I recently spent time with Dr. Joey Allen, who practices optometry at Grove Eye Care in Richmond, VA. Better known as Doctor Eye Health, he reaches a digital audience of more than 1.3 million YouTube subscribers and over 100 million views. Dr. Allen recently appeared as a guest on Eye Surgery Today, an emerging resource that gives patients comprehensive education about vision correction surgery.
Our conversation surfaced a shared mission: giving patients greater access to “pre-education.” Eye care is not transactional – it is lifetime care. Both the optometrist and the surgeon play a critical role across a patient’s lifetime, working together to ensure the best outcomes at every age and stage.
Together, Eye Surgery Today and Doctor Eye Health deliver valuable patient pre-education that drives more productive consultations, improves decision-making, and reduces anxiety about eye health.
You can catch the full episode here. If you have ever had patients confused by the roles both optometrists and ophthalmologists play, this episode is for them. Share this episode with your patients who want to better understand the value of having an MD and an OD deliver integrated eye care together.
Download and pass along the QR code to the Eye Surgery Today channel – this takes your patients directly to the Eye Surgery Today library on YouTube, where they can explore hundreds of videos on topics ranging from preparing for surgery to recovery to what to do (and avoid) afterward, lens options, using eye drops after surgery, what causes cataracts and more.
Drop a comment to share topics you’d like us to cover to support patient education.
The Case for Collaborative Care
More productive consultations
Patients arrive with a basic understanding of eye health and surgical options, so providers can spend more time addressing the patient’s specific needs.
Better expectations and decision-making
Pre-education helps patients understand risks, benefits, recovery, tradeoffs and realistic outcomes, making them more prepared to participate in shared decisions.
Greater trust and reduced anxiety
Educational content helps patients feel informed before the appointment, which can lower fear, build confidence, and strengthen trust in both the optometrist and eye surgeon.
Written by Neda Nikpoor MD. Dr. Nikpoor is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery, refractive vision correction, and advanced lens technology. She is widely recognized for her patient-centered approach and her ability to translate complex surgical concepts into language patients can easily understand.
