Episode #343

20/20 Money Episode #343 – From blank to bank: How a $35 lens becomes a $525 sale by finishing in-house with Dr. Mike Satryan, OD

June 5, 2025

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. My guest on today’s show is Dr. Mike Satryan, OD, a partner with Mountain View Eye in Altoona, PA.

Mike is a long-time practice owner who brings over 25 years of experience running an in-house optical lab within their practice. We dive into the substantial cost savings his practice has realized by finishing lenses on-site and how that margin improvement supports a compensation model tied to gross revenue growth. We explore how having an in-house lab not only boosts profitability but also enhances second-pair and annual contact lens supply conversions, thanks in part to a more efficient optical experience. He also shares his buying criteria when evaluating edgers, what ultimately influenced his choice of supplier, and whether the edger is patient-facing or kept behind the scenes. Whether you’re a solo OD or managing a multi-doctor practice, this conversation offers valuable insight into the operational and financial upside of bringing lens finishing in-house.

As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today’s conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also set up a Triage conversation to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more.

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And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Mike Satryan, OD.

Resources:

20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass

OD Mastermind Interest Form

Edging In-House vs Outsourcing: The Economics, Trade-Offs, and Data An Optometric Practice Needs to Measure with Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Sam Hornberger, OD

Kayla Ashlee — Increasing Optical Revenue

Kayla Ashlee—Tracking Frame Turn

Connect with Mike

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Episode Transcript

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