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 happiness in a way that's deeply relevant to optometrists and practice leaders.

Eugene first encountered Allegra's work when they shared a TEDx stage; he watched her talk sitting next to his daughter, and both were completely drawn in by Allegra's message about micro joys, resilience, and how you can literally train your brain to notice more of what you want in life. That experience led to this episode — an opportunity to bring that same shift in perspective to the Power Hour audience.

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, concierge-level care, and life-changing patient outcomes.

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 a unique perspective on what's really happening behind the numbers.

And this quarter, the data tells a surprising story: while much of the industry saw exam volume drop nearly 5%, many independent practices are reporting high single-digit growth in revenue, with double digit profitability.

So what are top-performing practices doing differently — and what can others learn from them?

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. No big budgets. Just practical tools you can actually use. If you've ever wondered "Where would I even start with AI?" — this episode is your starting point.

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 and patient communication to the growing role of AI and wearable tech.

They discuss:

◼️ The rise of entrepreneurship in optometry and lessons from other industries

◼️ How cultural differences shape patient care and professional growth

◼️ The tech transforming diagnosis, education, and engagement

◼️ Why collaboration and adaptability define the next generation of ODs

Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:05 Ukti Vora's Journey to Optometry 04:48 Comparing Optometry Practices: India vs. USA 05:51 The Evolution of Optometry in India 08:57 Learning from Each Other: Insights for Optometrists 11:51 Trends in the Optometry Industry 15:02 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Optometry 18:09 Navigating the Noise: Effective Information Consumption 21:02 Identifying Problems and Solutions in Optometry 27:00 Collaborative Decision-Making in Practice Management 31:20 Innovations in Eye Care Technology 34:54 The Role of Wearable Technology in Eye Health 38:43 Enhancing Patient Experience through Technology 42:44 Evaluating Technology Maturity in Eye Care 56:18 Embracing Failure as a Path to Success

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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 Lake, Optometrist at Eyecare Specialties, and Dr. Jeffry Gerson, Director of Education at PERC, to take listeners behind the scenes of this remarkable event.

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 Lassone, Senior Manager for Strategic Partners at EssilorLuxottica, to unpack how practices can optimize their relationship with managed vision care plans. With over 30 years of industry experience — both in the exam lane and on the corporate side — Todd brings a refreshingly practical perspective on turning managed care into managed opportunity.

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.