Specialty Optometrist Built a Practice (and a Lifestyle) on Her Own Terms
Control and Connections: How Specialty Optometrist Dr. Jamie Kuzniar Built a Practice (and a Lifestyle) on Her Own Terms
For many professionals, the dream of independent practice is often tempered by the reality of long hours and constant risk. Dr. Jamie Kuzniar, owner and founder of Elevate Eyecare in Rochester Hills, Michigan, was no different. Despite her passion for specialty contact lenses, her previous roles lacked the flexibility she craved to be present for her two young daughters and pursue her extensive work as an industry educator.
In a candid interview, Dr. Kuzniar shares the story of her surprise cold start—a path she initially never envisioned—and how it became the key to unlocking a career defined by control, variety, and alignment with her personal life. Rather than simply relying on local patient volume, she strategically combined a niche focus (specialty contact lenses) with flexible, high-value industry work. This unique blend allowed her to be profitable from day one and create the work-life harmony that so many business owners seek, proving that a successful independent practice can be built on quality over sheer volume.
Key Takeaways: Lessons from a Cold-Start Specialist
Dr. Kuzniar’s two-and-a-half-year journey offers powerful insights for those considering a specialized or independent path:
Specialty Work Drives Efficiency:In a niche like specialty contact lenses (e.g., scleral fits), the revenue generated by a single patient visit can often equal that of multiple routine exams. This allows for a profitable practice model based on quality care, not high volume.
"Even if you see one or two patients a day, but they’re a scleral fit, that’s like the equivalent of seeing 20 routine patients sometimes."
Advisors Are Essential for the Unknown:For a cold start, hiring expert advisors is a critical investment to prevent crippling debt and make sound early decisions, ensuring profitability sooner rather than later.
"I highly always recommend that someone has an advisor because you don't really know what you don't know."
Industry Work Can Prevent Burnout:Leveraging expertise to lecture and train for industry partners (like Bausch + Lomb) provides a challenging and rewarding professional outlet that breaks up the daily clinical routine, generates flexible income, and provides an alternative to working every weekend.
"It does help me a lot actually prevent burnout in my own practice, not doing the same thing over and over... I just know I'm always gonna need something else to challenge me."
Be Ready to Ride the Build-Out Wave:The most challenging period in a cold start is often the long, unpredictable phase between signing the lease and opening the doors, waiting on permits and construction, which can take up to a year.
"Trying to plan your life out when something is out of your control... I think that was the most stressful time is just the unknown before we opened."
Success Follows Authentic Patient Care:Ultimately, the best business strategy is rooted in being authentic, treating people well, and prioritizing patient needs.
"If you do what’s best for the patient and do whatever you think is best, the money will follow. Don't worry about every nickel and dime coming into the practice."
Interview Highlights: Quotes on Building a Purpose-Driven Practice
On the Reason for Seeking Independence:
"I also just wanted a little bit more flexibility in my schedule to focus on my specialty care. And then also I do a lot of work with industry... and I just wanted to have more flexibility. I guess I just kind of wanted more control over my destiny..."
On the Necessity of Expert Guidance:
"They really did help to kind of guide me so that way they can set me up to be profitable sooner... I highly always recommend that someone has an advisor because. You don't really know what you don't know."
On Leveraging Industry to Maintain Work-Life Balance:
"I'm lucky to work with industry where I might work a couple days a month doing these workshops instead of. Being away from my family every weekend at a local office... I actually don't work on weekends at my practice or elsewhere."
On the Importance of Variety in Clinical Practice:
"I still do love seeing routine patients. I love routine care... I just think if I did specialty again all day, I would get burned down on it. So I just know I need that variety and I like it."
Best Piece of Advice for Independent Optometry:
"My best piece of advice... is juststay true to your values. Stay true to what inspires you... I treat my patients the way I want. I would want my mom to be treated. And if you just do right by your people and your staff, then you’ll be successful."
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