Power Hour Optometry

There's a point in every growing practice where things start to feel different. Not because the business isn't working, but rather it's working only because of you, and the moment you try to expand, that dependency gets exposed. You start to realize that growth isn't as simple as opening another location. It's about building something that can operate without you being everywhere at once, and that...

Most practice owners think growth is about doing more. More patients, more staff, more lanes, and more locations. But the truth is, scaling a practice is about building the right structure underneath it. In this week's episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Dr. David Moore, President of Moore Eye Center, and Dr. Julia Zyrina, Founder of Pine Vision Care, two doctors who are bot...

Every year at Vision Expo, companies make massive promises about the "future of optometry." But as a practice owner, you don't need more hype; you need solutions that are real, scalable, and useful. In this special Innovators Edition of the Power Hour recorded live at Vision Expo, Eugene Shatsman sits down with three executives attacking the future of the profession from three completely different...

What would you do if you discovered someone inside your business had been stealing from you? Not hundreds. Not thousands. Millions. In this week's episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman sits down with Mick Hall, President of Bard Optical (one of the most respected multi-location practices in the country) to hear a story that every practice owner needs to listen to.  It started with something small...

Burnout is more common than many leaders are willing to admit. It's rarely a sign that the practice itself is broken. More often, it's a signal that the systems supporting the business need to evolve. In this week's Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Allison Kraemer & Dr. Brian Spittle from The Power Practice to talk about something many practice owners experience but rarely discuss openly: Burnout...

How many times have you said, "We had such a great interview," only to be thinking 60 days later, "How did we get this so wrong?" Staffing is still the #1 issue in practices, but what if the sustainable fix isn't another job post? What if it's understanding who you're hiring (before you hire them) and knowing how to develop them once they're on your team? In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shat...

How do you transform your practice from something that depends on you for everything, into something that grows with clarity and control on its own? You've invested in equipment, hired good people, and are working hard; and yet, growth feels heavier than it should. In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman sits down with Jamie Rosin to talk about a systematic approach to practice growth.  The...

As  t he economics of practice ownership  evolve,   t echnology  accelerates , and  l egislative conversations  become  more complex,  who  is shaping the future of optometry behind the sc enes? And what decisions are being made right now that could  impact  your practice next year?   In this  episode of  Power Hour , recorded live from the  AOA  Leaders  Summit in St. Louis , Eugene  Shatsman  si...

People, Technology, and Strategy.   Three pillars that shaped how  Dr. Solomon Gould  built a scalable medical model, developed high-performing teams, and grew without sacrificing patient experience.     In this week's episode of  Power Hour , Eugene sits down with  Dr. Solomon Gould , Sr. Director of Eye Care at  EssilorLuxottica , and a leader whose career spans  nearly every  side of optometry:...

What if the biggest story in vision care right now  isn't  a new produc t,  but a shift in patient  behavior  that could reshape 2026?   Today's episode is a little different (in the best way) because  we're  recording  live from The Vision Council's Executive Summit . This is a  conference  filled with CEOs, founders, and eye care industry leaders who are here to network, but more importantly, to...

2025  wasn't  business as usual in optometry M&A.   Fewer buyers, more deal scrutiny, softer multiples, and a growing number of practice owners asking the same question:  "Is my practice worth what I think it's worth?"     That's  why this episode is perfectly timed for the start of  2026 .   Eugene  is joined by   Anne Kavanagh   (Founder & Managing Director)  and  Jason Preator  (Managing Partne...

Going from one location to two sounds exciting… until  it's  not.   The truth is, scaling a practice  brings on  a completely different level of complexity  than just more patients or an increase in revenue;  it's   new operational pressure points, and a whole new set of problems that  don't  show up until  you're  already in motion.   In this listener-requested episode of  Power Hour , host  Euge...

