Introducing the 2024 #EBGameChanger Awardees
EB unveils the seventh annual #EBGameChanger honorees, 10 eyecare professionals who are changing the industry landscape for the better. From an optometrist who cofounded a contact lens software that was listed in this year’s Inc. 5000 to an optician whose nonprofit is spreading awareness about children’s unique vision needs, this year’s praiseworthy professionals and masters of their craft are leading the charge into the future of eye care and eyewear.
Aarlan Aceto, O.D., NCLE-AC, ABO-AC
Dr. Aarlan Aceto is making history as vice president of the newly established United Opticians Association—a major step toward the future he sees for the eyecare industry.
Beginning as an optician in the early ’90s after growing up at his father’s fabrication laboratory, Dr. Aceto later pursued optometry later in life, earning him a unique perspective on the relationship the professions share. He pursued roles as an educator, working as an assistant professor and externship director at the MCPHS College of Optometry in Massachusetts and Chicago College of Optometry at Midwestern University in Illinois, and currently serves as the program coordinator for ophthalmic design dispensing at CT State Community College-Middlesex Connecticut.
Driven by the palpable passion he has witnessed throughout the profession—plus the importance of education and interprofessional collaboration—Dr. Aceto is uniquely positioned to help build the bridges of collaboration. —Veronica Daub
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
To advance and promote opticianry and dispensing education. I have seen firsthand the benefits to our patients, and to our entire eyecare industry, that occur with increased education, experience, and demonstration of competency with certification and licensure for opticians.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Although change can be intimidating and at times difficult, eyecare professionals on all levels must learn to adapt and evolve to the breakneck pace of technological advancement. Using evidence-based education leads to better foundational knowledge, which in turn allows us to incorporate, adapt to, and embrace new technologies rather than being replaced by them.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
Continuing to work with various organizations and interdisciplinary initiatives to improve access and availability for high-quality, evidence-based education for opticians, as well as increased recognition within the eyecare industry and with the public to understand the importance of opticians as part of the health care team.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Nwamaka Ngoddy, O.D.
Dr. Nwamaka Ngoddy is deeply passionate about her belief that every person has a distinct facial landscape. Enter Anwuli Eyewear, the eyewear brand she founded in 2019 specifically designed with Black and African features in mind. Flash-forward just five years later, and Anwuli Eyewear is a 2024 Accessories Council Design Excellence finalist in the eyewear (optical) independent category.
In addition to her trailblazing brand, Dr. Ngoddy, an Atlanta native of Nigerian American heritage, practices in metro Atlanta with an emphasis on and advocacy for inclusivity.
—Kerri Ann DeCindis
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
Creating a brand that emphasizes eyewear size inclusivity while being fashion-forward, making a cultural impact, and diversifying the optical industry. This emphasis stems from my experience in practicing optometry, where I have provided stellar ocular health to underserved populations. By prioritizing inclusivity and diversity in the eyewear industry, I aim to translate these values into better visual outcomes for long-underserved communities. I believe that by striving for inclusivity and diversity in the eyewear industry, we can make a significant and positive impact on people’s lives.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Success in the vision care industry looks different for everyone. Be authentic and bring your unique self to the industry, along with your unique solutions and expertise. Ultimately, we are all in this profession to help people have better vision, and by embracing our individuality, we can contribute to the industry in our own meaningful ways.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
Continuing to amplify the mission and vision of Anwuli Eyewear. This involves celebrating and prioritizing diversity, making eyewear a source of pure joy, and connecting with industry professionals who share a similar vision and interest. Collaboration with like-minded individuals and entities will be a focus, as I believe that working together can lead to collective progress and positive change within the industry.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Katie Gilbert-Spear, O.D., J.D., MPH
Dr. Katie Gilbert-Spear is a dynamic force in optometry and law. After graduating with honors from Auburn University in biomedical sciences, she went on to earn a master’s in public health-epidemiology and a doctorate of optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry. In 2019, she achieved her Juris Doctorate with highest honors, specializing in health law and compliance.
