There were so many powerful sessions from hearing from our speakers to idea exchanges in many forms. Scot Morris, OD, FAAO, presented his thought-provoking presentation AI in Eye Care, emphasizing that AI is not a futuristic phenomenon. It’s here, and it’s time to embrace it—or be outpaced by those who do!

Dr. Morris explained that AI processes vast data to recognize patterns, make predictions and automate tasks—augmenting human intelligence rather than replacing it. Eye care is a logical place for AI because it’s a data-rich industry that tends to be operationally slow with the opportunity to be very profitable. Eye care generates millions of diagnostic images and clinical data points, and that’s perfect fuel for AI systems.

Let AI offer you a competitive advantage. Dr. Morris invited the audience to consider how it can impact your workflow, eliminating bottlenecks in scheduling, pre-testing, documentation and billing. It can reimagine your optical with virtual try-on technology that offers AI-driven frame recommendations based on facial geometry, skin tone and personal style preferences. Lean into predictive analytics that can forecast ordering trends.

The goal with AI is always to bring you efficiencies that allow you to focus on what matters most. We hope you found this presentation as valuable as we did. We’ll be sharing more from our presenters and members in future issues.

For more on our meeting, hear from SNAPP Group member Kash Khan on his 2025 meeting experience below. And don’t miss our photo collage, highlighting our special time together.

This Thanksgiving week, we're grateful to everyone who joined us in Clearwater—and for all our members. We value your participation and collaboration. We’re taking your feedback and already working on our plans for 2026! Stay tuned on snappgroup.org and in this newsletter for the details.

Kash Khan (pictured second from right above) has been the general manager at the Oshawa, Ontario, Pearle Vision for the past decade. He’s watched the business evolve since his start as the small town has grown. The developing community has made an impact on the office’s success, he says.

Khan joined SNAPP in Clearwater earlier this month for his second SNAPP Group annual meeting. He joined the group in 2024, and he was eager for another connection with colleagues again this year. “Networking and learning from others really make a huge difference,” he says.

AI for the Future of Eye Care

Khan enjoyed hearing the presentation from Scot Morris, OD, FAAO, that offered a look at AI technology and how it’s affecting businesses across different industries. “The lesson I learned was to use AI like a calculator. It’s a tool here to assist us in the day-to-day, not fight us,” Khan says. “There are ways we can use it to help make our practices more efficient and streamlined.”

He returned to his office with more eagerness to use AI capabilities as it exists in technology throughout the office.

Think Tanks Generates Conversation

Ideas were flowing at the annual Think Tank discussion. “Having that open conversation is nice because it helps everyone,” Khan says. Attendees had a chance to speak and discuss how they are handling different situations from the franchise to accounts receivable or frame inventory and warranties. “We compared notes and asked each other for advice.”

Informal and Interactive Opportunities

Khan says that he appreciates that SNAPP plans some events in more informal settings such as The Sphere in Las Vegas last year and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium at this year’s meeting. “It’s really fun and nice to socialize with our colleagues,” he says. Khan uses his travel as a chance to learn but also to recharge. The informational connections and one-on-one discussions are often some of the best parts of the experience.

Implementation Underway

Khan met with his team after the meeting to fill them in on the important details that would be beneficial for their work. One change he’s already working on is being more transparent with the team about some practice data. For example, one Licensed Operator he met talked about how they complete 750 eye exams per month. “We are at a lower point than that, but it’s something we can set as a goal and try to achieve.”

He has a board in the staff room where he plans to keep track of the monthly goal. “We can talk about how close we are and the changes we are making to get there,” Khan says. “Are we doing recalls and reaching out to previous clients?” Getting everyone involved in the conversation—both at the SNAPP meeting and back in the office—can lead to improved results.

Photo credits—Meeting photos: SNAPP Group | Getty Images/iStock: news items