Today we’d like to introduce you to Irina Yakubin.
Hi Irina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Background and Life Story:
Born in Ukraine, I immigrated to the US at the age of 8 along with my mother and younger brother. While we had relatives on the east coast, we moved to Los Angeles. I completed most of my education in Los Angeles including attending UCLA or undergrad. When it came time to choose a career, I knew I wanted something that would allow me to help others and allow me to pursue my other interests.
After exploring some possibilities I settled on Optometry for several reasons; first and foremost because I’d worn glasses since I was a child and I remembered the difference being fit into contact lenses made in my life. Like most children, I wasn’t a fan of glasses so I would exclusively wear them to see the board at school, which also meant that I was missing out on the world around me. When I got my first pair of contact that all changed.
But optometry is much more than glasses and contacts. Eyes are multi-layered, complex organs and we can often see signs of systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, toxoplasmosis, and even Herpes in the eye.
I chose InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry because I wanted to be able to practice in multiple languages, including Spanish and being able to serve the Spanish speaking community (which I essentially grew up with living in LA) was important to me. I am currently able to conduct exams in English, Spanish, and Russian. Puerto Rico was absolutely beautiful and I was in awe both of the island and the incredibly warm and vibrant culture. I took every opportunity I could to improve my Spanish, much with the encouragement of my Puerto Rican classmates, which lead me to participate in multiple community outreach events.
Optometry School was not without it’s challenges and in 2017, Puerto Rico was struck by Irma and Maria in quick succession. The island was devastated with widespread power outages and flooding. When the power goes out, so does the water. I’d spent Maria on island with three friends and a dog in the school-provided housing which qualified as a hurricane shelter (with the permission of my current roommates, of course). Those of us who stayed on island were eventually able to leave thanks to one person having reception, which allowed another one of our schoolmates to keep in touch an to purchase tickets for us to fly out to Florida. The response to the tragedy was abysmal; federal aid sat rotting in crates and the power grid never quite recovered.
I graduated in 2020, right into the COVID pandemic. Despite the chaos, I became licensed on October 31st, which worked out well since Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I then set out to round out my training. Residency seemed like a ridiculous expense, so I instead went to work at a private practice for about one year, with occasional fill-in work at corporate locations, before going locum. My locum experience allowed me to practice in a variety of settings including an IHS hospital and a community clinic. After over a year of traveling, however, I began to get home sick and decided it’s time to take the knowledge I’d acquired to open my own practice, while also working part-time for an Ophthalmology clinic, though I’d eventually leave to work for another practice. Thus, OptiHealth Optometry was born
The silver lining of the pandemic? It gave me the opportunity to connect with the eye care industry. I’d met Charlene Nichols, founder of My Vision Show and The Omniverse City, and came on board for both projects. At the time My Vision Show was the first, and only, virtual trade show experience. Meanwhile, The Omniverse City offers endless potential with its ability to allow players to create their own communities and 3D Spaces without the need for expensive hardware or learning a complex game; allowing for the creating of virtual spaces focused on education as well as fun.
About OptiHealth Optometry
Once of the main reasons that I wanted to open a practice was to provide patients with the level of care and education that I think everyone deserves. Too often we hear about people feeling like they are being shuttled around during their appointments, only to have a five-minute doctor visit and be shown the door. Part of the problem is that doctors are overbooked with patients scheduled every fifteen to twenty minutes, if not every five. The driving force behind such tight schedules, I suspect, is the combination of abysmal insurance reimbursements (vision insurances especially are horrible, often forcing providers into contracts that can only be described as predatory) and corporate greed.
I wanted my practice to be different. Not only do I spend more time with patients, but I also make it a point to explain and educate so that patients can make more informed choices about their eyes and vision. I don’t work with vision insurances but am able to bill out of network in some cases; I do accept Medicare and bill health out of network where appropriate. Medi-Cal is simply not feasible because their reimbursements are so low- a major issue in California.
The practice is a small business inside a small business; OptiHealth Optometry is located inside Montana Eyes which is also a local Santa Monica business owned and operated by a mother-daughter team.
During the Palisades and Eaton fires, I began offering free exams to those affected while Montana Eyes worked to replace frames and lenses to the best of their ability (neither of us is ste up as a nonprofit though I believe any optometrist who accepts MediCal and vision insurance should be able to claim non-profit status) I have since partnered up with The Power of Sight Foundation for both larger events and to help those who could not afford to replace their glasses.
