In this episode of The 20/20 Podcast, Dr. Harbir Sian sits down with internationally respected myopia management expert Dr. Patrick Simard for a wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation recorded live at the OSI National Summit in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Dr. Simard—author, clinician, researcher, educator, and practice owner—shares his journey from associate to partner, and from primary care optometry to full-time specialty practice. With a rare blend of clinical depth and business insight, he offers practical guidance on ownership, long-term succession planning, and how independent optometrists can grow without selling out.

The discussion then dives deep into myopia management, from entry-level strategies to cutting-edge developments. Dr. Simard explains why there is no safe level of myopia, why early and even pre-myopia intervention matters, and what’s coming next in orthokeratology, optics, and pharmaceutical treatments.

This episode is packed with actionable advice, mindset shifts, and future-focused insights for optometrists interested in specialty care, business growth, and preserving independence.

🧠 5 Important Learning Points

1. There Is No “Safe” Myopia
2. Dr. Simard emphasizes that even low levels of myopia in young children carry long-term risk, reframing myopia as a disease that requires earlier and more proactive intervention.
3. You Don’t Need to Master Everything to Start Myopia Management
4. Optometrists can begin with one modality they’re comfortable with and build their toolbox over time—waiting for perfection only delays patient care.
5. Entrepreneurial Mindset Matters in Practice Ownership
6. Ambition, initiative, and a willingness to engage beyond the exam room are key traits that turn associates into future partners and help clinics grow sustainably.
7. Pre-Myopia Is the Next Frontier
8. Emerging evidence supports intervening even before myopia develops, using tools like atropine or optical strategies to delay onset and reduce progression risk.
9. Independence Is a Long-Term Strategy, Not an Accident
10. Dr. Simard highlights how thoughtful partnership structures, early succession planning, and collaboration can keep practices independent and thriving for decades.

💬 5 Key Quotes

“There is no safe level of myopia. A nine-year-old at minus one is not normal.”

“You don’t need to master the entire toolbox—just start with the one you feel comfortable with.”

“Giving up a piece of the pie doesn’t mean making less money. A bigger pie benefits everyone.”

“Specialists don’t compete—they collaborate.”

“If you hesitate to start myopia management, now is the right time to jump in.”

👤 About the Guest

Dr. Patrick Simard is a graduate of the Université de Montréal, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Vision Science and later an MBA from HEC Montréal. He is a Fellow of multiple international academies, a Diplomate of the AAO (CCLRT), a clinical instructor and lecturer since 2002, and a co-owner of Clinique d’Optométrie Bélanger. His clinical and research interests include myopia control, orthokeratology, scleral lenses, and aberrometry. He is also a co-holder of a patent for a contact lens design aimed at controlling myopia and axial elongation.

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