In June 2024, Melissa Dugan, OD, turned her dream of owning a private practice into reality with the opening of Lakefront Eyecare in New Orleans, Louisiana. Just a short walk from Lake Pontchartrain and Orleans Marina, the practice benefits from its prime location in a lively plaza filled with a restaurant, pharmacy, a nail salon and ample parking, making it an accessible and convenient destination for patients.
THE JOURNEY TO PRIVATE PRACTICE
After graduating from The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry in 2013, she moved to Boynton Beach, Florida, to join a private practice. However, the pull of her hometown and getting engaged brought her back to New Orleans, where she joined a high-volume medical ophthalmology practice and focused on disease management for four years.
After six years at a private practice that was acquired by a private equity firm, Dr. Dugan began to question her career path, especially as she balanced the demands of a new role as a mother. “I thought, ‘Do I want to work for someone else for the rest of my life?’” she says.
Her turning point came in March 2023 during a visit to Vision Expo East in New York City. “I wanted to visit New York City and get some CE in,” Dr. Dugan says. “What I found was a collaborative group of private practice optometrists saying that we don’t have to just sell eyeglasses—we need to have a shift in the way we provide care.” With years of medical eye care experience under her belt, Dr. Dugan decided to focus on comprehensive eye exams, dry eye treatments, medical procedures and specialty contact lens fittings.
A PRACTICE CLOSE TO HOME
With her decision solidified, Dr. Dugan began searching for the perfect location for her practice. Her first step was to reach out to her previous Alcon representative of 10 years, fellow New Orleanian Erich Mattei of Akrinos. LLC. After developing a business plan together, Mattei connected her with realtors and equipment representatives, which led her to a 1,700-square-foot space that was previously a pediatrician’s office. The space was ideal, as it required minimal renovation—cutting her construction costs in half and allowing her to invest in advanced equipment like an intense pulsed laser treatment machine.
Living in the same neighborhood as Lakefront Eyecare means that her daily commute is a breeze. Being less than five minutes from her practice is particularly valuable as a wife and mother of her now 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old twins. “There was a need here—there is only one other eye care provider in the entire ZIP code,” she notes.
DESIGING THE SPACE
Drawing inspiration from Swedish optical spaces she found on social media, Dr. Dugan incorporated unique design elements, such as circular shelving sourced from Etsy, into the optical area. The flooring throughout the optical is luxury vinyl tile, providing a durable and stylish foundation for the space. In the exam space, comfy emerald green patterned carpet tiles act as a both a cushion for heavy foot traffic and a sound dampener.
One half of the space, already configured with exam rooms, was kept intact, while the other half underwent a demolition to create a cohesive flow. The practice now features a dry eye treatment room with a spa-like atmosphere, one built-out exam lane with room to expand to a second and a pretest area. The optical space, which Dr. Dugan has decided to fill only with independent frame lines, is currently stocked with about 300 frames with a capacity for 400. There’s also a dedicated room for contact lens storage that will eventually house an optical coherence tomography machine, which has already been ordered and will be on Dr. Dugan’s doorstep any day.
The décor is a blend of modern and cozy, with standout touches like peel-and-stick wallpaper featuring a landscape reminiscent of the New Orleans lake life, 12-foot ceilings and a front desk area with floor-to-ceiling windows. Dr. Dugan sourced many of the office furnishings from Wayfair, including the front desk, dispensing tables, chairs and lighting pendants. A local carpenter, who is also a friend, crafted custom shelving and cabinetry for the optical space and exam rooms. But there’s more décor to come, Dr. Dugan says; she’s working on adding colorful artwork and “finally” framing and hanging her diploma.
ADVICE FOR ASPIRING OWNERS
Since opening Lakefront Eyecare, Dr. Dugan has seen many of her former patients follow her to her new practice. The proximity to her home allows her to manage her time effectively, ensuring she can run home to grab lunch with husband, Patrick, and check in on pup, Tilly, when needed.
Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Dugan emphasizes the importance of accepting help and the value of a strong support system. “Everything will be more work than you think,” she advises. “Take help from friends and family when you can, and using a company to help with your business plan can’t hurt. Having that representation really helped get me where I am today.”
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Find Dr. Dugan and Lakefront Eyecare on Instagram @lakefront_eyecare and on Facebook.
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