Discover how modern dry-eye care has evolved beyond simple eye drops to comprehensive treatment addressing root causes, inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction, and the interconnected health of eyes, eyelids, and skin.
Her Story
About Megan
Megan Cheeley is a Dry Eye Specialist, ocular aesthetics professional, and Key Opinion Leader with more than five years of specialized experience in dry eye care and innovative ocular and aesthetic treatments. She currently serves as a Dry Eye Specialist at BRVC and consultant for Lumenis Aesthetics and Vision. Her work focuses on helping patients manage dry eye syndrome and ocular surface concerns while incorporating innovative technologies that can support both ocular wellness and aesthetic outcomes. Cheeley developed her expertise through extensive hands-on experience, professional education, lectures, clinical studies, and direct patient data. She is a certified technician and has developed specialized knowledge in technologies including Optilight IPL, Radio Frequency, TriLift 2.0, and LipiFlow. In addition to treating dry eye patients, she has helped develop and expand dry eye programs by coordinating treatment, educating patients, training staff, implementing new technologies, and creating workflows designed to improve patient experience and practice efficiency. Her work has also expanded into skincare and aesthetic services, including treatments for rosacea, telangiectasia, skin firmness, and other aesthetic concerns. Beyond her clinical and practice-development responsibilities, Cheeley is passionate about educating other eye-care professionals and sharing practical knowledge about integrating dry eye technology into successful clinical programs. She has expressed interest in providing virtual and in-person consulting and staff training to help practices optimize their dry eye services. Her professional philosophy is grounded in continuous learning, patient-centered care, innovation, and using education and technology to improve quality of life. She also supports a Johns Hopkins nonprofit related to tracheomalacia, reflecting her involvement in efforts connected to patient and community support.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Megan
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to continuous self-education and a willingness to learn from optometrists, ophthalmologists, and my patients. I have consistently sought out opportunities to expand my knowledge through studies, lectures, hands-on experience, and patient data. I also believe that listening to patient feedback and applying what I learn has allowed me to continually improve the care and services I provide.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to never underestimate the value of your knowledge, your work ethic, and your ability to become an expert in something you are passionate about. You don’t have to start at the top to make a meaningful impact. I started my career at the front desk of an optometry practice and worked my way through nearly every role before building and leading a successful dry eye department.
Be willing to learn, ask questions, take initiative, and become the person others can depend on. Don’t be afraid to step outside the traditional expectations of your position when you see an opportunity to improve patient care or the business. At the same time, know your value and be willing to advocate for yourself.
Most importantly, find something you genuinely care about. My passion for helping patients with dry eye has allowed me to grow professionally, become a leader in my field, and ultimately see opportunities I never imagined when I first walked through the doors of an optometry practice. Your starting point does not determine where you can end up.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Megan
Beyond the Eye Drop: Why Modern Dry Eye Treatment Requires a Whole-Face Approach
Why Modern Dry-Eye Care Goes Beyond Eye Drops
For years, the conversation around dry eye was relatively simple: If your eyes were dry, you reached for eye drops.
Artificial tears certainly have an important place in dry-eye management, but today we understand that dry eye is far more complex than simply not having enough moisture on the surface of the eye. For many patients, repeatedly adding drops only addresses one piece of a much larger problem.
Modern dry-eye care is changing—and it is becoming much more comprehensive.
Dry Eye Is More Than "Dry Eyes"
Dry eye disease can involve tear-film instability, inflammation, poor meibomian gland function, eyelid dysfunction, environmental factors, and changes to the ocular surface. When the glands responsible for producing the oily layer of the tear film are not functioning properly, tears can evaporate too quickly.
That is why someone can use artificial tears several times a day and still experience burning, fluctuating vision, redness, watering, irritation, or a constant feeling that something is in their eyes.
The goal should not simply be to keep putting drops into the eye. The goal should be to understand why the patient needs the drops in the first place.
Moving From Band-Aids to Root-Cause Care
I often compare traditional symptom management to putting a Band-Aid over a problem.
The Band-Aid may provide temporary relief, but it does not necessarily address what is underneath.
The same concept can apply to dry eye. Artificial tears can lubricate the ocular surface, but depending on the patient's underlying condition, they may not address meibomian gland dysfunction, inflammation, blocked glands, or eyelid disease.
This is where in-office treatments have transformed the way we approach dry-eye patients.
Technologies such as intense pulsed light (IPL), radiofrequency, thermal therapies, gland-focused treatments, and other advanced modalities can be incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan when clinically appropriate. These treatments allow practices to look beyond simply replacing tears and instead address contributing factors affecting the ocular surface and eyelids.
The Connection Between the Eyes, Eyelids, and Face
One of the most exciting developments in my own approach to patient care has been recognizing that the area around the eyes cannot always be viewed in isolation.
