What does it take to grow a thriving optometry practice and a successful cooperative network at the same time? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. David Holler, optometrist, practice owner, CEO, and co-founder of Clarity Vision. From specialty contact lenses to strategic vendor negotiations, Dr. Holler shares how he's balanced patient care with long-term business growth. Tune in to hear how divergent thinking and a strong team culture have helped him build a sustainable, future-ready model for independent optometry. 

Takeaways: 

• Dedicate time to work on the business. Setting aside admin days for strategy, training, and hiring is crucial for sustainable growth beyond patient care.
• Cooperative models can outperform franchises. Pooling resources with like-minded practices can boost buying power and efficiency while preserving independence.
• Specialty services build loyalty. Offering scleral lenses, myopia management, and custom solutions helps practices stand out and retain patients.
• Hiring is a strategy, not just a task. Transparent expectations, a team-first culture, and creative staffing solutions like virtual scribes help tackle today’s retention challenges.
• AI won’t replace you, but it can help. Embrace tools that automate admin work so you can focus on delivering better patient care.
• Think like a designer and a scientist. Blending divergent thinking with clinical expertise leads to smarter decisions and more innovative practices.

Quote of the Show:

• “ If you position yourself as being technology forward, then you're going to attract the types of patients you want to see and hopefully take on that type of growth.” - Dave Holler

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-holler-od-faao-fsls-b7056013/  
• Company website: https://www.findclarityvision.com/ 
• Email: dholler@findclarityvision.com 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208