Photo provided by VIEW Optometry
New alliance offers private practice optometrists in the U.S. tools for profitability and a strategic home for sustainability amid industry challenges
Feb. 5, 2026
VIEW Optometry, a new doctor-led alliance dedicated to supporting private practice optometrists and protecting their independence, officially announced its launch. Founded by proven optometry champions Tommy Lucas, OD, and Mary Kate Walters, OD, FAAO, VIEW Optometry aims to preserve and grow the private practice market segment, improve profitability and lessen financial pressures on optometry practices and stand as a counterweight against increasing managed care influence and corporate consolidation within the industry.
VIEW Optometry unites independent, private optometry practices across the United States under a shared mission to protect clinical autonomy, enhance business sustainability and deliver exceptional patient experiences. Like-minded optometrists can join forces with VIEW Optometry in one of two ways:
- By joining VIEW Alliance, which provides a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to improve practice profitability. These benefits include consolidated vendor billing, operational analysis/consulting/training, strategic industry partnerships and colleague collaboration.
- By joining VIEW VSO (Vision Support Organization), which includes all the benefits of the VIEW Alliance, plus integrated clinical operations and the ability to operate under the powerful VIEW Optometry brand that is synonymous with private practice excellence.
“Our mission is to improve the sustainability of privately-owned optometry practices while preserving doctor clinical autonomy, forever,” said Dr. Mary Kate Walters, co-founder and CEO of VIEW Optometry. “Together, we can stabilize and revolutionize our profession, stop the bleeding caused by corporate interests and ensure patients receive the personalized, high-quality eye care they deserve in every community across America. We are now inviting all optometrists who own a private practice to join VIEW Alliance to begin receiving program benefits and start standing up for your profession in a very meaningful way.”
Dr. Tommy Lucas, co-founder and president of VIEW Optometry adds: “Here’s the situation our profession is facing–large corporations have been defragmenting and consolidating the vision care industry in the name of profit, and that has had a dramatic effect on our profession over the last twenty years. We’ve witnessed retail optical expansion, buyouts of regional and national groups, private equity opportunism and ruthless, slow starvation of doctors by vision plans. VIEW Optometry is now our profession’s alliance dedicated to resisting these troubling trends and putting the optometrist and the patient back in control of eye care given and eye care received. We will enable private practice optometrists to thrive in their small businesses, while also knowing that their alliance is working every day to improve not only the circumstances of their practice, but the circumstances of the profession itself. When you align your practice with VIEW Optometry, your interests as a professional will be enhanced through our strength in numbers, strategic group resources and advocacy conducted on your behalf by proven, battle-tested fighters in our profession.”
VIEW Optometry is powered by ABB Business Solutions, providing members with actionable business data, access to hundreds of vendor partnerships and programs, consolidated vendor billing and technology and logistics solutions. This infrastructure is designed purposefully to help private optometry practices thrive while leaving decision-making in the hands of doctors.
Joining VIEW Optometry safeguards the future of private practice optometry, ensuring that independent eye care remains sustainable across generations of doctors and patients. If you are an optometrist ready to join the movement, click here to learn more, explore membership options and stand up for the future of your profession