The eyelids and surrounding skin are part of the same anatomical environment.
The health of the eyelid margins, the meibomian glands, the skin surrounding the eyes, and the quality of the tear film can all influence the patient's overall experience.
That is why I believe there is tremendous value in looking at the whole face—not just the eyeball.
A comprehensive approach can include appropriate dry-eye therapies alongside aesthetic technologies and professional skincare that address the health and appearance of the skin and tissues surrounding the eyes.
This does not mean treating dry eye with cosmetic products. It means recognizing that patients are often experiencing multiple concerns simultaneously and that there can be value in addressing those concerns through coordinated care.
Aesthetic Treatments Can Be About More Than Appearance
The word "aesthetic" is often associated exclusively with looking younger or improving appearance. But many modern aesthetic technologies work at a deeper level, focusing on tissue health, collagen remodeling, circulation, skin quality, and overall facial wellness.
When incorporated appropriately, treatments such as IPL and radiofrequency can have applications that extend beyond traditional cosmetic goals. Other aesthetic technologies can focus on skin tightening, texture, collagen stimulation, and the appearance of the delicate tissues surrounding the eyes.
Professional skincare can also play an important role in maintaining the health and integrity of the skin.
For me, this represents an important shift in how we think about care: patients don't necessarily want to treat one isolated symptom at a time. They want to understand the bigger picture.
Patients Deserve More Than a Bottle of Drops
One of the most rewarding parts of working in dry-eye care is watching a patient realize that they have options.
Many patients arrive after years of buying different over-the-counter drops, trying warm compresses, changing products, or simply learning to live with discomfort. They may have been told that their eyes are "just dry" without fully understanding why.
When we take the time to evaluate the tear film, meibomian glands, eyelids, inflammation, and surrounding structures, we can begin creating a much more individualized plan.
- Sometimes that plan includes drops.
- Sometimes it includes prescription therapy.
- Sometimes it includes in-office treatment.
- And often, it is a combination.
There is no single solution that works for every patient—and that is exactly why individualized care matters.
The Future of Dry-Eye Care Is Comprehensive
I believe the future of dry-eye treatment is moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach.
It is moving toward assessment, education, treatment, maintenance, and prevention.
It is about asking better questions:
- Why is this patient's tear film unstable?
- Are the meibomian glands functioning properly?
- Is inflammation contributing to the symptoms?
- Are the eyelids healthy?
- Is the patient evaporating their tears too quickly?
- What environmental or lifestyle factors are contributing?
- And what can we do beyond simply replacing the tears?
As someone who has spent years specializing in dry-eye care, I have seen firsthand how much the conversation has evolved. What was once primarily managed with bottles of artificial tears has become an area of care that can incorporate sophisticated diagnostic technology, in-office treatments, prescription therapies, lifestyle modifications, and—when appropriate—aesthetic and skincare approaches.
Treat the Patient, Not Just the Symptom
Ultimately, my philosophy is simple: don't just chase symptoms—look for the bigger picture.
A patient is more than their dry-eye diagnosis.
They are a whole person with eyes, eyelids, skin, lifestyle, concerns, and expectations. When we take the time to understand all of those factors, we can create a treatment strategy that is much more meaningful than simply telling someone to use another bottle of drops.
The goal isn't to eliminate eye drops from dry-eye care. The goal is to stop thinking that eye drops are the only answer.
Because sometimes the best way to treat the problem in front of you is to stop looking at just one part of it.
Modern dry-eye care is no longer simply about adding moisture. It is about understanding the cause, treating the contributing factors, and taking a comprehensive approach to the health of the eyes, eyelids, and surrounding face.
Megan Cheeley shares her inspiring journey from front desk employee to specialized dry eye care leader, demonstrating how curiosity, continuous learning, and patient-centered care can build a meaningful healthcare career without traditional credentials.
Beyond the Title: How Experience, Education, and Purpose Can Build a Career in Healthcare
From Front Desk to Healthcare Leadership: A Journey Built on Purpose, Learning, and Patient Care
Beyond the Title: How Experience, Education, and Purpose Can Build a Career in Healthcare
By Megan Cheeley
Ten years ago, I walked into an optometry practice as a front desk employee with no idea where my career would eventually take me.
Today, I lead and operate a specialized dry eye department, work directly with patients suffering from chronic ocular surface conditions, perform advanced treatments, and help create a patient experience that extends far beyond a traditional eye examination.
My journey has taught me something I believe every woman should hear:
Where you begin does not have to determine where you end.
I did not start my career with a traditional medical degree. I started by answering phones, greeting patients, learning the operations of a medical practice, and paying attention.
Then I kept learning.
