Ashley Warstler, OD, grew up witnessing her mother, Linda Rhodes, OD, FAAO, transform eye care in Houston, Texas, where she was a partner in a practice that she helped form in 1976. In 1991, she opened her own practice, West Houston Eye. A year later, she became an early adopter of automated refractions, purchasing her first Marco TRS system. She eventually equipped both of her exam lanes with those systems.
“I was in middle school when she brought that technology into the office,” recalls Dr. Warstler. “Even then, my mom was committed to staying ahead of the curve, and her patients benefited from her forward-thinking approach.” For Dr. Rhodes, automation wasn’t just about efficiency; it was also about her comfort. She was undergoing chemotherapy at the time, and the automated system allowed her to work with much less strain on her back and shoulders.
This commitment to innovation has shaped the practice even before Dr. Warstler joined the team after her 2009 graduation from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2009. “From the beginning, I knew I was going to join my mother in practice,” she says. Yet at school, students were being trained on manual phoropters. “I’d tell everyone, ‘My mom does it differently.’ I haven’t touched a manual phoropter since I graduated.
A GROWING PRACTICE
Practice growth was hampered by the physical location of what was then called West Houston Eye. So in 2023, the doctors moved to a more accessible location in the neighborhood. Previously, the practice was a 1,400-square-foot, two-exam lane space. Three doctors worked part-time to avoid overcrowding. They were also on the fifth floor of a building, which created some accessibility challenges and provided them with no street level appeal.
The new spot for what is now called Eye Shop has 4,000 square feet and four exam lanes and a pretesting area. The doctors and staff can accommodate more patients. Marco technology was central to the transition. “It was a question of how I could afford, but I realized that if I want to see patients, and another doctor wants to see patients, every exam lane needed a Marco system,” says Dr. Warstler.
She moved the original Marco systems over, so the practice for a while had a nearly 30-year-old Marco system that functioned as well as it did on day one, a 12-year-old system and three of the latest TRS-6100 systems. She has since retired the oldest system, even though it still works, she says.
Dr. Warstler and Jessica Wong, OD, who joined the practice about 15 years ago, see patients full time, while Dr. Rhodes sees patients three days a week. “We see more patients now, but we’ve never lost the personal touch,” says Dr. Warstler.
In fact, she says the Marco technology allows them to spend more time with patients. Technicians use a card system to transfer the readings from the autorefractor, keratometer and lensmeter, eliminating the need for techs to manually input 18 readings. The eight data points that the doctors would have to enter are put in automatically. “It would slow things down a lot if technicians and doctors had to enter all of those numbers. Plus, it opens the door to possible errors.”
PRECISION, EFFICIENCY AND STYLE
Dr. Warstler says that she and her mother agree that the refraction is their favorite part of the patient exam. The doctors take pride in being a primary care office, yet they say that they excel at helping patients find eyewear solutions that fit their lives. “We love eyeglasses and contact lenses,” says Dr. Warstler. “It’s rewarding to help someone see clearly with the best technology and then send them out with great-looking frames or the perfect contacts.”
Even routine tasks, like asking patients to choose between “one or two,” become more enjoyable with the TRS system. “I use my right hand for the TRS controller and my left for the computer mouse, and I can stay engaged with my patients instead of turning and adjusting equipment,” she says. “It’s faster, more precise and more comfortable—for us and the patients.”
By saving time during the exam process, the technology allows the team to spend more time with patients, focusing on eyewear recommendations, education and personalized solutions. “Our goal is to make every visit smooth and enjoyable for the patient,” she adds.
A LEGACY OF CARE
Dr. Rhodes built her practice on patient relationships, and that legacy endures. “Some of her patients have been coming to her longer than I’ve been alive,” says Dr. Warstler. “We’ve always prioritized accuracy and efficiency, but it’s never been about the technology alone. It’s about using the best tools to enhance care.”
For Dr. Warstler, it’s the perfect blend of legacy and progress. “My mom’s vision has guided us from the start,” she says.
Read other stories from Marco Lombart on WO
Photos courtesy of Eye Shop/Dr. Warstler
