TECHNOLOGY FOCUSED

FYidoctors uses every weapon in its arsenal to battle eye ailments, and a benefit of a large organization is they can carry the best technology and training to stay on the cutting edge of the industry. FYidoctors prides itself on using the latest tech available to best detect issues with patients’ eyes during examinations, employing everything from retinal and optic nerve scans to 3D and wide field imaging to specialized tests to measure eye fluid pressure and get a complete picture of a patient’s eye health.

To increase the reach of eye health professionals, the organization is currently beta testing tele-optometry which allows optometrists to conduct eye exams virtually to ensure every Canadian can access eyecare regardless of where they live. To further the goal, FYidoctors is currently building its first of many mobile clinics that will allow doctors to donate their time to serve outreach areas.

“Our ultimate goal is to really be the innovators in remote eyecare and mobile clinics,” Dr. Ulsifer says. “We’ve really pushed the medical eyecare, the quality examination and care piece of it. That’s the key driver in our organization.”

Expanding The Scope

The organization has built on the eyecare foundation of FYidoctors and added an eyewear component with the acquisition of frame companies like BonLook, a Montreal retail optical organization. FYidoctors acquired this brand to cater to younger, trendier, style seekers looking for affordability who view glasses as accessories, while the FYidoctors retail optical division covers everything from entry-level products to luxury designer frames to ensure there is a style and price point that fits all encompassing needs.

“We’ve done a lot of research on the optical consumer and there are different types of consumers that look at optical eye wear product differently,” continues Dr. Ulsifer. “We have affordable products, we have BonLook, we have competitive two-for-one packages, and most of the wellknown luxury brands. Because we own our own supply chain, we can compete with anybody out there.”

The company has expanded significantly under the FYidoctors banner, attracting more optometrists who want to take advantage of the technology, marketing expertise and supply chain that the consolidated group can offer. Dr. Ulsifer honed the clearly successful model and started to think about how he could replicate it in adjacent fields. A few years ago, he entered the rapidly growing medical aesthetics space with the purchase of three clinics in Calgary offering non-surgical rejuvenation services including cool sculpting, Botox, fillers, laser hair removal, laser skin contouring and body shaping. Dr. Ulsifer took all he had learned with the optometry division and integrated the locations using the FYidoctors model.