
Dr. Bhuta (in purple) with a patient in her office. Dr. Bhuta says that having a practice next to a Walmart store is perfect for focusing on medical eyecare services.
Full-scope optometry practice in a setting powering strong growth in medical eyecare services
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By Priya Bhuta, OD
Feb. 5, 2025
The cornerstone of success for any optometrist is aligning your location, the needs of the local population and the services you offer.
You then must align that cornerstone of success with your own professional goals.
My top professional goal was to build a medically focused practice.
I wanted to provide a range of services—from routine eye exams and contact lens fittings to treating specialized conditions like myopia management and dry eye.
I found the perfect spot to do this next to a Walmart store in Naples, Fla. This location allows me to deliver high-quality diagnostic and medical care while also being conveniently located next to Walmart’s optical department as one option for the patients’ eyewear needs.
Staying True to My Professional Ideals
My passion lies in practicing holistic, preventive and personalized eyecare through full-scope optometry.
I started 20 years ago with just the basics. Building a medical eyecare practice required significant time and capital investments. It also required me to learn from both successes and mistakes.
For example, establishing a well-equipped diagnostics lab was challenging due to the high costs and rapid obsolescence of equipment. Despite these hurdles, we consistently provided comprehensive medical eyecare services, including diabetic eye exams, glaucoma management and cataract co-management, from day one.
After acquiring the necessary diagnostic tools, we expanded our services to include specialized treatments for dry eye diagnosis.
In early 2016, we launched our Dry Eye Spa, and in 2020, we launched myopia management services. Myopia management is critical for us as it accommodates the rapidly growing younger population of patients in our practice.
Providing Ongoing Patient Care
Both dry eye and myopia management require continuous treatment protocols and ongoing patient engagement.
Hiring dedicated staff allowed us to elevate the level of care our patients expect. Although our practice is in a seasonal market with fluctuating appointment volumes, our Dry Eye Spa is typically booked weeks in advance.
Our myopia management has seen about 30 percent year-over-year growth since its launch, with around 15 patients currently enrolled.
These ongoing services provide stability and foster loyal relationships with our patients.
Adapting to a Changing Market
Our Naples market evolved significantly over the years. We noticed a shift in the population, with more residents moving in from other states and countries. To stay relevant, we continuously adapt by reducing inefficiencies, improving patient focus and introducing new services.
Five years ago, our patient base was primarily elderly individuals. Today, we serve all age groups, offering tailored services for children needing myopia management, older adults seeking relief from dry eye and seniors requiring cataract care.
We regularly assess our performance through quarterly evaluations of key performance indicators.
Leveraging Our Location
Being located next to a Walmart store is a significant advantage.
Patients often visit us while running errands, allowing them to experience our office and meet our staff in a setting that is already comfortable and familiar to them.
While foot traffic is beneficial, most new patients now find us online, visiting our bilingual website, drpriya.com, to schedule appointments.
Striving for Excellence in Patient Experience
Excellence is our mantra, and we strive to stay competitive. We operate as a private practice within a corporate setting. We hire professional staff and ensure our office reflects a professional image.
Patients receive personalized care from a single point of contact, from check-in to their final consultation. Our team includes two support staff, virtual assistants and additional help as needed. We’re fortunate to have a stable, experienced team that collaborates seamlessly with Walmart’s vision center staff.
We prioritize staff training through a “train-the-trainer” model and leverage relationships with device vendors to ensure our team is well-versed in using diagnostic equipment.
As a doctor focused on private consultations, I rely heavily on my staff and Walmart’s team to provide excellent service, and they consistently excel in doing this.
The Power of Referrals
Word-of-mouth referrals are a significant driver of patient volume. We also receive referrals from local medical professionals, including pediatricians for myopia management and internists for diabetic retinopathy.
Clear communication about our level of care and structured feedback loops are instrumental in maintaining these relationships.
Additionally, we partner with non-profits like St. Matthew’s House and the Lions Club to serve more patients.
Referrals stem from the trust we build with patients through personalized care and education. Our staff takes the time to connect with patients individually, ensuring their needs are met.
The value we deliver drives referrals, while the trust we cultivate supports patient retention and the growth of our referral network.
Expanding into Ocular Aesthetic Services
In response to market demand, we began offering ocular aesthetic services, equipped with intense pulsed light (IPL) and radio frequency (RF) devices.
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These non-invasive treatments address both medical and cosmetic concerns, benefiting patients with droopy eyelids, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and lid hygiene issues. Ocular aesthetics represents a transformative opportunity, blending cutting-edge medical treatments with cosmetic enhancements to deliver functional and aesthetic benefits.
Walmart: A Perfect Partner for My Practice
When I first opened my practice, I contracted with Walmart to lease a fully equipped location. Their support enabled me to grow the practice, introducing new services and innovations.
Today, with a fully equipped diagnostic lab, a thriving Dry Eye Spa, myopia management services and a growing ocular aesthetics offering, our success is a shared achievement.
People are the foundation of any organization. We have maintained a strong working relationship with the vision center staff and corporate managers.
The company’s regional and corporate management ensures responsiveness to our needs, reinforcing Walmart’s role as an active partner in our shared success!
Priya Bhuta, OD, is the owner of Dr. Priya Vision Care & Aesthetics in Naples, Fla. To contact her: priyabhuta@hotmail.com