I became a technician. I moved into management. I began specializing in dry eye care. I pursued continuing education and advanced training. I learned new technologies, treatment approaches, patient communication strategies, and the business side of building a successful specialty department.
Over time, I didn't simply find a position that I enjoyed.
I built a career around a purpose.
Finding My Calling in Dry Eye Care
Dry eye disease can be incredibly frustrating for patients. Many people spend years experiencing burning, irritation, fluctuating vision, redness, discomfort, and frustration without fully understanding why they feel the way they do.
What drew me to dry eye care was the opportunity to spend time with those patients.
I could listen to their experiences.
I could educate them.
I could help them understand their condition and their treatment journey.
And, most importantly, I could become part of a team working toward improving their quality of life.
Today, I have more than seven years of specialized experience working with advanced dry eye technology and have performed thousands of treatments throughout my career.
One of the technologies I specialize in is OptiLight IPL, which has become an important tool within our comprehensive approach to dry eye management.
My expertise also extends to Radiofrequency, TriLift 2.0, BlephEx, AgeJET plasma technology, and WiQo PRX treatments.
Each technology requires training and technical knowledge, but I have learned that technology itself is never the entire answer.
The person operating the technology matters. The education surrounding the treatment matters. And the relationship with the patient matters.
The Importance of the Patient Experience
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is the amount of time I get to spend one-on-one with patients.
I personally perform approximately six to eight treatments each day. That means I am not simply performing a procedure and moving on to the next patient.
I am talking with people.
I am answering questions.
I am educating them about their condition.
I am helping them understand what to expect from treatment.
I am listening to their concerns.
And I am building relationships.
That human connection is something I believe healthcare should never lose.
Patients want expertise, but they also want to feel heard.
They want to know that someone understands what they are experiencing.
Sometimes, the most important thing we can give a patient is not another piece of technology—it is our time and our attention.
Creating Value for Patients and Physicians
Building a successful specialty department isn't simply about purchasing an expensive device and putting it in a treatment room.
It requires systems.
It requires education.
It requires organization.
It requires patient communication.
It requires staff training.
And it requires understanding how to integrate the specialty into the larger practice.
My role allows me to focus heavily on the education and treatment side of the patient journey while working collaboratively with the optometrists.
That collaboration creates value on multiple levels.
Patients receive dedicated education and treatment support. Doctors are able to optimize their time and focus on examinations, diagnosis, and other areas of patient care. And the practice is able to develop a specialized service that can grow alongside its primary eye care offerings.
For me, that is what leadership looks like.
Leadership isn't always about having the highest title in the room. Sometimes it is about becoming the person others can depend on to make something successful.
When Healthcare and Aesthetics Intersect
My career eventually expanded beyond dry eye care into medical aesthetics and professional skincare.
I work with professional skincare lines including SkinCeuticals and ZO Skin Health and have gained experience with treatments designed to support skin health, collagen stimulation, and aesthetic confidence.
At first glance, dry eye care and aesthetics may seem like completely different specialties.
But I have discovered that they have something important in common:
People want to feel good about themselves.
Whether someone is coming to see me because their eyes hurt, their vision fluctuates, their skin concerns are affecting their confidence, or they simply want to invest in themselves, the foundation is the same.
Listen to them.
Educate them.
Give them your expertise.
Treat them with respect.
And help them feel confident in the decisions they make about their care.
What Women Can Build When They Stop Limiting Themselves
My career did not follow a traditional roadmap.
There was no ten-year plan sitting in front of me when I started at the front desk.
There was simply an opportunity to learn—and I took it.
Then another opportunity came.
And another.
Every time I learned something new, I became capable of taking on something more.
That progression changed the way I viewed my own potential.
I realized that sometimes we are waiting for someone to give us permission to become the person we are capable of being.
We wait for the right title.
The right degree.
The right opportunity.
The right person to recognize us.
But sometimes, you have to recognize yourself first.
You have to be willing to learn when nobody is watching.
You have to become excellent before anyone gives you the title that reflects it.
You have to take ownership.
And you have to be willing to step outside of what is comfortable.
My greatest professional lesson has been that expertise is built one decision at a time.
Every patient interaction taught me something.
Every training taught me something.
Every challenge taught me something.
Every new technology required me to grow.
And every time I stepped into a greater level of responsibility, I became more confident in what I could contribute.
Influence Is Measured by Impact
Being influential isn't necessarily about how many people know your name.
I believe influence is measured by impact.
It is the patient who tells you they finally feel comfortable again.
It is the person who walks out of your treatment room with renewed confidence.
It is the colleague who learns something from you.
It is the employee you encourage to pursue a bigger opportunity.
It is the practice that becomes more successful because you were willing to take ownership of something and build it.
Those moments may never make headlines.
But they matter.
