Designing Independence: 3 ODs’ Paths to Practice Ownership

Modern Spectacle Eyecare in Dallas, TX

Growing up around her family’s small business, Stephanie LeSage, OD, initially shied away from practice ownership after seeing the labor and stress behind the scenes. She spent a decade as an employed OD—first in community health, then at the Dallas VA. She loved caring for underserved populations but felt burnt out as she balanced a rigid schedule and motherhood. So she decided to explore her options. “If I was going to work this hard, I wanted to do it for myself,” she says.

In early 2023, Dr. LeSage found a 1,600-square-foot space in a historic strip center built in the early 1900s. Despite its former life as a chiropractor’s office, she had to take the space down to the studs for renovations.

Inspired by her Pinterest board and her cousin’s indie coffee shop in San Antonio, she collaborated with a designer to craft a clean, modern and calming space. She says her practice is particularly inviting on rainy days, where “a soft, golden light” spills from the storefront, creating a warm welcome. She deliberately curated independent frame collections—from Gucci to Orgreen and MODO—to introduce her patients to unique styles while supporting fellow entrepreneurs.

Dr. LeSage signed her lease in late 2023, began renovations in January 2024 and opened in April. She credits iCare Advisors with making the cold-start transition smooth. “They were worth their weight in gold,” she says.

Read Dr. LeSage’s full story in Women In Optometry here.

Novel Eye Care in Nashville, TN

After spending 11 years in MD/OD practices, Julianne Koch, OD, realized her longtime dream: opening her own independent practice. “After having two kids, I was trying to get my schedule to work in a way that made sense,” she says. “My husband finally said, ‘You’ve always talked about owning a practice—go for it!’”

She’s transformed a 2,400-square-foot former ENT suite—twice the size she’d planned but at half the cost—into Novel Eye Care, her boutique-style Nashville clinic that marries her love for eyes and books.

“The name has a double meaning—like a book or something new,” Dr. Koch says. She designed the logo herself: an eye hovering over open pages. Inside the optical, a built-in bookshelf masks a hidden door, adding a whimsical nod to her book club. And her thyme green and gold walls, paperless workflow and other eco-friendly touches all underscore her commitment to sustainability.

Novel Eye Care features one fully equipped exam lane, a pretest room, a lab area and an extra suite. “I would love to have someone offering Botox, lip fillers or facials,” Dr. Koch says. She also envisions expanding into the dry eye realm with radiofrequency and IPL treatments.

Her favorite detail? The colorful tiled entryway she chose herself. Another standout is Gracie, her Welsh terrier, who greets patients in the office a few days a week.

Read Dr. Koch’s full story in Women In Optometry here.

Route 33 Eye Care & Optical Boutique in St. Michaels, MD

When Kelly Cooper, OD, missed her 2020 Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry graduation due to COVID-19, she channeled her disappointment into determination. “It lit a fire under me to open my own practice,” she says.

Drawn by its rural charm and waterfront farms, she and fiancé Phillip DeMott, OD, planted roots in St. Michaels, Maryland. After honing her skills and confidence as an associate optometrist, she jumped at the chance to pursue ownership when the office was acquired by private equity.

In May 2023, she found the space: a 2,500-square-foot former YMCA dance studio. Renovations started in July, and she celebrated the grand opening of Route 33 Eye Care on December 27.

The practice features four exam lanes, a pretest room, an on-site lab for same-day glasses and a contact lens fitting suite. “There’s a huge need for specialty contact lenses,” Dr. Cooper says. “Whether they’re for dry eyes, corneal diseases or just for better vision, we want to provide access to this type of technology.”

Inspired by the local mallard duck, she wove a palette of deep blues, grays and mossy greens throughout the space. The design and style also tie back to the community, where duck hunting is popular. The coloring of the duck’s iridescent sheen can be found in accents such as mixed metals on cabinets and light fixtures.

Dr. Cooper proudly shared a special moment with her family and friends at her official grand opening, making up for missing her commencement ceremony. “It was even more special than graduation would have been,” she says.

Read Dr. Cooper’s full story in Women In Optometry here.

Read more patient experience stories from Independent Strong here.

Read more practice design stories from Independent Strong’s sister publication, Women In Optometry, here.