Samantha Myers, OD, got married shortly after she graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. She was only a couple of years into her career when she reached a pivotal season in her life. While working as an associate OD, she decided it was time to take a leap into practice ownership, something she had long envisioned herself accomplishing.
At the same time, life at home was changing quickly. With a newborn at home and an hour-long commute each day, the demands of balancing family life with her career became increasingly challenging. Still, she says she knew there would never be a perfect time to open a practice.
“Life happens—family, responsibilities, babies.” Still, she was ready to build a practice where she could care for patients in a way that truly reflected her vision and values.
NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT TIMING
By February 2025, she decided to open Visionary Eye Care in Southside, Alabama. Just two months later, she learned she was expecting her second child. Throughout her pregnancy—and even during the early days of her maternity leave—she remained deeply involved with each stage of the practice’s development, overseeing planning, construction and design. As opening day approached in March 2026, she balanced final walkthroughs and last-minute decisions while caring for her newborn.
Her husband played a major role throughout the process, from helping with their two young children to assisting with décor installation. Dr. Myers describes him as deeply involved in their community through his full-time and volunteer work but says his “largest hat” is that of a loving partner and father.
Dr. Myers selected a newly developed plot less than five minutes from home, with three empty office suites for lease. She chose the center unit, a 3,000-square-foot space with a white brick exterior and faux-wood accents.
She designed the interior around patient flow, comfort and efficiency. A U-shaped layout guides patients from check-in to pretesting, into exam lanes and then through the optical in a seamless progression. The practice includes four exam lanes, a walk-up frame adjustment counter, a dry eye suite, a contact lens insertion and removal training room, a private office, an administrative space and a thoughtfully-designed staff breakroom that serves as both a comfortable space for relaxation and team gatherings as well as a setting for staff education and training. Both full-time staff members are extensively cross-trained in all facts of the practice, allowing them to provide a seamless and elevated patient experience. Their expertise spans from front desk operations, insurance coordination and optical dispensing to patient education and clinical support, enabling the team to adapt skillfully to the diverse demands of modern eye care.
Dr. Myers selected nearly every design detail herself, including lighting, furniture, paint colors and décor. She chose neutral beige walls with wood elements that complement the LVP flooring. The optical features thoughtfully-selected contemporary furnishings, complemented by a custom LED-lit shelving system and illuminated frame displays manufactured in Germany.
The ceiling above—left exposed and sprayed black— meant additional windows could be installed. The height also inspired a change in the reception area. Original plans included a lower drop ceiling above the front desk, but Dr. Myers found it confining. She pivoted, and the result allowed for a large, floor-to-ceiling feature wall behind the front desk, finished with shimmery tile.
The chandelier near the reception desk became “quite a labor of love” for her husband, she says, as each crystal had to be individually unwrapped and installed by hand. Now, it sparkles beautifully in the natural sunlight and complements the marble reception desk.
“IF I CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU”
Dr. Myers acknowledges that opening a practice while navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, early motherhood, construction oversight and the countless demands of launching a new business brought an extraordinary set of challenges. However, she says the experience reinforced her belief that timing is rarely perfect, and waiting for ideal conditions often delays opportunities already within reach.
“If you even have an inkling that private practice is your ultimate goal, there is no better time than now,” she says. “Don’t delay the first step—starting. Don’t be afraid to lean on your support system if needed, whether that’s your loved ones or a team of business advisors. I want my practice ownership to inspire and empower other women. If I can do it with two under 2, you can do it, too.”
See other design stories here.
Would you like to share your remodel/relocation/new practice or office refresh story with WO readers? Email us here.
