Up Close with Jason E. Compton, OD, FAAO

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in optometry?

Many of my colleagues can say that when they were younger they couldn’t see and an optometrist saved their life or left a lasting impression on them. I don’t have one of those stories. During undergrad, I knew I wanted to work in the health care profession. My uncle owned an optical shop, and I worked with him as a salesperson. I’ll never forget the day I met one particular doctor there and thought she was cool. I went out one night and saw her at a club, and thought, “Wait a minute, that’s the doctor?” I had a conversation with her, and she told me that optometry is the world’s best kept secret.

I’ve taken optometry to a completely different level than I initially thought was possible. I thought it was working a 9 to 5 shift and just living your best life. Now, I’m a private practice owner, involved on a political level with the American Optometric Association, a member of the American Academy of Optometry, and I’m involved on a state level. I do so much within and for the profession. I had a weird start, but it’s almost like I was destined for this career.

Dr. Compton and his twin daughters. He needs a new shirt though—Zara Jada Compton was born a few months ago.

You are the President and Founder of TheRightContact.com, a contact lens resource used by eye care professionals worldwide. Tell us about this.

It is a contact lens parameter search engine. The idea stemmed from Tyler’s Quarterly, a journal that came out four times a year and listed all of the contact lenses based on oxygen permeability, diameter, base curve—all different types of parameters. I didn’t understand why it wasn’t done on a computer-based platform, so I developed it. It was something that I saw a need for in the industry, and now a lot of people use it.

You speak to kids at local high schools to encourage them to pursue higher education. What lead you to this calling? What is some of the advice you give these kids?

I have three practices: two in the Bronx and one in Washington Heights. It’s very important to me that the community that supports me and my business knows that I support them. I like to visit the schools on career days so the kids can see that someone who looks like them can make it to this level. That is a big part about how I practice and why I’m involved in my community.

You also do a fair share of community outreach in the form of food drives, COVID vaccination clinics, etc. Why is this important to you?

I don’t want my community thinking that I’m here just trying to make a quick buck off of them. I am close to my US Congressman for this area, the state assembly for New York state, even local city politics. A lot of my outreach has to do with how I spend time on the local community board. I’m the chair of the Merchant Association for Upper Manhattan and am intimately involved with the business owners in my area. My involvement in community outreach efforts also helps from a marketing standpoint. It gets my name out there and they know I’m here. But I also like to give back by supporting little league football and baseball teams and offering free vision screenings.

What has been the most memorable professional experience of your career thus far?

Our practice is known for fitting specialty lenses. We take patients almost daily who feel like they’re at the end of the road and have no other options, and we give them sight. I have so many examples of patients who are almost brought to tears, and that leaves a huge impression on me.

I’m also on the faculty at the State University of New York and our clinic is a rotation site for externships. I love to see the students I mentor and teach become colleagues who give back to that experience.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

That’s the number-one question, right? I have twin 9-year-old girls and a 4-month-old baby girl. I cannot sit down in one place and I have my hands in a hundred things—and for a specific reason. For me, the most important thing is being able to support my family. I give 100% to the profession because I know if my profession is secure, then my practice is secure, which goes back to my family.

If you could only use three words to describe your practice, what would they be?

Community, education, and advocacy.