The Focused View: Empowering Eye Care Professionals

What does it take to build a culture where ordinary people can do exceptional work and what happens when that culture begins to change? In Part 2 of our three-part series, Rod Watkins, former Technical Director and Group General Manager of SOLA, shares how the company kept up with 40% year-on-year growth, the product gap that helped push its owners to sell, and what changed when Pilkington took ov...

Most people in Australian optometry have heard the name SOLA. Fewer know it started life inside a nine-person optometry practice in Adelaide, and even fewer know it briefly ran neck-and-neck with Essilor as the biggest ophthalmic lens manufacturer in the world. In this first instalment of a three-part series, Michael Nasser sits down with Rod Watkins, former Technical Director and Group General Ma...

Your patients are Googling you before they ever book an appointment, and if they can't find you, they're already questioning whether they can trust you. In this episode, we're joined by Sarah Makris, a former corporate communications executive turned personal branding strategist, who's spent years helping senior executives and professionals build brands that open doors. Sarah s...

Dry eye doesn’t have to be a highly specialised service requiring expensive technology or a dedicated clinic. Meaningful dry eye care can start with the tools and knowledge you already have and grow with your practice. In this episode, we are joined by Shaina Zheng, clinical optometrist, practice owner and founder of Dry Eye Impact, to explore how to build a practical dry eye service regardless of...

What would you do if you had just 48 hours to decide whether to buy an optometry practice? In this episode, we are joined by Eliza Whiteley, Owner and Optometrist at Whiteley Optometry, to unpack the unexpected opportunity that led her to independent practice. From taking a pay cut to learn alongside an ophthalmologist, to navigating a last-minute practice opportunity, supplier roadblocks, self-do...

A pair of glasses collecting dust in your stock room could be the reason someone sees clearly for the first time. ​ In this episode, we are joined by April Petrusma, Chedy Kalach, and Allyson Freind, who share how the South Pacific Eye Care (SPEC) Foundation is opening the door for independent eye care professionals to give back. ​ For years, meaningful eye care outreach has largely been reserved...

What separates practices that continue to grow from those that reach a plateau? In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Stilwell, strategy advisor, business mentor, and author of The 7% Club, to share the leadership and business strategies that help founders build businesses with lasting value. Throughout the conversation, Jenny explores why business value extends far beyond revenue, how systems a...

How early is too early to start and build an independent practice? Alisha Shastri’s journey proves that with the right mindset, people, and purpose, it might be much sooner than you think.  In part 2 of our conversation with Alisha Shastri, Optometrist Director and co-founder of iOptical, we dive deeper into the realities of building an independent practice from the ground up as a young optometris...

Thinking of starting an independent practice from scratch? In this episode, we are joined by Alisha Shastri, Optometrist Director  and co-founder of iOptical , to share her journey from new graduate to practice owner and the lessons she learned building a greenfield optometry practice from the ground up. Alisha shares how working in rural South Australia accelerated her clinical career growth, how...

What happens when an industrial engineer steps into the world of independent optometry?  In this episode, we are joined by Ankit Patel, founder of My Business Care Team , and the host of the Optometrists Building Empire podcast. Ankit shares how independent practices can create operational leverage, improve patient experiences, and scale sustainably without losing the personal touch that makes ind...

One bold decision that changed the course of independent optometry in Australia today. In part 1 of this 3-part series, we are joined by George Nasser, Founder and Director at Opticare, to share the lessons, risks, and industry changes that established his 42-year journey. From identifying major gaps in the optical industry in the early 1980s to challenging long-standing industry norms and making...

Differentiation is one of the biggest opportunities for independent optometry practices, but it requires the right strategy, systems, and leadership. In this episode, we continue our conversation with optometrist and owner of Vision Camberwell, Shonit Jagmohan. Shonit breaks down how he’s built a high-performance independent practice by focusing on what truly sets a business apart: its people, its...

