Dr. Joshua Davidson: Surround Yourself With People Smarter Than You

In this episode of Ryan Reflects, I sit down with Dr. Joshua Davidson, Louisiana-based optometrist, entrepreneur, product creator, and all-around powerhouse in ocular surface disease and specialty contact lenses. From his roots in Michigan to building one of the largest scleral and dry eye centers in the country, Josh’s journey is a masterclass in curiosity, humility, and collaboration.

From Michigan to Louisiana: Following the Opportunity

Josh grew up in Michigan, earned his undergrad at the University of Michigan, and graduated from the Michigan College of Optometry in 2013. Drawn to Louisiana’s progressive scope of practice, he packed up and moved south, embracing new challenges and a new culture.

He laughs about those early years: adjusting to regional dialects, learning how to pronounce Richard as Ree-shard, and realizing just how diverse patient populations could be. What started as an adventure quickly became an opportunity to serve some of the most complex patients in the country.

Building a Specialty Powerhouse

Today, Josh practices at Williamson Eye Center, a multi-location medical and surgical group that has empowered him to develop one of the nation’s most comprehensive scleral and dry eye centers. He’s helped create an externship program designed to give students hands-on experience in all aspects of eye care, from primary care and glaucoma to advanced contact lens fitting.

“We sit down halfway through each extern’s rotation,” he explains, “and customize their schedule based on what they need and what they want. It’s intentional education.”

That approach has paid off, many of his students have gone on to contact lens residencies and leadership roles in the field.

Discovering a Passion for Dry Eye and Innovation

Josh’s own dry eye journey began personally. After multiple rounds of Accutane as a teen, his meibomian glands never fully recovered. That empathy for patients led him deep into ocular surface disease and specialty lens fitting.

“I can’t make my own oil,” he laughs, “so I wanted to understand everything about dry eye. And when you help someone see clearly again, especially a keratoconus or RK patient, it’s the most rewarding moment in eye care.”

He credits mentors like Dr. Bruce Morgan and Dr. Melissa Barnett for helping him develop his scleral expertise, reminding colleagues that mastery comes from mentorship, repetition, and humility.

Entrepreneurship Through Curiosity

After years in patient care, Josh’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in. When he noticed his dry eye patients struggling to stay hydrated, he didn’t just recommend more water—he created a better solution. Teaming up with leading clinicians like Drs. Paul Karpecki, Barry Schechter, and Matt Smith, he developed Dry Eye Drink, a hydrating supplement designed specifically for ocular surface health.

That project evolved into partnerships with Bruder Healthcare, a PM sleep formula, and later, innovations like self-heating disposable eye masks and EyeDerm, a clean, ophthalmologist-developed under-eye cosmetic line.

“I’m not smart enough to do it all myself,” he says. “You’ve got to surround yourself with people smarter than you. That’s how great things get made.”

Dr. Joshua Davidson on Learning From Failure

Not every idea was a hit. Josh openly shares the story of launching two tie companies that flopped, one Michigan-themed, one Maryland-themed. “I think I sold thirteen ties total,” he laughs. “But you learn from that. Stay in your lane. Eyes are what I know, and that’s where I can make a difference.”

Collaboration Over Competition

At Williamson Eye, collaboration fuels success. Working alongside ophthalmologists like Dr. Matt Smith and Dr. Blake Williamson, Josh continues to grow as both clinician and innovator. “It’s incredible,” he says. “We trade ideas daily. I’ll send Matt a weird case, he’ll send me feedback over a beer. That’s how you keep getting better.”

Balancing Ambition and Family

Despite his professional growth, Josh’s greatest focus is his seven-year-old son. “Family is why I chose optometry,” he reflects. “As my son gets older, I’ll scale back a bit, show up at more baseball games, and spend less time on the road. That’s the beauty of this profession, it gives you that choice.”

Final Reflections

Josh closes with advice for new graduates and colleagues alike:

“There’s no wrong way to practice optometry. If you’ve got a great idea, act on it. Reach out to someone who’s done it before—Ryan, me, anyone. You can’t do everything yourself, and you don’t need to. Collaboration will always take you further.”

Connect with Dr. Joshua Davidson on social media @dryeyeod