I am also involved in the community via the local YMCA, Police Youth Activities League and Chamber of Commerce.
OptiHealth Offerings:
Dry eye treatment, glaucoma diagnosis and management, ocular disease diagnosis and management, exam for glasses and contacts, low vision care.
Low Vision (please mention this most patients who need this don’t know to look for this service)
Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) is a subset of eyecare that is often overlooked by both doctors and patients. The goal of LVR is to work with a patient’s remaining vision, whether they have decreased visual acuity that cannot be corrected even with the best glasses or contacts, or a visual field defect due to stroke of glaucoma, and to help that patient navigate their life and do the things they want and need to do. This looks a bit different for every patient, but the goal is to use various devices, strategies, and technologies to help supplement the lack of vision. A simply example; someone with age-related macular degeneration who can no longer read their favorite books would benefit from a hand held or stand magnifier with appropriate lighting in addition to their glasses.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Coming to the US as an immigrant was challenging; I was a child but I was also the oldest daughter and the one with the best hope of grasping the language- making me into the family translator.
I faced hurricanes and COVID during my optometric education and continue to face challenges as a healthcare provider- mostly from greedy insurance companies who are allowed to practice medicine without a license.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
About OptiHealth Optometry
Once of the main reasons that I wanted to open a practice was to provide patients with the level of care and education that I think everyone deserves. Too often we hear about people feeling like they are being shuttled around during their appointments, only to have a five-minute doctor visit and be shown the door. Part of the problem is that doctors are overbooked with patients scheduled every fifteen to twenty minutes, if not every five. The driving force behind such tight schedules, I suspect, is the combination of abysmal insurance reimbursements (vision insurances especially are horrible, often forcing providers into contracts that can only be described as predatory) and corporate greed.
I wanted my practice to be different. Not only do I spend more time with patients, but I also make it a point to explain and educate so that patients can make more informed choices about their eyes and vision. I don’t work with vision insurances but am able to bill out of network in some cases; I do accept Medicare and bill health out of network where appropriate. Medi-Cal is simply not feasible because their reimbursements are so low- a major issue in California.
The practice is a small business inside a small business; OptiHealth Optometry is located inside Montana Eyes which is also a local Santa Monica business owned and operated by a mother-daughter team.
During the Palisades and Eaton fires, I began offering free exams to those affected while Montana Eyes worked to replace frames and lenses to the best of their ability (neither of us is ste up as a nonprofit though I believe any optometrist who accepts MediCal and vision insurance should be able to claim non-profit status) I have since partnered up with The Power of Sight Foundation for both larger events and to help those who could not afford to replace their glasses.
I am also involved in the community via the local YMCA, Police Youth Activities League and Chamber of Commerce.
OptiHealth Offerings:
Dry eye treatment, glaucoma diagnosis and management, ocular disease diagnosis and management, exam for glasses and contacts, low vision care.
Low Vision (please mention this most patients who need this don’t know to look for this service)
Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) is a subset of eyecare that is often overlooked by both doctors and patients. The goal of LVR is to work with a patient’s remaining vision, whether they have decreased visual acuity that cannot be corrected even with the best glasses or contacts, or a visual field defect due to stroke of glaucoma, and to help that patient navigate their life and do the things they want and need to do. This looks a bit different for every patient, but the goal is to use various devices, strategies, and technologies to help supplement the lack of vision. A simply example; someone with age-related macular degeneration who can no longer read their favorite books would benefit from a hand held or stand magnifier with appropriate lighting in addition to their glasses.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to continue to provide excellent care and look forward to growing my patient base. I also want to stay involved in the community and continue collaborating with nonprofits to help patients who may otherwise not receive care.
I also plan to remain active in educating others about optometry. As former president of the LA County Optometric Society I know the importance of educating others about my profession and fighting for both eye doctors and patients.
I’m also looking forward to being involved in the Omniverse City and utilizing that technology to help more people learn about their eyes and make better informed decisions
Pricing:
- Eye Exam starting at 175
- Eye Exam with contacts starting at 250
- Dry Eye Treatments Summer Sale: Buy 3 get one free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eyeexamsantamonica.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550873362360
