Optometry always appealed to me. The idea that it’s both a needed medical discipline and with it comes the ability to assist people with fun, interesting eyewear from around the world makes it unique in the world of heath care.

Having grown up in and around the world of Optometry, I decided after my graduation from Ohio University to pursue a career in the field. Armed with my degree in chemistry, I ventured off to Fort Lauderdale to enroll at Nova Southeastern and earn my OD. While there, I not only gained an amazing education in optometry and through my studies was exposed to the latest and greatest in the field, I began exploring what type of career in this discipline I’d like to pursue. While in school, I worked in high volume surgical centers and Mom & Pop optical boutiques. And while I was gaining proficiency, I was also experiencing the kinds of things I’d like to involve myself in. After graduation, I worked in several retail locations and I developed an interest in the world of eyewear.

What I learned in those experiences about eyewear set me on the path of what Independent Optical would become. One of my first eye-opening experiences was discovering that the industry was monopolized by a small number of major corporations, that own the entire production chain and the selection of big-box retail locations across the country. I also learned that these big companies made eyewear that could best be described as a commodity. None much different than the other.

Independent Optical came to be as I began discovering small, independently owned eyewear producers constructing and selling exceptionally well-made products. I began to realize that as these products resonated with me, with their level of quality, design and construction, certainly they would appeal to others. I also discovered there were precious few outlets where this product could be found. With family in Charleston, I decided to find just the perfect place to build a gallery and fill it with awesome eyewear and create a place that someone like myself would enjoy visiting. I’m proud to say we’ve accomplished that and our area now has one of the most unique and well-stocked shops on this side of the country. No longer do you have to go to New York or Miami to find anything beyond the meh eyewear you see everywhere.

On the personal side, I enjoy the interesting and eclectic outside of eyewear, as one might expect. Our galley is also home to some of my distractions, such as my ever-expanding typewriter collection to a newer interest of mine- film cameras. Outside of my attraction to the simpler times of mid-century, I spend the majority of my free time with gardening and cooking, but mostly enjoying my latest family addition, young Isabella. She regularly accompanies me to the office and will often act as our official greeter. She’s getting pretty good at “Hi!”.

If you’re looking for a place where you can experience slow paced eye care from someone with a fanatical obsession with the patent experience as well as an unsurpassed environment and some of the world’s most interesting eyewear, I think you’ll enjoy your visit with us.