After relocating to Pensacola, FL, Dr. Gilbert-Spear co-owned and managed optometry and ophthalmology practices and was the founder of The Visual Performance Center, which has spearheaded groundbreaking research in contact lenses and visual performance. Currently, she owns and manages The Vision Hub, a thriving multilocation optometry practice, while also serving as an associate professor at UAB School of Optometry.
As vice chair of the Florida Board of Optometry and an active member of several professional committees, Dr. Gilbert-Spear is dedicated to advancing the field. —V.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
My primary focus is to expand my offices in a way that enhances the patient experience for eye care and fosters a positive work environment for my team. I am passionate about assisting other health care providers in navigating the challenges associated with complying with the numerous rules and regulations within the medical profession.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Be authentic and pursue your passions. Engage with your local, state, and national organizations to stay informed about technological advancements, treatments, and regulations.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
Differentiation and distinction are crucial for survival in this industry. Therefore, I will focus on creating a unique patient experience using the latest technology and treatments for my patients.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Ric Peralta, ABOC, HFOAA
Optical Jedi and Renaissance man. Both labels are used to describe optician Ric Peralta. Like the mystical warriors bearing the Jedi name, he, too, is known for performing amazing feats…in the optical dispensary.
With roots in the industry since 1990, from those early days, Peralta has helped innovate the field, including being one of the first field trainers for what would become Eyefinity. He honed his customer service skills working for nearly a decade in Beverly Hills, where he received training from the world-famous Ritz-Carlton hotels on exceptional customer interactions.
Currently an optician at Focal Point Optometry in Fullerton, CA, Peralta has tried nearly 200 progressive designs in order to improve the patient fitting experience. He shares his knowledge in everything from a patient-directed blog and social media platforms designed to educate his peers to providing practice-enhancing consulting services. An American Board of Optometry-certified optician, honored fellow of the United Opticians Association, and member of the California State Society for Opticians, he was named as the Transitions Healthy Sight Ambassador in 2023. Peralta is also a Vision Source facilitator and sought-after speaker. —Stephanie K. De Long
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
I am finding the greatest joy in “bespoking” patients into custom-designed Tom Davies frames. The pleasure I find in designing the perfect frame fit and style for a patient is incredibly rewarding. Also, I love getting in front of colleagues and teaching CE at state conferences.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
[My] advice comes from a borrowed quote (thanks to Ted Lasso): “Be curious, not judgmental.” Patient complaints are based on a real experience. Don’t dismiss this but look for the cause and find the solution!
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
The eyecare industry is at a crossroads. While technologies and solutions for patients are almost limitless, we are also dealing with rising cost of goods. I plan on focusing on providing the best possible solutions, while still maintaining good profitability for the practice. And, of course, I want to get myself in front of as many opticians as possible to share my techniques at state conferences.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Brianna Rhue, O.D., FAAO, FSLS
The notion that Dr. Brianna Rhue can juggle multiple tasks while standing on her head can be taken quite literally. The powerhouse ECP, boy mom of two, reader, pickleball player, and yogi shares, “I love traveling with my family, standing on my head in yoga, and cheering on friends and colleagues to live up to their potential while they help me live up to mine.”
In addition to owning and practicing at West Broward Eyecare in Tamarac, FL, she cofounded Dr. Contact Lens, a contact lens marketing and ordering software for ECPs that was listed in this year’s Inc. 5000, as well as Techifeye, an optometric alliance focused on new tech. —K.A.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
Sharing with my colleagues how to bridge the gap between the business and medical side of optometry by focusing on leadership, practice efficiencies through technology implementation, and empowering those around you so you can focus on your own vision while focusing on everyone else’s.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Get out of your darkroom! Keep learning by reading or listening to things outside of the vision industry, take sales calls, and ask for help. You can’t do it all alone; empowering those around you elevates not only them but you! As a doctor, you are at the center of an industry that wants you and needs you to be successful, so stand up for it and watch it flourish. Our industry is abundant!
