EYE OWN A BUSINESS

Hosted by IDOC

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100

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Jun 2026

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About the show

What does your ideal optometry practice look like? Eye Own a Business is your go-to resource, whether you’re an established owner or aspiring optometrist. Hosted by Dr. Steve Vargo, this podcast, powered by IDOC, offers expert insights to help you grow your practice, enhance patient care, and so much more.

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June 16, 2026Episode 14233 min

How to Actually Hire an Associate OD (When Nothing Else Is Working)

Finding and hiring an associate OD has become one of the most frustrating challenges in independent practice — and most owners have no idea why their approach isn't working. In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo digs into the reality behind the associate shortage: the problem isn't only that there aren't enough doctors. In many cases, the way practices recruit, communicate, and present themselves is quietly disqualifying them before a candidate ever picks up the phone. Why are qualified ODs going silent after interviews? Why do job postings sit untouched for months? And what does nearly $200,000 in student debt have to do with the way a young doctor reads your job ad? Drawing on recent research into what today's ODs actually want from employers, Steve unpacks the psychology behind how this generation evaluates opportunities — and why transparency, structure, and specificity matter far more than prestige or promises of "someday." To register for Vision Forward, visit idoc.net to reserve your spot. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

June 9, 2026Episode 14129 min

Eye Care in 2030: What's Coming, What to Ignore, and How to Prepare Now

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo tackles something that's quietly weighing on a lot of healthcare professionals right now: uncertainty about the future. What's actually coming? What's hype? And what does any of it mean for independent practices like yours? Drawing on recent research across multiple healthcare forecasting sources — including data from the AMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, Pew Research, and McKinsey — Steve breaks down the ten most significant trends shaping healthcare through the end of the decade, with a specific lens on what they mean for independent optometry. Some of what's coming is disruptive. Some of it is genuinely good news — especially for the parts of practice most of us actually care about. And some of it won't affect your specialty at all. But here's the through line: the practices that will thrive in the next five years aren't necessarily the biggest or the most technologically advanced. They're the ones that use the right tools to clear the administrative noise — and protect the human relationships that no algorithm can replace. If you've been feeling uncertain about where eye care is headed, this episode won't add to that anxiety. It's designed to replace it with clarity. To register for Vision Forward, visit idoc.net to reserve your spot. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

June 2, 2026Episode 14037 min

She Thought She Needed More Staff. She Needed This Instead.

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo welcomes back optometrist and practice owner Dr. Kristina Pusz for a deeper conversation about the one thing most growing practices are missing: structure that actually sticks. Steve and Christina explore what happens when a practice is growing on the outside but quietly unraveling on the inside — staff turnover, things slipping through the cracks, and a leader waking up in the middle of the night unable to turn her mind off. Christina shares how shifting from sporadic, one-sided staff meetings to a structured, accountability-driven leadership system changed not just her practice, but her life. This conversation goes beyond meeting agendas and to-do lists. It's about psychological safety, the courage to let go of control, and why the practices that run the most efficiently are often the ones with the fewest people — not the most. Christina opens up about her own struggle with micromanagement, what her team finally said to her that forced her to change, and why the doctors who say they don't have time for this kind of structure are often the ones who need it most. If your team goes quiet when you ask for feedback, if accountability keeps slipping, or if you're carrying more than you should be — this one is for you. To register for Vision Forward, visit idoc.net to reserve your spot. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

May 26, 2026Episode 13943 min

AI Isn't Taking Your Job — It's Giving You Your Career Back

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with optometrist and AI early-adopter Dr. Jay Henry and Josh Gosnell, co-founder of Adit, for a practical and eye-opening conversation about what artificial intelligence is actually doing inside optometry practices right now — and why the doctors who aren't paying attention may already be falling behind. Steve, Jay, and Josh cut through the hype and the fear to talk about what AI can realistically do for your practice today: answering phones after hours, scheduling patients, scrubbing claims, scribing, and flagging the moment a patient call starts to go sideways. Dr. Henry shares how his group practice uses AI from the first touchpoint to the last — and how it's transformed not just efficiency, but culture. His staff smiles more. His charts are done before he leaves. He goes home. But this conversation isn't just about technology. It's about getting back to why you became a doctor in the first place. The administrative grind that's quietly burning practices out isn't inevitable — and AI may be the most practical tool available right now to push back against it. If you've been curious about AI but don't know where to start — or you've been waiting for a reason to take it seriously — this episode is a good place to begin. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

May 19, 2026Episode 13845 min

Contact Lens Strategy with CooperVision: Driving Success in Your Practice

In this live episode of Eye Own A Business podcast, we’ll explore how a well-defined contact lens strategy can help you achieve your practice goals. Gain valuable insights into building a strategy that aligns with your team, patients, and long-term vision. A dynamic panel of colleagues will share real-world experiences and actionable tips, giving you the chance to learn from peers, ask questions, and leave with a clear roadmap to elevate your contact lens business. Speakers: Dr. Tara Vaz - CooperVision Dr. Kaleel Shaheen II - Hills & Dales Vision, Inc Dr. Jennie Zolman - Draisin Vision Group Steve Vargo - IDOC easyvision™ — What patients want. What you deserve. Offered exclusively through IDOC and manufactured by CooperVision*, a customer brand family of MyDay® and clariti® 1 day. Patients will love the comfort, convenience, and performance1 — available at prices lower than branded contact lenses and only available through your practice, you’ll love what it does for margins and keeping patients and their reorders where they belong — with you.†2 That’s easy. *For product and safety information, visit coopervision.com/safety. 19534 03/26 Learn more at https://idoc.net/vendors/easyvision/

