The Focused View: Empowering Eye Care Professionals
"The Focused View" is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest trends, strategies, and innovations in the eye care industry. Hosted by industry expert Michael Nasser, each episode features in-depth interviews with thought leaders and practitioners who are pushing the boundaries of optometry. With a focus on empowering eye care professionals and elevating the industry, "The Focused View" provides valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving field. Tune in for engaging conversations, expert analysis, and a clear vision for the future of eye care.
Episodes
64 episodes
EP62: The Origins of SOLA and the CR-39 Revolution with Rod Watkins
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 manufactu...
EP61: Why Your Personal Brand Is Your Practice's Most Undervalued Asset with Sarah Makris
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 communic...
EP60: Dry Eye for Every Practice: How Any Optometrist Can Build a Meaningful Dry Eye Service Regardless of Resources with Shaina Zheng
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 ...
When Opportunity Moves, Move With It with Eliza Whiteley
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...
EP58: The SPEC Foundation: How Independent Eye Care Professionals Can Give Back
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 ...
EP57: The Shift Business Growth: Start with the End in Mind with Jenny Stilwell
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 busines...
EP56: Starting Young: Building a Team, Finding your Niche, and Growing with Purpose with Alisha Shastri - Part 2
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 wi...
EP55: Starting from Zero: How to Establish a Greenfield Optometry Practice - Part 1 with Alisha Shastri
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 g...
EP54: Building Operational Leverage: What Independent Optometry Can Learn from Scaled Practice Models with Ankit Patel
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 th...
EP53: 42 Years in Eye Care - George Nasser on The Story Behind Building Opticare
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...
EP52: From Specialty to Strategy: Building a High-Performance Independent Practice with Shonit Jagmohan - Part 2
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,...
EP51: From Specialty to Strategy: Blending Clinical Excellence and Leadership in Independent Optometry with Shonit Jagmohan - Part 1
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 o...
EP50: From Grad to Greenfield: One Optometrist’s Journey to Private Practice Ownership with Sheila Lam - Part 2
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 ...
EP49: From Grad to Greenfield: One Optometrist's Journey to Private Practice Ownership with Sheila Lam
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...
EP48: Practice Flow, Training, and the Future of Independent Practice with Tim Thurn
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 succes...
EP47: The Evolution of Independent Optometry and Technology with Tim Thurn
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 r...
EP46: Leading for Success: Practical Strategies to Build Stronger Teams in Independent Optometry with Dr Steve Vargo
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...
EP45: Building Community, Crafting Care: Northam Optical's Journey to Independent Practice of the Year 2025 with Allyson Freind
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 ...
EP44: Ownership, Independence, and Planning Succession in Optometry with Tim Duffy
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 r...
2025 Holiday Episode: Eye Care Community Voice
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....
EP43: Beyond the Brochure: Raising Optical Standards Through Lens Knowledge with Grant Hannaford
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 si...
EP42: Beyond the Plateau: Modernising and Reigniting Your Practice for Growth with Erich Mattei - Part 2
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...
EP41: Lessons in Leadership and Ownership: Shaina Zheng's Guide for Emerging Independents
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 ...
EP40: The Leap Into Ownership: Strategies for Emerging Optometry Practice Owners with Erich Mattei - Part 1
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?...
EP39: Building a Patient-Centric Optical Flow: From Core Values to Practice Success with Joy Livingood Gibb
In this episode, we are joined by Joy Livingood Gibb, a veteran in the optical industry with nearly 40 years of experience. From independent optician work to mobile services and now practice management in Utah, Joy has seen it all, and she's st...