Defocus Media Eyecare and Optometry Podcast Network

Before patients enter an optometry practice, they may already have formed an impression through its website, social media or emails. In an episode of   4 the Record , Tyler Kemp and Marketing4ECPs content strategist Rachel Topp explore how those impressions shape trust—and why a clear brand strategy helps practices communicate what makes their care worth choosing. Topics Covered : Start With the R...

An expensive piece of office equipment breaks down, but the monthly payments keep coming. For Dr. Adam Ramsey, that experience raises a question about what optometrists should expect when investing in their practices. In an episode of  Play Chess Not Checkers , he argues that equipment purchases deserve closer scrutiny beyond the advertised price: reliability, warranty coverage, and service w...

The examination ends with a diagnosis, a treatment recommendation and a patient who appears ready to act. What happens afterward is less certain. Instructions compete with work, family responsibilities and established routines, leaving a gap between the care recommended and what a patient actually does. In a Defocus Media conversation with Dr. Darryl Glover, optometrist Dr. Kerry Reeves explores t...

What happens when a bestselling psychological thriller makes the leap from page to screen, but leaves some of its most compelling details behind? On this episode of the OD’ing on Movies Podcast, Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson welcome special guest Dr. Eric Harris, an experienced optometrist, educator, and avid reader who recently joined CooperVision as Senior Advisor for Professiona...

Key Takeaways: Grow your contact lens practice through personalized patient care. Create a memorable patient experience that builds trust, strengthens loyalty, and supports long-term contact lens practice growth. Identify more first-time contact lens wearers. Ask lifestyle-focused questions to uncover opportunities, introduce contact lens options, and help patients discover vision solutions that f...

Key Takeaways Virtual assistants in optometry are real people who can use AI-enhanced tools to improve efficiency while preserving human interaction. Teem’s AI phone coaching tool can help virtual optometry assistants and team members improve patient communication, information gathering, and conversion. AI-supported analysis of denied claims can help team members identify potential problems...

What happens when a beloved children’s television mascot becomes a ruthless killer? In this episode of the OD’ing on Movies Podcast, Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson review Buddy, a horror comedy that transforms the cheerful world of 1990s children’s programming into a bloody nightmare. From its outrageous violence and dark humor to an unexpected discussion […]

Childhood myopia doesn’t have to mean stronger glasses every year. Myopia management offers options designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, including MiSight contact lenses, orthokeratology (Ortho-K), atropine and myopia-control glasses. Dr. Jennifer Lyerly and Dr. Alicia Barnes share how optometrists and families can choose the right myopia control approach based on a chi...

Dry eye care has become far more than recommending artificial tears and sending patients home. For practices willing to build the right systems around diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, it can become a sophisticated clinical service that improves patient care while creating a meaningful new revenue stream. On the 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian and Dr. […]

Burnout has become a familiar word in optometry, but Dr. Adam Ramsey believes it may not tell the whole story. In a solo episode of Play Chess Not Checkers, Ramsey challenges doctors to consider a different question: Are they truly burned out—or have stress, repetition and shrinking margins simply made the profession less enjoyable? When the […]

A flock of sheep solving the murder of their shepherd may not sound like an obvious starting point for a conversation about optometry. But on OD’ing on Movies, Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson welcomed Dr. Janette Pepper for a discussion that moved effortlessly from The Sheep Detectives to grief, belonging, ocular anatomy, optometry education, and the […]

Dry eye disease rarely presents as a straightforward clinical puzzle. Some patients report burning, grittiness and blurred vision despite showing few visible signs; others have significant corneal damage yet feel little discomfort. In a conversation with Dr. Darryl Glover, dry eye specialist and researcher Dr. Kaleb Abbott explains why this disconnect matters—and how recognizing it […]

Long before Phernell Walker became a master optician and the first Black chair of the American Board of Opticianry, a childhood encounter gave him a reason to care about sight. Speaking with Tarrance Lackran at the United Opticians Association Leadership Conference in Chicago, Walker traced a remarkable journey from poverty and limited expectations to national […]

In part two of their discussion of The Odyssey, Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson are joined once again by honorary co-host Dr. Morgan Jones. Together, they follow Odysseus through the darkest and most dangerous stages of his journey home. Between thoughtful analysis and hilarious side conversations, the three doctors explore the film’s horror elements, […]

For optometry students and new graduates, choosing where and how to practice can be challenging—especially when reliable career information is difficult to find. Dr. Wynn Nguyen is helping close that gap through the Canadian New ODs report, a crowdsourced survey exploring compensation, career priorities, work-life balance, practice location, and professional goals among Canadian optometrists. Oppo...

Dry eye disease affects women at approximately twice the rate of men, yet the relationship between women’s health and the ocular surface is often overlooked. In a conversation on The 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian and Dr. Janice Luk explored how hormonal changes, beauty routines and inflammation can influence dry eye throughout a woman’s life and […]

In this episode of the Play Chess Not Checkers Podcast, Dr. Melissa Barnett joins Dr. Adam Ramsey to reflect on her evolution from a shy student into an internationally recognized optometrist, educator, author and coach. Their conversation explores how mentorship shaped her career, why individualized patient care matters, and how community, coaching and thoughtful leadership can […]

Running a successful eye care practice requires more than clinical expertise. Practice owners must also lead teams, manage performance, communicate expectations, and build a workplace culture where employees can thrive—often without formal training in human resources. Dr. Alanna Wilson shares how her two-location practice is building a more proactive approach to HR, while Olivia Leduc, […]

Learn how to build a successful myopia management program with practical strategies for myopia control, including MiSight contact lenses, Stellest spectacle lenses, orthokeratology, and atropine. Explore clinical protocols, axial length monitoring, pricing, parent education, and team implementation.

Dry eye disease is no longer viewed as a simple problem solved with artificial tears. As Dr. Laura Periman explains, modern research is redefining dry eye as a complex, multifactorial disease that requires personalized diagnosis and targeted treatment. During her conversation on The 20/20 Podcast, she explores how innovations in molecular medicine, neuroscience, and ocular surface diagnostics […]

Nearly 30 years after its release, Independence Day remains one of the defining summer blockbusters. Starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Vivica A. Fox, the 1996 sci-fi classic combined action, humor, and unforgettable visual effects to become a global box office phenomenon. Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson revisit the film, discussing why it continues to […]

Success is often portrayed as a straight path marked by perfect grades, ideal circumstances, and flawless execution. Dr. Cortez Lewis’ journey proves otherwise. From growing up in a small Arkansas town and navigating academic struggles to overcoming unimaginable personal loss while pursuing his optometry degree, his story is one of resilience, faith, and unwavering determination. […]

Louisiana's passage of Senate Bill 404 marks a major milestone in vision benefit manager (VBM) reform and optometry advocacy. Dr. Amy Puerto and Dr. Robert Janot join Defocus Media to discuss how this landmark legislation improves transparency, protects the doctor-patient relationship, and strengthens patient access to eye care. Discover why vision benefit manager reform is shaping the future of i...

Persol has spent more than a century building a reputation for timeless Italian craftsmanship, authentic design, and a deep connection to cinema. This summer, those values come to life through one of New York City's most iconic outdoor events. Beginning July 2 and continuing every Thursday through August, Persol will serve as the presenting sponsor of Movies With A View at Brooklyn Bridge Park, a...

Building a successful dry eye practice goes far beyond adding new technology. Dr. Ada Noh shares practical strategies for creating efficient systems, improving patient education, and delivering consistent dry eye care that benefits both patients and the practice. Learn how intentional workflows and evidence-based treatment can help optometrists build a sustainable and thriving dry eye practice.