Power Hour Optometry: "The Nerdy Optometrist: Technology, Curiosity, and the Next Era of Eye Care with Dr. Ukti Vora"

Host: Eugene Shatsman, The Power Practice
Guest: Dr. Ukti Vora (aka The Nerdy Optometrist)
Date: October 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a dynamic conversation between host Eugene Shatsman and Dr. Ukti (Ukti) Vora—a clinical optometrist, entrepreneur, and host of the "Nerdy Optometrist" podcast. They dive deep into international perspectives on optometric practice, innovation, and entrepreneurship in eye care, and the practical ways optometrists can navigate new technology, trends, and business models. Key areas include practice efficiency, patient care, staff challenges, and distinguishing real advancements from industry hype.

Dr. Ukti Vora: Journey & Perspective

• From India to the US: Dr. Vora shares her unique career trajectory, starting in India as an ophthalmic technician, advancing through optometry and academia, then relocating to the US where she pursued an MBA and joined the telehealth/startup and corporate world.
  • Notable quote: “For me, it was a complete accident. I had no idea about what optometry was or what optometry is and like I'll ever end up doing optometry as my career. But fortunately enough… if you are in an eye care industry, there is no going back." (03:31)
• International Practice Differences:
  • In India, optometry started as a less independent profession, often tied to retail or working under ophthalmologists, with limited scope (no drug prescription rights).
  • Increasing independence and comprehensive care are now emerging trends.
  • In the US, optometrists have broader clinical authority, prescribe meds, and own more of the business/process.
  • On exposure: “The number of cases that you would see here versus an optometrist, the number of cases they see in India I would say is at least two to three times more.” (13:11)
  • On confidence and regulations: “When you start looking as an optometrist who have similar knowledge and they are able to make decisions, you tend to earn a little more confidence in terms of your own knowledge base and the thoroughness.” (14:06)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Optometry as a Platform for Innovation

• US-based optometrists are increasingly adopting entrepreneurial mindsets—running their clinics like startups, adding adjacencies (like aesthetics or myopia control), and developing tech solutions.
  • Quote: “They are beyond optometrist, they are an entrepreneur, they are innovators, they are challenging our industry, and they're making sure that we grow every single day.” (16:13)
• Optometry is not “behind the times” but is, in fact, a fertile ground for practitioner-driven innovation.

2. Defining & Tackling Practice Challenges

Main Problems Addressed:

• Efficiency (making clinics run smoother)
• Overload from too many options & new tech
• Staff recruitment, retention, and engagement
• Generating patient demand

Approach to Solutions:

• Try and Test: Practitioners are encouraged to demo products, involve staff in decision-making, and consult peers.
  • Quote: “Having a little more collaborative approach to what solution you want to adapt really helps the practices who thrive.” (27:55)
• Goal-Oriented Change: Pick measurable goals (e.g., number of new dry eye patients) and involve staff in goal-setting and process design.
  • Quote: “If they're bought in… you, the person who owns the practice, don't have to drag everybody kicking and screaming.” (31:12)

3. Separating Signal from Noise

• With a flood of studies (600,000+ pages/year!) and endless media/social content, practitioners need filters.
  • Fact-check sources, focus on patient benefit, recognize different styles may work for different demographics.
  • Quote: “I would always do a check to make sure that who I'm following is actually making sense… till it is factually correct, I'm fine.” (22:42)

4. Major Trends in Eye Care Technology

a. Efficiency & Communication Tools

• AI scribes, patient communication apps, patient education platforms.
• Adoption is still evolving: most tools rank ~6-7 on a 10-point "maturity" scale.
  • Dr. Vora on AI scribes: “At least the ones that I have seen, I would say they are between like 6ish... Some are really good... some are actually just people typing in for you.” (45:56)
• Integration and EHR compatibility remain key gaps.

b. Oculomics & Wearable Tech

• Using ocular imaging (fundus photos) in systemic health (oculomics).
• Collaboration with big tech (Meta, Google, Luxottica) building data-collecting eyewear and wearables.
  • Quote: “Data is the next gold or the money that you kind of want to focus on.” (36:49)
  • On embracing new players: “Embracing is not an option because honestly, they have the money... So, I think we should embrace it. But can we make it more useful and motion friendly is what... we should be focusing on.” (38:22)

c. Growth of Subspecialties & Adjacent Services

• Myopia control, dry eye, and medical aesthetics are booming.
• Technology now available for tracking, monitoring, and patient engagement.
  • On patient education tools: "Many devices are coming out now with patient education tools and apps... especially in spaces of dry eye and myopia." (47:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On innovation, confidence, and failing forward:
  • “All the people that I've spoken to have also started with the fact, like, I have no idea what I'm doing. But now they are thriving and killing it. So if you have an idea... just go for it. If you fail, you'll have a great story to share.” (57:35)
• On why imperfect technology = opportunity:
  • “It's good that these things are imperfect because if they were perfect and everybody was doing them, then you don't have a competitive advantage. If you jump in now while the systems are imperfect... it's a much bigger upside.” (55:26)
• On necessity to keep updating:
  • "No solution is perfect on day one… If you don't adapt it at 5, 6, or 7, you won't be able to give feedback, you won't be able to define it." (56:25)

Timestamps: Segment Highlights

• 03:31 – 07:20: Dr. Vora’s career journey, from India to the US, challenges with US credentialing, and the business side of optometry.
• 08:04 – 12:57: US vs. India—scope, training, regulatory environments, evolution of independent optometry in India.
• 13:11 – 14:57: What US and Indian optometrists can learn from each other (case volume, confidence, regulations, technology).
• 16:13 – 21:12: Optometric entrepreneurs and innovators, the myth that the industry is "slow."
• 21:49 – 22:42: Navigating information overload, separating trendy fluff from real, evidence-based knowledge.
• 24:36 – 27:55: Two buckets of challenges—efficiency and knowing which innovation to adopt; problem of overwhelm.
• 29:45 – 32:41: Practical approaches to adopting new tech, the importance of involving staff, goal-setting.
• 32:57 – 38:41: Technology trends—oculomics, AI, wearables, and big-tech disruptions in eye care.
• 40:02 – 47:40: Actionable steps for tech adoption: patient communication, AI assistants, practice efficiency, patient education (plus maturity ratings for each).
• 50:12 – 54:42: Patient education: what works, current gaps, and the importance of industry-initiated resources.
• 55:26 – 57:20: Imperfect tech as an entrepreneurial opportunity; the evolution of industry solutions.

Takeaways & Final Thoughts

• Optometry is entering a golden era for entrepreneurship, innovation, and practice transformation.
• Don’t wait for perfection: Be early, be adaptive, your feedback will help shape better tools.
• Get your staff involved: Align goals, identify meaningful problems, and co-investigate solutions.
• Be a filter: Curate your information diet, and focus on what serves your patients and practice.
• Embrace collaboration: Across disciplines, countries, and even with big tech.
• Fail forward: Every failed innovation is a story and a lesson on the way to success.
  • Dr. Vora: “If you have an idea... just go for it. If you fail, you'll have a great story to share.” (57:35)

For more on Dr. Ukti Vora, visit the Nerdy Optometrist Podcast or follow her work at the intersection of clinical care, business, and technology in eye care.

(Summary by Power Hour Optometry Podcast Summarizer)