What happens when you stop trying to serve everyone and start building a practice around clarity and specialisation? In this episode, we are joined by Shonit Jagmohan, an optometrist and owner of Vision Camberwell, one of the oldest independent practices in Victoria, to unpack how he built a practice model centred on specialty contact lenses, patient experience, and intentional business design. Th...

Sometimes, the most powerful way to learn is to build as you go, and Sheila Lam’s journey is a testament to that. In this second part of the conversation, Sheila Lam takes us behind the scenes of building a greenfield practice with Mandy Huynh from a simple idea to full execution. From figuring out business structures and securing funding, to negotiating leases, managing unexpected costs, and buil...

From grad to greenfield. Sheila Lam didn’t just follow the expected path, she built her own. In this episode, Michael Nasser sits down with Sheila Lam, optometrist and co-founder of Eye Definition Optometrist, to unpack what it really takes to step into ownership early in your career. From graduating during the pandemic and gaining experience in corporate optometry, to questioning the “safe” route...

Do you and your team truly know the "why" behind your business? In this episode, Tim Thurn is back for part two of the conversation, bringing his honest perspective on the realities of modern optometry and a simple yet powerful idea: why successful practices are intentional about their "why." Throughout the episode, Tim challenges the common belief that independent practices ar...

Independent optometry hasn't just evolved, it has transformed. From glass lenses dominating the market to digitally personalised optics, from fragmented professional politics to collaborative care models, the journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined by Tim Thurn, former  Medical & Professional Relations Director at EssilorLuxottica and a trai...

Strong teams don't just happen by accident. They're built through better leadership, a strong team culture, and systems that help your practice grow without burning you out.  In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined by Dr Steve Vargo, optometrist, practice management consultant, author, and host of the Eye Own a Business podcast, to unpack one of the biggest (and most challenging) issue...

In this episode, we are joined by Allyson Freind, optical dispenser, owner of Northam Optical and recipient of Independent Practice of the Year 2025, to explore how a loyal customer base, deep community connection, and consistent, high-quality care can outperform even the biggest city-based advantages. From accidentally stepping into optics as a receptionist to becoming a trusted healthcare provid...

What does it take to build an independent practice that lasts for four decades and then pass it on to continue the legacy, intention, and heart for patient care? In this episode, we are joined by Tim Duffy, a highly respected rural optometrist, former owner of Vision Splendid, and long-time advocate of independent practice, to unpack how he built, grew, and eventually handed over his optometry pra...

As we close out another year on The Focused View, we wanted to pause the usual format and do something truly special. In this special holiday episode, we bring together one standout piece of advice from some of our past guests. You'll also hear their personal messages to the eye care community, reflections, encouragement, and what they hope we carry with us into the new year.  Think of this e...

What if the biggest breakthroughs in patient outcomes aren't found in new lens technologies…but in how deeply you understand the ones you already use? In this episode, we peel back the layers of lens design as Michael Nasser sits down with Dr Grant Hannaford, Doctor of Ophthalmic Science and co-founder of the Academy of Advanced Ophthalmic Optics (AAOO) , to unpack the often misunderstood wor...

Every practice reaches that moment when growth feels …stuck, and you can sense there's more potential, but you're not quite sure where to find it. The good news? There is a way to go beyond the plateau.  In continuation of Michael's conversation with Erich Mattei of Akrinos , they discuss how eye care professionals can modernise, expand, and grow in their practice, whether they&apos...

Everyone dreams of running their own practice until they realise that it's more than just caring for patients. In this episode, we are joined by Shaina Zheng, a clinical optometrist and practice owner, to unpack the unexpected chaos behind the consultation room. Shaina gets real and opens up about her culture shock on ownership, their biggest challenges, pushback, and the powerful lessons she...

You've finally decided, you want to own your own practice. But then comes the big question: where do I even start? Should you build one from scratch or take over an existing practice? It's exciting… but also a little overwhelming, right? In this episode, Erich Mattei of Akrinos is back to unpack what it really takes to step into practice ownership in today's optometry landscape. Fro...