Small Business Success Story: Focus Vision Therapy Center

It can be easy to take your vision for granted. But unless poor visual skills are treated, they can have a devastating effect on a person’s ability to learn in a classroom or function at work.

Dr. Scott Lewis, the founder of Focus Vision Therapy Center, knows this firsthand. When he entered optometry school, he  was diagnosed with a visual condition called convergence insufficiency that caused headaches and difficulty reading.

Because of his desire to help others, Dr. Lewis and his wife Cherie founded Focus Vision Therapy Center — an Idaho private practice that specializes in vision therapy. Here, they share lessons from their entrepreneurial journey and insights on meeting customer needs.   

What do you want people to know about your small business?

Vision therapy is a specialized field that provides unique value. Most optometrists focus on the “hardware” of the eye, such as diagnosing sight problems or prescribing corrective lenses. We focus on the “software” of the eye, which teaches a person how to control their eyes and process visual information. Through this approach, we can address problems that cannot be treated with eyeglasses or even surgery. 

There are few doctors who specialize in this field and I was the first Idaho optometrist to be admitted as a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development in 2009.   

Has your small business been affected by the labor shortage, and if so, how have you overcome this?

We grew our employee count during the pandemic and our turnover rate is practically nonexistent. We attribute this to the strong company culture we’ve developed and our focus on their professional development.

We hired employees who share a common vision: The desire to help people improve their lives through vision therapy. Because our team loves the work we do, it’s easy to keep them engaged and invested in our mission.  

We have an open-door policy that encourages open communication, feedback and discussion. We also strongly emphasize professional development and in any given year, we typically exceed our required ongoing education requirements by more than five-fold.  

What tips do you have for other small businesses seeking to grow?

Don’t be afraid to start small and grow. When we started our practice, Cherie would carry around an appointment book and take client calls from her mobile phone. Working hard and being consistent allowed us to reach critical milestones, such as being asked to work with hospital stroke patients and Boise State University’s former baseball team.

It’s also essential to communicate your company’s value proposition. When we started our business in Idaho, very few people knew about vision therapy or understood its benefits. We grew our business through a grassroots approach and heavily focused on community outreach to educators, therapists and many other stakeholders. When the community recognized the value we provided, our business saw significant growth.

What was your experience working with Zions Bank and how did it help your small business?

Zions Bank has been with us for our entire entrepreneurial journey. We appreciate having personal relationships with bankers who understand our needs and are invested in our success.

Our relationship manager, Jessica Silva, was instrumental in helping us get approved for a recent loan. She is very personable and would return our phone calls and emails promptly. Her efforts positioned us well for future growth.

Looking to start or grow your own small business? Zions Bank offers online business tools including business templates, columns, videos and financial calculators. Our Business Resource Centers in Salt Lake City and Boise provide 1-on-1 counseling and group training for entrepreneurs.

Zions Bank’s team of relationship managers can help you find the right SBA loan* for your business. Apply for a business loan online anytime or visit a local Zions Bank branch to learn more.

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