Meet Dr. Vijay Shenai, owner and optometrist at True Focus Eye Care! Whether you’re already familiar with Dr. Shenai or new to our practice, our eye doctor spotlight blog gives you the opportunity to get to know him better. Learn how he came to be an optometrist and how he provides exceptional care to his patients in the Port Richey area.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in optometry?
When I was 20 years old, my father was hit by a truck when walking home. Even though he was not expected to survive, he was able to make a mostly full recovery. One of the physical losses was his vision. He lost vision in one eye and half his vision in the other eye. The optometrists and ophthalmologists who cared for him allowed me to be involved in his rehab and occupational therapy. As I watched his confidence grow and his independence increase, I knew that eye care was something that I wanted to learn more about. I eventually learned that optometry was the career for me because I could focus on the person and the quality of their everyday lives, not just their eye health.
2. What do you love most about being an eye doctor? And how do you make sure your passion for optometry is reflected in the care you provide for your patients?
What I find most fulfilling as an optometrist is seeing patients come back each year not only excited to see me but also excited to see our staff and eager to hear about their progress and learn something new. I am able to ensure that this passion is reflected by not only being the best eye doctor that I can be, but also training our staff to be knowledgeable, professional, and compassionate to our patients. I also stay up to date on any advancements and new technology to provide our patients with the best care and experience.
3. How do you stay updated with the latest advancements and technologies to provide the best care for your patients?
I stay informed about the latest advancements and technologies by going to conferences, like FOA, Vision Expo, and the IDOC Connection, where I can talk to reps and other colleagues about new equipment. I like to see it in action and in person to get a feel for how easy it is for the technician or optician to utilize and how easy it is for the patient to perform.
I also encourage our staff to go to conferences and training throughout the year and bring back something that excites them. If this new technology, lens, or product provides us with the ability to give the patient a better exam and experience, then we formulate a plan to bring it into our office.
4. What are some of the most common eye health issues you encounter?
The most common issue that we hear outside of decreased clarity is dry, irritated, and tired eyes. Part of our pre-testing with the patient includes going through a symptoms assessment for dry, tired eyes, increased fatigue throughout the day, headaches, dry eyes, motion sickness, and sensitivity to light. I will go over these symptoms further with the patient to figure out a plan to help reduce those symptoms.
Sometimes a new prescription is in order, but usually I will educate on proper ergonomics during near tasks, giving the accommodative and convergence system a break when on the computer by taking breaks from screens or even using lenses that reduce the stress of these systems. I may also suggest boosting their maintenance tearing with warm compresses and introducing natural ways to keep their lids and lashes clean.
5. When you’re not at the office, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Outside of the office, I love to play the violin, fish, camp, and practice martial arts. I also enjoy making videos with the True Focus Eye Care team for our YouTube channel, where we share valuable information about eye health and vision care with our patients!
6. What is the best part of owning your own practice?
One of the best parts of owning a practice is focusing on the growth of our staff. I once heard a doctor say that they loved hiring new staff to watch them grow like a baby bird hatching into this eye care world, and he would let them go when they outgrew his office/nest and watch proudly as they flew away. I really wanted to take our practice to the next level and continue to challenge, educate, and empower our staff to soar as our office grows with them. When I see that our staff love what they do and continue to love our patients, I know that our office can be a powerful force of good for our community.
If you have any concerns about your eye health and would like to see Dr. Shenai, we would love to hear from you! Call us at 727-819-0400 and schedule an appointment in Port Richey today.