Brianna Rhue
Dr. Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS, is a dynamic med-tech CEO, optometrist, and practice owner known for her innovative approach to modern eye care and business growth. As the co-founder and CEO of Dr. Contact Lens, she has built a platform that empowers eye care professionals to compete in a rapidly evolving digital landscape by automating contact lens reorders, strengthening patient engagement, and reclaiming control over practice revenue. A three-time Inc. 5000 honoree, Dr. Rhue has established herself as a forward-thinking leader at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship.
In addition to her role as a technology executive, Dr. Rhue is a dedicated clinician and owner of West Broward Eyecare Associates, where she provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages. Her clinical expertise, combined with her business acumen, allows her to bridge the gap between patient care and practice profitability. She is also a sought-after speaker and myopia strategist, frequently presenting on leadership, artificial intelligence, technology implementation, and the evolving business models shaping the future of optometry.
Dr. Rhue is also the author of The Eye Pitch, a guide designed to help doctors think and act like CEOs by strengthening their negotiation skills, decision-making, and leadership mindset. Passionate about advancing the profession, she is committed to helping optometrists recognize their value, scale their practices, and build lasting patient relationships. Through her work, speaking, and writing, she continues to inspire healthcare professionals to lead boldly, embrace innovation, and redefine what success looks like in modern eye care.
• OD
• FAAO
• FSLS
• Fellow Scleral Lens Society
• Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
• Nova Southeastern University
• Selected as One of 10 Game Changers in the Industry
• Outstanding Local Society Member
• Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO)
• Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society (FSLS)
• Past President of Broward County Optometric Association
• American Optometric Association
• Florida Optometric Association
• Community Eye Care Services
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my entire life journey, starting from when I became a patient at age 7 and working my way up from patient to technician to scribe, then through optometry school at Nova Southeastern University and my residency at the University of Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the number one eye hospital in the country. I always knew I wanted to own a private practice, and I made that happen by buying in as a partner in 2015 and then buying out my partner completely in 2023. What has really elevated my career is not only the private practice but becoming a tech entrepreneur, seeing a need in the field and building the product, then selling it and going on both sides of the table in both industry and remaining a physician at the same time. I also credit my parents, who both owned a furniture business, because I was really good at the sales side of things without realizing I was getting that education, and I always wanted to be my own business owner. My dad also had two friends in the field which helped launch my interest. I've accomplished all of this while having two babies and navigating a male-dominated field where I constantly have to prove myself every single day in every single meeting, which is exhausting but has made me stronger.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You can have a successful career in a male dominated role, just keep moving forward and never let anything stop you
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can do it, women are great at whatever you are called to do
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I face is that our industry is still very men-driven. It's still a good old boys' club, and being a tech female founder means you are just always constantly having to prove yourself every single day, in every single meeting. It's exhausting. I'm in a male-dominated role and I always feel like I have to explain and overwork to get recognition, but I keep pushing forward and making noise.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being able to help to provide excellent care to her patients and her staff, in addition to playing pickleball in her free time, reading a good book, and traveling and making some time for yoga as well