Stephanie LeSage, OD, grew up around her family’s small business. She says that practice ownership was not originally in her career plan after witnessing the labor that goes on behind the scenes and the stress that can accompany it. Even going through optometry school, she couldn’t have pictured the welcoming community eye clinic she owns today.
Dr. LeSage spent the first decade of her career working as an employed OD in the community health setting, with the latter half spent at the Dallas VA Medical Center. Dr. LeSage loved being able to care for underserved patient populations and learned a lot while in this practice setting. However, when Dr. LeSage became a parent and the schedule left her feeling burnt out, she decided to explore her options. “I wanted the flexibility to be there for my daughter and family,” she says. Requesting off 45+ days in advance wasn’t always going to work for PTA events, concerts and games. “If I was going to work this hard, I wanted to do it for myself.”
FINDING A HOME IN THE COMMUNITY
Dr. LeSage envisioned herself as the community eye doctor for the whole family. She started her search in early 2023 within a 10-minute radius from home in Dallas, Texas. It was tough with a limited number of commercial spaces available and high rent prices. She ended up picking a space at 1,600 square feet—a little bigger than she wanted, but she was eager to get started.
Modern Spectacle Eyecare and Eyewear is in a historic shopping strip center, which was built in the early 1900s. Despite the most recent prior business being a chiropractor’s office, she had to take the space down to the studs for renovations.
ELEVATED EXPERIENCE IN A WELCOMING SETTING
Dr. LeSage wanted the office atmosphere to be calming, modern and clean. “I wanted it to be a place that not only my patients want to come to, but for me and my staff to be happy.” She shared her Pinterest board with her designer, who brought the vision to life. She says it’s particularly inviting when you walk or drive by on a rainy day. “There’s a soft, golden light coming out from my practice. It’s very warm and welcoming.”
She also drew inspiration from Indy Coffee Club, an independent coffee shop owned by her cousin and her husband in San Antonio. She’s grateful to them and the rest of her family who joined her in the final stretch, pulling all the finishing touches together. They were essential in all areas, from arranging the frames in the optical to décor details such as the beautiful vases and custom dry floral arrangements found in the space. She made the intentional decision to work with smaller independent frame lines like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Orgreen, Etnia Barcelona, MODO and Scott Harris. Dr. LeSage wished to expose patients to frame lines that they might not have known about while also supporting other entrepreneurs.
Dr. LeSage signed her lease in late 2023. She began renovations in January 2024 and opened in April. She’s thankful to iCare Advisors for guiding her through the process. They made it as smooth as possible. “When I started thinking about opening a cold start, I knew I needed a lot of help,” she says, laughing. “They were worth their weight in gold.”
EARNING A TRUSTED REPUTATION
The first year has been slow but business is growing. There are three potential exam rooms, and she’s using one of them for now. Most patients find her through their medical or vision insurance plans. She does get some foot traffic from potential patients who are visiting neighboring businesses, such as a popular local sushi spot, Sasa Sushi. She’s also visited with local urgent care and family medicine practices to build a referral network.
Dr. LeSage is always looking for new opportunities to connect with the people in the community, whether through sponsoring the local elementary school fundraisers, joining the East Callas Chamber of Commerce and shopping at other local businesses. As the business grows, more people say that their coworker, husband or mom referred them to her. “The word of mouth referrals give me and my staff confidence that we’re doing a lot of things right!”
Each referral is truly a compliment, demonstrating that patients appreciate the time she takes to get to know them and answer their questions. With her thorough, comprehensive care, she can address any pathology issues, which she’s quite familiar with from her time at the VA. Dr. LeSage plans to add myopia management services, as well, as she builds her pediatric patient base.
OWNERSHIP DELIVERS FLEXIBILITY
Dr. LeSage is a positive example of what can be accomplished with determination, drive, and not being afraid of asking a lot of questions. Even five years ago, she says, ownership was not on her radar. “Doing this was difficult and scary,” she says. “It has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally. I have a lot to learn, and I’m trying my best. It’s been a great journey so far, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the future.”
Connect with Dr. LeSage and Modern Spectacle Eyecare and Eyewear online:
Website: modspectacle.com
Instagram: @modspectacle
Facebook: Modern Spectacle Eyecare
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