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
Continuing to focus on myopia management and helping others implement their programs, as that changed my practice in 2015, as well as continuing to focus on bringing Dr. Contact Lens to more and more practices across the country by empowering offices to connect their patients back to their practices through their own practice data. Bring it on, 2025!
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
LC Atkins, LDO, ABOC, NCLEC
Lanard (LC) Atkins has made his mark as a trendsetter within the optical arena—not only among his peers and clients but also on the big screen. He is the owner and lead optical strategist at Timeless EYEdentity, a bespoke optical finishing laboratory and private luxury optical dispensary. There, he brings characters to life “from script to screen” by crafting their “EYEdentity” through bespoke frames and lenses.
His more than 15 years of experience in the optical industry has led him to serve as president of the Opticians Association of Georgia, co-chair of OptiCon at Vision Expo, and as a member of the American Board of Opticianry-National Contact Lens Examiners board of directors. —V.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
To continue fostering an environment of inclusivity while building stronger alliances with ophthalmic professionals to better serve patients in an effective and efficient manner through education and consulting.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Don’t follow trends—set them! As our industry continues to evolve, make sure you set clear goals, cultivate a growth mindset, and be authentic. Those who consistently add value to others tend to find greater success and fulfillment.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
With a focus on blending luxury, style, and exceptional optical expertise, we integrated our bespoke finishing laboratory with our private optical dispensary to ensure a seamless, end-to-end experience for clients. By doing so, clients will benefit from exclusivity, craftsmanship, and higher quality standards. Eyewear is not only a visual aid but a statement of style and individuality!
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Angelica Cifuentes, O.D.
Bye Dry Eyes. Aptly named, this Miami-based eyecare entity is owned and operated by Dr. Angelica Cifuentes—pretty impressive for someone who became a doctor of optometry less than three years ago. So is the fact that by then, Dr. Cifuentes had already done a bit of nearly everything else in optical—from front desk coordinator to optometric scribe and frame stylist to lab tech. Now, she serves as optometric director of Blinking Owl Eyecare, which has seven locations across Miami and Broward, FL.
A 2022 graduate of Nova Southeastern University, she received the William Feinbloom Low Vision Award there that same year. Now in business for just over two years, she already has more than 10 professional affiliations and participation in nearly as many media campaigns under her proverbial belt. She is also a vocal and highly visible proponent of inclusiveness and diversity in the optical industry as well as a resource in numerous published articles.
Known on Instagram as the @TinyOptometrist, a name she is fondly called by many, she currently has nearly 18,000 followers on the social media app. Born in Colombia and raised in Miami, the tiny-but-tenacious Latina optometrist and mentor is routinely tapped for her input on a vast variety of social media platforms and projects. —S.K.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
Dry eye, myopia control, and contact lenses, with a focus on advancing in these areas. I also aim to inspire current and future optometry students by promoting cultural diversity and proudly representing the Hispanic community.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Be authentic, keep learning, and continuously evolve as a professional. Explore diverse opportunities in optometry, such as business ownership, writing articles, presenting CE courses, public speaking, et cetera. Embrace the many paths this field has to offer.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
Staying current with the latest innovations, technologies, and standards of care to provide the best for my patients. Additionally, I’m committed to advocating for the profession through active leadership roles and professional involvement.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
David Kading, O.D., FAAO, FCLSA
Innovation hubs. That is how Dr. David Kading describes his three Specialty Eye locations in the Seattle area. In addition to patient care, each is a center for innovation and research.
That is one of many reasons Dr. Kading is globally recognized for his contributions to contact lens technology, dry eye treatment, specialty contact lenses, and myopia management. Committed to education, Dr. Kading hosts a residency program in Seattle where he mentors residents and conducts cutting-edge research. A prolific writer and renowned international lecturer, he has written thousands of research papers and articles. He also hosts two weekly podcasts and is active on several charity and medical boards. —S.K.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
I get to work with a team of people working to change other people’s lives. How cool is that? I love being a small business owner, where I can pave my path. My practice hosts a residency program, and I get asked to travel worldwide and share how we can elevate care for patients and see clinical treatments more simply.
