If you're considering VC position first realize optometrists are not real doctors, in fact those with MD's look down on optometrists because they did not attend medical school, they are considered in large circles as nothing more than over paid technicians. This is why optometrists are insecure hapless arrogant fools. This is why they keep more degrees, awards, and certificates on their walls than your average neuro surgeon. In Canada several years ago eye exams were allowed to be performed by opticians who are using technology to give refractions to the scourge of optometrists here in the states. Yes you heard me, in Canada machines are giving eye exams by high school dropouts and they are accurate. Second, optometry is a mom and pop retail business, optometrists make most of their money in selling frames and professional fees on eye exams, they don't make a dime on soft contact lenses so they're not going to be real impressed with any lenses you push. They cannot compete with contact lenses sold at a loss from Wal-Mart. Third, B&L has a terrible reputation in the contact lens universe mainly because their lenses are rejected by patients because they are simply uncomfortable to wear. B&L introduced an old monthly lens under a new name but it is still the same old lens that was introduced 15 years ago that just sucks and the optical profession is quite aware it is junk. They peel and dry across the cornea in a few hours unless the patient lives in a swamp or it happens to be raining. Fourth, you will be spending your time filling trials and remember toric lenses have about a 1,000 different sizes to accomodate the variations of the human eye. If you're not filling trials you'll be dancing trying to explain why you don't have trials because B&L is notorious about never having trials, and if the optometrist doesn't have your trials he won't fit your lenses. Fifth, if you're coming from pharma or medical disposables you need to realize you're not a salesperson, you're pitching to the broom closet, giving away bagels to the help desk, and dropping off free samples to the receptionist, we all know it, don't try to deny it. If you've been in pharma and think you know how to sale you're in for a treat, you'll have your ass handed to you. In any other world the business model of giving away food and product and giving your sales pitch away to non decision makers is unsustainable and ultimately destined for failure, this is why you're desperate to get out of pharma because you have failed and the industry has failed all of us. Good luck dumb asses.
