FAST FACTS
School of Optometry Attended: Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Year of Graduation: 2011
Current Place of Practice: MyEyeDr. in the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina
Currently Working On: Being the current owner of a luxury eyewear boutique (private practice) in Lagos, Nigeria and being the co-founder of Defocus Media
GETTING TO KNOW DR. GLOVER
Choosing PCO
When it comes to choosing the right optometry school, lots of different factors have to be considered. For Dr. Darryl Glover, the decision to pursue his education at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry was due in part to a number of different reasons. Previously working as an optometric technician, many of the doctors Glover worked with had studied at PCO. At the time of his application cycle, PCO was also accepting the largest population of black students out of all the schools. “It was important for me to see people who looked like me in an educational setting,” said Glover. PCO’s curriculum of early clinical education also played a role in his decision to choose the school. “I am a firm believer in ‘practice makes perfect’ and the idea that I would get a head start was very appealing,” he said.
Passion for Global Optometry
Licensed in both the United States and Nigeria, Glover is able to make a difference in the eyecare world globally instead of just in his local community. He currently owns a private practice luxury eyewear boutique in Lagos, Nigeria called Eye See Euphoria. Glover had the idea to start the boutique after his social media posts about luxury eyewear started gaining a following with people from Nigeria. He started with an online sunglasses boutique but after visiting the area and seeing the need for eyecare products, he decided to open up shop. While it is extremely rewarding acting as a global optometrist, there are also many challenges that come with practicing in two countries. When comparing practicing in the U.S. versus practicing in Nigeria, Glover says that the main difference is access. “There is a dire need for more eyecare professionals as there is one optometrist for every forty thousand people, unlike the states where there is one optometrist for every three to four thousand,” he said. Glover also mentioned that it is difficult to access quality frames and contact lenses in Nigeria.
Creating Defocus Media
When it comes to public speaking, social media, and entrepreneurship, Glover is one of the top optometrists in the game. His vast knowledge of the eyecare field combined with his passion for media and global optometry eventually led him to create the media company known as Defocus Media. Three years ago while attending the annual Transitions Academy event for industry professionals, Glover had a light bulb moment while listening to a speaker present on the topic of social media. “It gave me the idea to create a social media management company for eyecare professionals,” he said. “Instantly, I knew the best person to team up with was Dr. Jennifer Lyerly.” Together with Lyerly, Glover co-founded Defocus Media initially with the intentions of managing eyecare-related social media accounts, but as time went by it eventually became a news and media company. Defocus Media currently hosts the No. 1 eyecare podcast in the world and uploads weekly content geared toward creating authentic dialogue about eyecare news.
Advice for Optometry Students
When looking at the successes of Glover, many optometry students might be wondering what they can do now to benefit their careers in the near future. For students interested in being involved in some sort of eyecare related media, Glover suggests networking and finding a mentor that has experience in what you’re interested in doing. He also recommends attending conferences and maintaining a presence on social media. At the end of the day however, Glover emphasized the importance of the optometric education. “First and foremost, pass your boards and take your rotations seriously,” he said. “Also, start a Linkedin account and find committed mentors.”
For more information about Dr. Darryl Glover, visit https://defocusmedia.com/ and http://eyeseeeuphoria.com/.
QUICK Q&A
What is the wildest diagnosis you've made?
Herpetic Keratitis which is a common diagnoses. However, imagine diagnosing someone with herpetic keratitis with his/her fiancé in the same room. Can you say fireworks?!
Favorite food?
Fufu and soup (Liberian dish), hamburgers, and blondies (made by my wife).
Favorite place you've been?
Tough question. My favorite place to visit is Southern California. I love the food, weather, night life, and culture. However, the most beautiful place I have visited is Mo’orea (island in French Polynesia). My wife and I traveled there for our honeymoon.
Comments