If your optical felt different in 202 5,  you  weren't  imagining it.   Across the country, practices saw  capture rates slip ,  exam- onlys  rise , and  patients walk out the door with a fresh refraction ,  buying absolutely nothing.  W e know  this  isn't   temporary , so the  Power Hour is   not waiting it out ,  we're  getting proactive .   This week,  Eugene and   Kayla Ashlee , CEO of  Spexy...

In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman sits down with Gary Gerber to explore why growth stalls when practices run on autopilot — and how revisiting the basics can unlock revenue, efficiency, and sustainability without adding complexity.

operationally, and financially—is where most practices struggle. A Problem Most Practices Recognize Many practices invest in advanced technology with good intentions—better care, differentiation, growth. Yet months later, the equipment is used inconsistently, reserved for rare cases, or quietly avoided because it disrupts flow. Dr. Brujic explains why this happens so often: Doctors buy equipment t...

When close rates stall around 30–40%, most teams blame price.  What if the real issue is what happens after the appointment? Myopia management is no longer "up-and-coming." It's here, and it's big. In this episode of Power Hour , Eugene sits down with Matt Oerding , CEO & Founder of Treehouse Eyes , to unpack a market Matt describes as a untapped   opportunity, and the uncomfortable reality behind...

What if cutting your staff dramatically could increase your profit margins by up to  30% with capture rates being at 78%?   This week on  Power Hour , Eugene sits down with  Dr. Lauretta Justin , Founder of  Optometry Divas  and creator of  The CEO of You , to unpack a transformation that starts with burnout and ends with clarity, profit, and purpose.   After running a full-scope practice with a t...

What if the biggest shift in your practice this year  doesn't  come from a new piece of equipment, a new hire, or a new plan — but from the way you train your brain to notice joy?   In this episode of  Power Hour , host  Eugene  Shatsman  is joined by  Allegra Cohen (TEDx speaker, author, and Chief Joy Officer of BRAVE LIFE)  for a conversation that blends  neuroscience, leadership, and everyday h...

Every optometrist dreams of running a practice that truly reflects their passion. Few ever rebuild one from scratch to make it happen.   That's exactly what Dr. Stephanie Woo did.   After years of running three full-scope practices, she sold them all to pursue a vision that challenged everything she'd known about optometry — a specialty-only clinic built entirely around custom contact lenses, conc...

What separates the practices that are growing in 2025 from those falling behind?   This week on Power Hour , Eugene Shatsman welcomes back Dr. Jason Lake , General Manager of PERC and Opti-Port , for another data-driven conversation every practice owner should hear.   As one of optometry's top data experts, Dr. Lake manages one of the largest private-practice datasets in the industry , giving him...

Most optometry practices think AI is complicated, expensive, or years away from being practical. This episode proves otherwise. In this first-ever live build on the Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman and AI consultant Abhi Bhattacharya (Amazon Alexa, Athenahealth, VSP Vision) create a working AI voice agent — from scratch — that calls and confirms patient appointments in real time. No long timelines...

Description What can optometry learn from today's entrepreneurs and innovators? In this episode of The Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Ukti Vora (The Nerdy Optometrist) to explore how innovation, technology, and mindset are shaping the future of the optometry. Ukti shares her journey from India to the U.S., offering a global perspective on how optometry is evolving — from independent practices a...

What makes a conference more than just a meeting?   For over six decades, the Heart of America Eye Care Congress has been one of optometry's most enduring traditions — bringing together thousands of professionals, students, and industry partners for education, innovation, and community.   In this episode of Power Hour , recorded live in Kansas City, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Dr. Susan La...

Navigating managed vision care can be complex.   Between reimbursements, benefits, and patient expectations, finding the balance between patient satisfaction and profitability is no small feat. But what if the key isn't fighting the system , but understanding lesser-known opportunities that exist within managed care?   In this episode of Power Hour , host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Todd Lasson...

What happens when you bring together some of the sharpest minds shaping the future of optometry and optical retail?   You get an unfiltered conversation that uncovers where innovation meets patient care, where business decisions meet real-world practice, and where industry leadership is steering the next decade of eye care.