How to Connect with Gen Z Patients So They Actually Say Yes
About this episode
Dr. Steve Vargo and Kayla Ashlee discuss how to effectively connect with Gen Z patients in optical practices.
In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Kayla Ashlee for a fascinating conversation about one of the most misunderstood groups walking into today’s practices: Gen Z patients. Why are so many doctors and opticians struggling to connect with this generation? Steve and Kayla explore how Gen Z’s digital upbringing, constant access to information, and high sensitivity to inauthenticity are changing the way practices need to communicate. They unpack why traditional “doctor talk,” overexplaining, and product-heavy presentations often fall flat—and how these missteps can quietly lead to lower capture rates, weaker trust, and missed opportunities in the optical. This conversation goes far beyond generational stereotypes. It’s about learning how to communicate more clearly, guide more effectively, and create an experience that feels personal rather than transactional. Kayla shares practical insights on simplifying language, improving handoffs, asking better questions, and creating more customized optical experiences that resonate not only with Gen Z, but with patients across the board. Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's time for a financial…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Steve Vargo
Guest: Kayla Ashlee
Topics covered
- Gen Z patients
- communication strategies
- optical practices
- digital upbringing
- patient experience
Keywords
- Gen Z
- patient communication
- optometry
- trust building
- customized experiences
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: IDOC
More episodes of EYE OWN A BUSINESS
- Why Your Gut Is a Terrible Hiring Manager — And What to Do Instead
- Why your satisfied patients aren’t referring you (and what actually works)
- The Future of the Workforce: Why Your Next Hire Might Not Be in Your Office
- How to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Own Practice
- How to Catch Expensive Tax Errors Before the IRS Does
- Why Patients Don’t Follow Through (And What We’re Getting Wrong About “Noncompliance”)
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the EYE OWN A BUSINESS podcast page.