May 12, 2026Episode 13738 min

Why Your Patients Want to Say Yes — But Keep Walking Out the Door

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Jenna Ellsworth, National Account Manager for CareCredit, to tackle one of the most common — and costly — moments in any practice: the patient who was ready to say yes, but walked out the door anyway. Why does this keep happening? Steve and Jenna make the case that price objections are rarely just about money. More often, they're a signal that the patient wasn't given the right information, at the right moment, in the right way. And in most practices, that conversation is happening too late — or not at all. From when to introduce financing options during the patient journey, to how doctors and staff can bring it up naturally without feeling like a sales pitch, this episode offers a practical roadmap for keeping more patients in-house and helping them actually follow through on the care you're recommending. If you've ever watched a patient hesitate at checkout — or leave to "think about it" — this episode will change how you think about the price conversation and give your team the tools to have it with confidence. To register for Vision Forward, visit idoc.net to reserve your spot. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

May 5, 2026Episode 13646 min

The Simpler Optical: Reducing Complexity to Increase Capture

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Susan Daly, Head of Optical Products at IDOC, live from IDOC Connection to tackle a challenge every independent optometry practice faces: complexity in the optical. From overloaded frame boards to overwhelming lens options, today’s opticals are often suffering from the “peanut butter problem”, too many choices leading to decision fatigue for both patients and staff. The result? Lower capture rates, walking scripts, and missed revenue. Susan shares a practical path forward, showing how simplifying your frame selection, lens offerings, and conversations can increase capture, improve team performance, and create a better patient experience. You will learn: Why fewer choices can lead to more sales How the three-pair presentation drives confident decisions Why confusion, not price, is often the real barrier How to simplify your lens strategy without sacrificing quality A clear framework to communicate value in under two minutes If you want a more efficient, profitable optical that feels easier to run, this episode gives you the blueprint. Get free IDOC Essential Membership just by using IDOC Labs. To register for Vision Forward, visit idoc.net to reserve your spot. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

April 28, 2026Episode 13554 min

If You Think You Can't Make Money Doing Eye Exams Anymore, Listen to This

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo joins certified financial planner and 20/20 Money podcast host Adam Cmejla for a candid conversation about one of the most common — and costly — mindsets in independent optometry: the belief that the business model is broken and that adding new services is the only way out. The conversation starts with a frustrated email from a real OD — one who feels stuck, undervalued by insurance, and convinced that the only path forward runs through dry eye spas and red light therapy. Steve and Adam unpack why that thinking is understandable, why it's also a little dangerous, and why the same communication gaps that are quietly killing capture rate will follow you right into your next revenue stream. Steve challenges the profession's complicated relationship with selling, makes the case that better communication, not better services, is usually the first domino to knock over, and shares practical, low-risk ways to start improving patient conversations today. Originally aired on 20/20 Money, hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP. Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's time for a financial health review. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

April 21, 2026Episode 13428 min

Why Your Gut Is a Terrible Hiring Manager — And What to Do Instead

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo tackles a frustrating experience nearly every practice owner has lived through: a candidate who interviews beautifully, gets hired with confidence — and then quietly unravels six weeks later. Why does this keep happening? Drawing on research into hiring psychology and behavioral science, Steve makes the case that bad hires aren't bad luck — they're the predictable result of a broken process. The gut instinct we rely on in interviews turns out to be one of the weakest predictors of job performance. Meanwhile, the approaches that actually work are ones most independent practices have never been taught. In this episode, Steve breaks down the most common places the hiring process goes sideways, why interviews are performance environments that reward the wrong things, and what a smarter — and surprisingly simple — approach looks like in a real-world practice setting.

April 14, 2026Episode 13356 min

How to Connect with Gen Z Patients So They Actually Say Yes

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Kayla Ashlee for a fascinating conversation about one of the most misunderstood groups walking into today’s practices: Gen Z patients. Why are so many doctors and opticians struggling to connect with this generation? Steve and Kayla explore how Gen Z’s digital upbringing, constant access to information, and high sensitivity to inauthenticity are changing the way practices need to communicate. They unpack why traditional “doctor talk,” overexplaining, and product-heavy presentations often fall flat—and how these missteps can quietly lead to lower capture rates, weaker trust, and missed opportunities in the optical. This conversation goes far beyond generational stereotypes. It’s about learning how to communicate more clearly, guide more effectively, and create an experience that feels personal rather than transactional. Kayla shares practical insights on simplifying language, improving handoffs, asking better questions, and creating more customized optical experiences that resonate not only with Gen Z, but with patients across the board. Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's time for a financial health review. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube