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.

The Focused View: Empowering Eye Care Professionals is a business podcast hosted by Michael Nasser, with 63 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Michael Nasser hosts The Focused View: Empowering Eye Care Professionals, a business show with 63 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #62

  EP62: The Origins of SOLA and the CR-39 Revolution with Rod Watkins

  Sep 21, 20261 hourS3

  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 Manager of SOLA (Scientific Optical Laboratories of Australia), who joined the company in 1970 and stayed until 1984, the years the company grew from 200 people in one Adelaide site to 4,500 people across 14 countries. Rod takes us back to how a nine-person optometry practice ended up producing a material used in spectacle lenses worldwide, the trio behind it, the regulatory shake-up that forced the entire industry off glass almost overnight, and just how close the whole thing came to running out of cash before any of it paid off. It's a story of the risk, grit, and improvisation behind the lenses we fit our patients with every day. ​ All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.thefocusedview.com.au Want more support beyond this episode? Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources Key Topics with Timestamps: 1:14 - Scientific Optical Laboratories of Australia (SOLA) 6:18 - Rod Watkins before joining SOLA and the early days of Laubman & Pank 8:43 - How a chance meeting with Don Schultz led Rod to SOLA 14:06 - SOLA's real origin story 16:20 - The people who built SOLA: David Pank, Don Schultz and Noel Roscrow 22:06 - Scaling from 9 to thousands of staff 24:28 - Why CR-39 beat glass on weight and scratch resistance 31:40 - What let David, Don and Noel stay ahead of the growth curve 34:57 - The mandate that changed the industry: 1972 and the end of glass lenses 41:57 - SOLA and Essilor as main players in the production process of CR-39 45:05 - Why the rest of the world turned to CR-39 46:17 - Inside the casting process: how CR-39 lenses were actually made 49:59 - Solving the 40% rejection rate 56:40 - The cash-flow crunch; staff loans, shares as salary, and SOLA's air freight bill Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview Send us your thoughts about the episode Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

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  Episode #61

  EP61: Why Your Personal Brand Is Your Practice's Most Undervalued Asset with Sarah Makris

  Sep 7, 202648 minS3

  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 shares why personal branding isn't optional anymore, and how showing up authentically, even imperfectly, builds more trust than staying invisible. Throughout the conversation, Sarah and Michael dig into the real tension optometrists face around visibility, how business owners should handle staff who start building their own following, and the simple, low-pressure way to start putting yourself out there, starting with the questions your patients already ask you every day. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.thefocusedview.com.au Want more support beyond this episode? Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources Key Topics with Timestamps: 2:56 - Meet Sarah Makris from PR to personal branding 5:56 - Why relying solely on your organisation's brand can be risky 7:44 - Why personal branding is more important than ever 10:47 - Alignment of thought leadership with personal brand 14:55 - Managing personal brand and business brand 15:56 - Building an authentic personal brand 21:32 - Embrace and leverage your team's personal brands 26:02 - How to move away from the discomfort of building your personal brand 29:10 - Release the perfectionism mentality 31:44 - Consistency turns visibility into a habit 35:56 - Personal branding and strategic networking 39:48 - The 15-minute physio consultation example 43:06 - Your 30-day personal branding plan 44:41 - How to reassess your personal branding efforts Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview Send us your thoughts about the episode Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

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  Episode #60

  EP60: Dry Eye for Every Practice: How Any Optometrist Can Build a Meaningful Dry Eye Service Regardless of Resources with Shaina Zheng

  Aug 25, 20261h 4mS3

  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 your resources. Shaina shares her personal experience with dry eye and her approach to identifying, communicating, and managing the condition, from foundational care through to advanced treatments such as IPL and radiofrequency. Throughout the conversation, you’ll learn how to incorporate a simple three-minute dry eye check, communicate the condition more effectively, build confidence in your clinical approach, and get your entire practice team behind the service. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.thefocusedview.com.au Want more support beyond this episode? Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources Key Topics with Timestamps: 2:53 - Shaina's dry eye journey 6:47 - Understanding dry eye and her passion to manage it 8:48 - From basic treatments to advanced technology 10:41 - How to start building dry eye into a practice 13:25 - The biggest barriers to getting started 16:30 - Finding support and building confidence 20:00 - The three-minute dry eye check 23:11 - What to do after identifying dry eye 27:11 - Key diagnostic signs and tear break-up time 30:38 - Moving from basic to advanced dry eye care 34:21 - Where to start when investing in advanced dry eye care 38:30 - Technology + foundational habits 40:51 - Building a culture-first approach 43:34 - When and how to refer dry eye patients 47:32 - Common mistakes when building a dry eye service 50:14 - Why Shaina created Dry Eye Impact 52:19 - Australia's opportunity in dry eye care 55:00 - Shaina's advice for optometrists getting started Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview Send us your thoughts about the episode Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

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  Episode #59

  When Opportunity Moves, Move With It with Eliza Whiteley

  Aug 10, 20261h 9mS3

  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-doubt and the realities of building a regional practice. During the conversation, Eliza also shares what it takes to build a strong team culture, why regional optometry can offer unique clinical opportunities, and how she learned to keep moving when the path ahead isn't always clear. If you're a student, early-career optometrist or aspiring practice owner, listen in for an honest look at the decisions, challenges and opportunities that can shape a career in independent eye care. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.thefocusedview.com.au Want more support beyond this episode? Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources Key Topics with Timestamps: 3:35 - Eliza Whiteley’s background before becoming a business owner 4:27 - The decision to choose optometry as a career 10:07 - Leaving home, university life, and finding confidence 14:49 - The first job that taught Eliza what really matters 18:56 - Sidestep journey to learn clinical optometry 26:44 - The LinkedIn message that changed everything 30:33 - Buying a practice within 48 hours 34:57 - Seeking opportunities and capitalising on it 41:07 - Biggest challenge in reinvigorating the business 44:54 - The value of having a business coach 48:21 - Leading through personal adversity 54:17 - Navigating self-doubt as a business owner 59:10 - Why regional optometry creates incredible opportunities 1:02:53 - Highlighting the potential of each team member 1:05:53 - One piece of advice from Eliza Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview Send us your thoughts about the episode Send us your thoughts about the episode Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #58

  EP58: The SPEC Foundation: How Independent Eye Care Professionals Can Give Back

  Jul 27, 202644 minS3

  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 for the big corporate players. Today, we're exploring how that's changing and how independent eye care professionals can be part of it. ​ Throughout the conversation, they discuss the Foundation's journey, the unique value of its dispenser-led model, the life-changing impact of accessible vision care, and how outreach transforms volunteers both professionally and personally. They also share the many ways individuals and businesses can get involved. ​ If you're passionate about independent eye care and making a lasting impact, this episode will leave you inspired to be part of something bigger. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.thefocusedview.com.au Want more support beyond this episode? Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources Key Topics with Timestamps: 2:53 - SPEC Foundation members and their background 4:21 - How a Fiji outreach sparked the creation of SPEC Foundation 6:15 - What the SPEC Foundation actually does 9:08 - The biggest surprise after creating the foundation 10:57 - The gap that the SPEC Foundation fills 13:28 - Turning dead stock into a life-changing vision 15:48 - What makes SPEC Foundation unique from other charitable institutions 16:59 - Why a dispenser-led foundation matters 19:46 - Professional and life development beyond the practice 23:27 - Expanding the community support beyond Fiji 24:56 - The volunteer point of view of SPEC Foundation 31:42 - Practical ways you can support the foundation 36:17 - Why volunteers need to be an ODA member 39:36 - What DGR-1 status means 41:42 - The first step to getting involved with SPEC Foundation Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview Send us your thoughts about the episode Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

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