Voices of Vision: How Dr. Todd Pfeil Built a Purpose-Driven Practice With the Right Technology Partner
October 13, 2026
When Returning to Private Practice Meant Returning to His Why
For Dr. Todd Pfeil, opening a new practice wasn’t simply a career move, it was an opportunity to redefine how he wanted to practice optometry.
After spending years in a private equity environment, he and his longtime colleague and mentor made the decision to build something different: a truly private, community-focused practice centered on relationships, clinical excellence, and personalized patient care.
“Having the truly private community-based optometry practice is what I wanted to pursue.”
Starting from scratch meant making hundreds of decisions that would shape not only the patient experience, but also the culture and efficiency of the practice for years to come. Among the most important was selecting the technology that would become the foundation of every exam.
Fortunately, Dr. Pfeil already understood the diagnostic equipment landscape.
“One of the advantages I had was knowing the landscape and what was available. I knew this was the brand we wanted to go to.”
What he needed wasn’t another equipment salesperson. He needed a trusted advisor who could help translate his vision into a practical, integrated practice.
That’s where Advancing Eyecare entered the conversation.
A CONSULTATIVE PARTNERSHIP INSTEAD OF A SALES PITCH
From the beginning, the conversations focused less on products and more on goals
Rather than recommending equipment based on specifications alone, the Advancing Eyecare team took time to understand Dr. Pfeil’s workflow, practice philosophy, patient population, and long-term vision.
That consultative approach led to recommendations tailored specifically to the way he wanted to practice.
“He was able to see what direction we wanted to go and offered suggestions about the autorefractor, the lensometer, and the refractive setup. He said, ‘I see what is important. This is the package that will best suit your needs.'”
Just as important was the willingness to recommend against unnecessary purchases.
“By being in our space and being able to take inventory, there were some of the things he said, ‘I don’t think that is going to be best for you even though you want it. This is the one that will serve your needs better and down the road you will say it was better.'”
That level of honesty reinforced that every recommendation was being made with the practice’s success, not a sales quota, in mind.
PLANNING EVERY DETAIL BEFORE OPENING DAY
Choosing equipment was only one part of the process.
As construction progressed, the Advancing Eyecare team visited the practice during the buildout to review room layouts, equipment placement, and infrastructure before installation began.
The goal was to ensure everything functioned as a single connected system from day one.
“He came on site during our buildout to look at where our cabling boxes were. He wanted to see if anything was missing so we would not have cords running everywhere. That helped enhance the aesthetics of the exam lanes.”
Those early planning conversations eliminated many of the last-minute challenges that often accompany new construction.
Instead of adapting the technology to the building after the fact, the practice was designed around efficient workflows from the beginning.
BUILDING A WORKFLOW THAT BETTER SUPPORTS PATIENT CARE
As a new practice, Dr. Pfeil also wanted technology that reduced complexity rather than adding to it.
Because the practice wasn’t initially planning to use scribes or chairside assistants, seamless integration between diagnostic devices and the electronic health record became especially valuable.
“Since we had not planned on using chair-side assistance or scribes initially, the ability to seamlessly transfer all that data and not have to worry about transcription errors was a cost savings.”
Beyond improving efficiency, integrated technology also elevated conversations with patients.
Using digital refraction and connected imaging allowed patients to better understand their prescriptions and participate more confidently in care decisions.
“How that refraction is presented, the detail in which you can go, and the fine tuning helps patients visually see that this is going to enhance their life.”
For Dr. Pfeil, technology wasn’t replacing the doctor-patient relationship, it was strengthening it.
SUPPORT THAT CONTINUES LONG AFTER INSTALLATION
Launching a new practice inevitably brings unexpected questions.
What mattered most to Dr. Pfeil wasn’t that every challenge could be avoided, it was knowing someone would be there to help solve them quickly.
“There have been a couple instances where something was not working quite right. We would text my Advancing Eyecare rep and say this is what we are seeing on the screen. Most of the time he would call and say, ‘This is what you need to do or how you overcome that.'”
That support extended beyond routine troubleshooting.
When network configuration required coordination with the practice’s IT team, Advancing Eyecare worked directly alongside them to ensure every system communicated properly.
“It was nice for my Advancing Eyecare rep to come in and meet with our IT team. He explained what he needed to pass through the firewall and get everything working properly. Our IT guys even mentioned how nice it was to have a face who could talk them through it.”
Having a responsive partner allowed Dr. Pfeil and his team to stay focused where they wanted to be: with patients.
BUILDING A PRACTICE THAT REFLECTS YOUR VALUES
Looking back, Dr. Pfeil sees the practice as something much larger than exam lanes and diagnostic equipment.
It represents the kind of doctor he wanted to become and the experience he wanted every patient to have.
“You kind of have to forge your own way and say this is how I want my story to read. These are the parts of the story I am going to assemble to say this is who I am and this is how I practice.”
For him, Advancing Eyecare became more than a technology provider.
“It’s an extension of our team. You have an ally in your corner who understands your practice, understands what you are trying to do, and continues to help you move forward and meet your goals.”
That partnership helped transform a vision into a thriving, purpose-driven practice built on confidence, collaboration, and patient-centered care.
As more independent optometrists navigate practice transitions, expansions, and cold starts, Dr. Pfeil’s experience serves as a reminder that the right technology partner does far more than install equipment, they help build the foundation for long-term success.