I am always looking for the hack: How do we make the most significant impact? How can we change the outcome for our patients by looking at things more simply? I love sharing these through my consulting, lectures, and two podcasts, “The Optometric Insights Show Podcast” and “The Myopia Podcast.”
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Pave a new path. Lower-cost solutions and quicker turnaround times bombard our industry. This brings about less quality care. Slow down and look at why you went into this profession. It is to be with people and to change their lives. Find a way to become an expert in something.
Better outcomes and increased value of services will usually lead to a higher revenue per encounter (my favorite metric). When you routinely have a higher revenue per encounter in your office than the eyecare norm, it indicates that you are driving innovation and providing value to patients.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
When the industry and insurance companies are leading us one way, I try to look for another path. I want to make a greater difference, and I [want to change the] trend of less quality, personalization, and revenue.
In December, we are launching an in-person workshop for practitioners (The Myopia Workshop) to do just this, and in 2025, along with Drs. Mile Brujic and Stephanie Woo, we are launching the largest Ocular Surface Educational initiative.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Cira Collins, MPH, ABOM, NCLEC
Cira Collins uses her optical prowess as a positive force—from serving as director of the American Board of Opticianry, where she is pioneering the development of specialized fields like neuro-opticianry and sports vision; director of GoodVisionUSA, where she works to provide sustainable technologies to deliver eye care in underserved areas of the world; and associate vice chair of the Optical Women’s Association membership committee, where she helps create services that address women’s most important needs in the industry.
Collins still finds time for her “side hustle,” Optical Intuition, her consulting business, where she delivers ABO- and NCLE-certified courses at the state and national level, including Vision Expo’s OptiCon. Plus, acting as an account executive for Lafont, she enjoys sharing optical designs with practices throughout the Pacific Northwest.
—V.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
Whether it be opticianry as a profession, the conversation around what it means to be an independent practice, or the optician in front of me—I want everyone I come into contact with to feel lifted. I get to do that as an educator, a speaker, a rep, and as a leader in the opticianry space.
Best advice for success in the vision care industry?
Get clear about your strengths and values, then let those things guide your decisions. When you are clear about who you are, what you do, and why you do things, it becomes easier to identify the places where you will have the greatest impact.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
As we learn more about the brain and vision, I am super excited to explore how opticianry can leverage new science. I believe the science around color perception and wellness is set to explode. I look forward to translating the science into practice for opticians.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
Danielle Crull, ABOM
Frames on a feline? It’s the perfect pairing to pull kids and parents into Danielle Crull’s pediatric optical location, A Child’s Eyes, in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Images and even merchandise featuring her rescue cat, Truffles the Kitty, deliver messaging on pediatric vision care. A master optician who entered opticianry after high school, she has written two books, “Apple Patty Patches” and “Banana Bobby Gets Bifocals,” organized the Pumpkin Patch Project to promote amblyopia awareness, and cofounded a nonprofit, Truffles the Kitty Organization.
The 2023 recipient of the Prevent Blindness Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award, Crull is also a member of the organization’s Advisory Committee for the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health. —S.K.D.
What is your main focus + passion today in your profession?
Pediatrics. I opened my optical shop, dedicated exclusively to children, in 2002. Kids are a total blast and I love every minute of it! My passion is guiding children to take responsibility in their vision care and helping parents and communities better understand the unique vision issues facing children.
Best advice for success in vision care and opticianry today?
Do what you love and let that love show! The optical
industry is diverse, with many specialties. Find the one
that drives you and share your passion with everyone around you.
What are you looking to focus on in 2025 to adapt to the current climate in the industry?
In 2019, my reach expanded exponentially due to social media videos I made with my cat, Truffles, going viral. I was suddenly presented this unique opportunity to reach families and communities around the world [on] the importance of children’s vision care.
My focus this year is to continue building upon that influence through Truffles the Kitty and her nonprofit organization. Truffles has empowered and encouraged children around the world to succeed in their individual vision journeys. I want to be in the forefront of children’s eye care by finding creative and inclusive ways to reach the needs of all children.
Being named an #EBGameChanger makes me feel...
