Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Hendrickson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have an extensive family history of eye conditions, and I developed an interest in state-of-the-art eye care by my 20s. I also learned the difference between doctors who care about their patients and those who care about getting done with the eye exam in a record time. After graduating from optometry school in 2009, I became very disheartened by how massive corporations have cheapened the public perception of the value of a comprehensive eye examination. In some cases, these big companies force employed optometrists to perform eye exams so quickly to make their high-volume business model work that the exam quality inevitably suffers. Worse yet, many eye diseases go undetected until they have already caused damage to sight. Due to my passion for a detailed, quality exam, and my genuine care for the eye health of the patients, my only option was to open my own place. By having a background in LASIK, I learned how to be precise with my prescription measurements. My training at Illinois College of Optometry gave me an excellent skillset which allows me to also treat an array of injuries and diseases of the eye. On top of that, I have a keen interest in specialty contact lens fittings and anything high tech. Specialty contact lens fittings are for people with diseased or damaged corneas that cannot see well without the use of custom-made contact lenses, and the process to fit these takes extra time and resources, so it is a specialty that the vast majority of offices will not do. So, in September 2013, I opened my first office cold. Patients are consistently surprised at the difference in my exam vs. what they’re experienced at “eye exams” elsewhere. Today, in addition to the basic eyeglasses and regular contact lenses, I am able to detect and treat eye disease, prevent nearsightedness in children with contact lenses, repair injured corneas with advanced grafts, and much more. I am using my license to its fullest not just to treat eyes, but to treat the patient as I would my own family.
I will add, though, that on the horizon in a couple of months, the office will have a new laser engraver to customize engravings on the temples of eyeglass frames, whether it be just a phone number in case the frame is lost, or if an artistic patient has a logo they want etched on the outside of their frame. The laser will open up a number of creative avenues.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with many small businesses, a main struggle is how to get the word out and stand out among the noise of advertising from the big corporations who are advertising an inferior service (ever heard of the “free eye exam” advertised?). The main obstacle, though, is public perception of what an eye exam is. Most people think the eye exam is when you get a glasses prescription and the doctor asks you “which is better? 1 or 2?” In fact, that is technically a completely separate service from an eye exam, called a “refraction.” There are even some online companies touting an “online eye exam” when your eyes aren’t even examined at all! That is such a misnomer, as they are actually “online refractions,” and even that is questionable. A comprehensive eye exam is accomplished by testing the function of the visual system in multiple ways, examining the eyes in detail microscopically, and scanning the retina, optic nerve, and other structures of the eye for abnormalities. One patient at a time, I am trying to shift the public perception to expect this level of thoroughness and to realize the importance of the yearly exam.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being a problem solver with a genuine interest in the well-being and satisfaction of the patient/customer is a crucial factor. In today’s age, it’s all about public perception. New practices will live or die by the online review. Lucky for my patients, I have an excellent bedside (or chairside) manner and am very good at what I do. Lucky for me, some of them take the time to share their sentiments with the online world.
Contact Info:
- Address: 837 S. Westmore Meyers Road
Suite A24
Lombard, IL 60148 - Website: www.seewithclarity.com
- Phone: 630-474-4487
- Email: info@seewithclarity.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/seewithclarity
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/clarity-eye-care-lombard
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
