Mike Hanbridge + Bob Alexander

perry@eyetrepreneur.com (Perry Brill) — Thu, 3 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

Q&A session with the marketing and educational director of Hoya. It's important ECPs learn more about a lens company than what they find in marketing brochures and advertisements in magazines. Hoya has been making lenses since 1941 and has contributed many innovations to the lens market.

In This Episode:

What differentiates Hoya from other big optical vendors
How to increase lens sales
Current thoughts about lens market being saturated
Is Hoya a partner or competitor to ECPs?
New innovations
Technical talk about progressive and anti-reflective
Questions from audience answered

About The Guests:

Bob Alexander, LDO, ABOM / NCLE-AC :

Bob is a graduate of Hocking College with an AAS in Opticianry. He is a Dual Licensed Dispensing Optician in OH, an Advanced Certified Contact Lens Technician through the National Contact Lens Examiners and a certified Master in Ophthalmic Optics through the American Board of Opticianry. Bob is a certified technical level III speaker for both ABO and NCLE. In 2018 he started his career with Hoya Vision Care and currently holds the position of Senior Manager of Education Resources.

Mike Hanbridge:

Michael Hanbridge is Digital Marketing Manager for Hoya Vision Care, US Market. He has 25 years of experience covering a broad range of marketing disciplines and industries.

Resources:

hoyavision.com

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