Residency is one of the most debated steps after optometry school. In this candid guide, Dr. Ryan Corte shares why you should or should not consider a residency, the real pros and cons including finances and timing, and lessons from his own year in ocular disease and primary care so you can choose with confidence.

Born in Colombia and raised in Miami, Dr. Angelica Cifuentes took a non traditional path to optometry. She worked every clinic role, built The Tiny Optometrist brand, chose a sublease model for flexibility, launched a dry eye ecommerce venture, and now mentors and advocates for the profession. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and fit.

Hospital based optometrist Dr. Gloria Chiu shares how persistence, mentorship, and specialty contact lenses shaped her 16 year career at USC Roski Eye Institute. From rebuilding an optometry service inside ophthalmology to mastering billing and collections, she explains how to prove your value, protect your time, and grow your impact. We also cover advocacy on Capitol Hill, mentoring the next generation, and the mindset shifts that turn early rejections into long term wins.

Dr. Adam Ramsey’s journey from Trinidad to thriving private practice owner is a story of grit, resilience, and purpose. After early career setbacks, he built a Ritz-Carlton-level patient experience and co-founded Black Eyecare Perspective, mentoring the next generation of optometrists. His message is clear: love the grind, control your destiny, invest in your team, and give yourself grace as you build the life and career you want.

From Michigan State to Ohio State, my optometry school journey was filled with challenges, growth, and leadership opportunities. From navigating intense coursework and overcoming anxiety to finding my voice in student leadership, each experience shaped me into a better doctor and person. Here’s what I learned, and why building relationships, staying involved, and embracing the journey matter.

From engineering student to specialty eye care leader, Dr. Anith Pillai’s path to optometric success wasn’t linear, but it was purposeful. In this episode, he shares how grit, mentorship, and a shared vision with his business partner helped him co-found a thriving multi-location practice focused on ortho-K, myopia control, and scleral lenses.

Dr. Kriti Bhagat’s journey in optometry is a powerful example of passion meeting purpose. From her academic roots at PCO to launching a cold start private practice specializing in specialty contact lenses, Kriti shares how resilience, mentorship, and advocacy have shaped her career. Her story is an inspiring reminder that optometry offers endless possibilities for those willing to carve their own path.

From front desk to owning seven practices, including one in Alaska, Dr. William To opens up about early struggles, embracing chaos, and leading with purpose. In this powerful conversation, we dive into practice ownership, tele-optometry done right, and why paying it forward keeps the profession strong.

From humble beginnings as a curious undergrad to Dean of Student Affairs at ICO, Dr. Erik Mothersbaugh’s journey is a masterclass in intentional growth. In this episode, we reflect on testing assumptions, building a career in academia, and the future of optometry education.

This episode of Ryan Reflects marks a first: a live, five-person crossover with The Depth Perception Podcast crew. No Zoom. No edits. Just raw, real talk with Dr. Nadia Afkhami, Dr. Jasdeep Soni, Dr. Doug Akidi, and Dr. Svetlana Nunez about the messy, exciting, and uncertain transition from optometry school to real-world practice. From student loans and job contracts to imposter syndrome and sublease success, we go deep on what it means to grow as a doctor, and as a person, i

From struggling with tests to finding my path in optometry, here's how I turned challenges into purpose.

Dr. Corte & Dr. Lopez break down the 2025 Optometrist Income Report, covering salary trends, debt, ownership, and financial insights.

Navigating NBEO challenges, Josh Reese shares his optometry journey, exam struggles, and the need for transparency in testing.

Optometry, business & mentorship - Drs. Joseph & Edris share insights on growth, challenges & success in corporate optometry.

Dr. Ryan Corte discusses YouTube, optometry, and education with Dr. Joseph Allen, aka Doctor Eye Health, on the Ryan Reflects podcast.

Dr. Ryan Corte answers the question "Why optometry?", including reasons you should consider becoming an optometrist yourself.

Dr. Ryan Corte shares with you proven strategies on how to pay off optometry school debt, including a few things you must avoid.

Here's what you need to know about optometry school debt including tips on how to minimize the student loan burden.