Byron Optometry
Written by Tina Lin and Tiffany Chan, October 16, 2020
We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Bohnert and Dr. Patil, who are both co-owners of Byron Optometry. During our visit, we had a tour of their clinic and got to learn about Dr. Bohnert’s experiences of teaching high school before learning about Optometry and subsequently pursuing the profession. He provided us with insight into buying into a practice, and what we should look for if we decide to do so. He also explained to us that even if buying into a practice seems daunting, it is completely feasible through receiving advice from colleagues and external resources, such as companies like Eye Recommend. Dr. Bohnert specializes in contact lenses, which he decided to pursue through his own interest. However, he told us that completing a residency is invaluable, as you get exposure to multiple cases that you might not see otherwise in a primary care clinic. He spoke highly of his staff, and how their years of loyalty highlighted the importance of cultivating a good work environment. Dr. Bohnert assured us that patients appreciate the opportunity to have in-person eye exams, despite COVID, and that online dispensing would never fully take over our scope of practice. Overall, we learned a lot from our informative discussions with both Dr. Bohnert and Dr. Patil, and we appreciate the time they took out of their busy schedules to meet with us and tour their clinic.