And I believe women in healthcare should recognize the influence they already have, even when their job title doesn't fully describe everything they contribute.
Looking Beyond My Own Practice
Today, one of my greatest professional goals is to take what I have learned beyond the walls of my own practice.
I want to help other practices understand how to develop successful dry eye programs—not simply by purchasing technology, but by building the infrastructure around it.
A successful dry eye department requires much more than a treatment device.
It requires patient education.
It requires efficient workflows.
It requires staff training.
It requires communication.
It requires thoughtful treatment protocols.
It requires understanding the patient journey.
And it requires someone who is willing to take ownership of bringing those pieces together.
That is the perspective I hope to share with others.
I Didn't Simply Find My Career. I Built It.
When I look back at the woman who walked into an optometry practice ten years ago, I don't think she could have imagined where that first job would lead.
She started at the front desk.
She learned.
She became a technician.
She became a manager.
She discovered a passion for dry eye care.
She pursued advanced training.
She embraced technology.
She developed relationships with patients.
She helped build a specialty department.
And she kept going.
My story is not about having the perfect credentials or following the perfect path.
It is about what can happen when you remain curious, work hard, take opportunities seriously, and refuse to put a ceiling on your own potential.
You don't always need to start with the title. Sometimes you build the expertise first—and the title follows.
After a decade of growth, learning, innovation, and caring for thousands of patients, I know one thing for certain:
I am not finished building.
I'm just getting started.
Megan Cheeley's inspiring journey from front desk employee to dry eye specialist demonstrates how dedication, continuous learning, and passion can build an influential career in healthcare.
Megan Cheeley’s Journey of Dry Eye to Skin Expertise, Innovation, and Empowering Others
From Front Desk to Dry Eye Department Leader: How Megan Cheeley Built a Career Through Passion and Perseverance
Influential Women 2026
Ten years ago, Megan Cheeley walked into an optometry practice as a front desk employee. Today, she leads and operates the practice's dry eye department—an achievement built not on a traditional medical degree, but on a decade of hands-on experience, continuous education, dedication to her patients, and a passion for helping others.
Megan's career journey reflects what can happen when a woman recognizes an opportunity, embraces learning, and refuses to limit herself by where she starts.
She began her career at the front desk of an optometry practice and steadily expanded her responsibilities, moving from front desk operations to technician, then front desk manager, and eventually into specialized dry eye care. Over the years, she developed a passion for helping patients suffering from chronic dry eye and ocular surface conditions and ultimately became the person responsible for running the practice's dry eye department.
Today, Megan brings more than seven years of specialized experience with advanced dry eye technology and has become an integral part of the patient care team.
A Passion for Dry Eye Care
As a Dry Eye Specialist, Megan works closely with patients experiencing dry eye syndrome, ocular surface disease, and related conditions. Her role combines patient education, advanced technology, treatment coordination, and hands-on care.
One of the technologies she specializes in is OptiLight IPL, an innovative intense pulsed light treatment used in dry eye management. Through years of experience, Megan has developed extensive knowledge of how to incorporate IPL into a comprehensive dry eye treatment approach and how to educate patients throughout their treatment journey.
Her expertise extends beyond IPL. She is also experienced with:
- TriLift 2.0
- Radiofrequency treatments
- BlephEx
- AgeJET plasma skin resurfacing
- WiQo PRX facial treatments
Her work has allowed her to bridge two areas of patient care that she is deeply passionate about: helping people feel better and helping them feel confident in their appearance.
Transforming the Patient Experience
Megan personally performs approximately 6–8 treatments each day, spending significant one-on-one time with patients. That time allows her to educate patients about their conditions, explain their treatment processes, answer questions, and help them understand the importance of following their care plans.
Her role also provides an important benefit to the optometrists she works alongside.
By managing much of the education and hands-on treatment process, Megan helps optimize the doctors' time, allowing them to focus on examinations, diagnosis, and other aspects of patient care while she provides specialized treatment and support.
It is a collaborative approach that benefits everyone—the patients, the doctors, and the practice.
For Megan, however, success is about much more than numbers or efficiency.
It is about seeing a patient who has struggled with dry, uncomfortable eyes finally experience improvement.
It is about helping someone regain confidence.
And it is about creating an environment where patients feel listened to, educated, and cared for.
Where Eye Care Meets Aesthetics
Megan's expertise has also expanded into medical aesthetics and skincare. Within the practice, she works with two respected medical skincare lines, SkinCeuticals and ZO Skin Health, helping patients understand professional skincare options and develop routines that complement their aesthetic treatments.
This combination of dry eye care and aesthetics has allowed Megan to create a unique role within the practice—one centered around the complete patient experience.
Whether she is treating ocular surface disease, performing an IPL treatment, providing an aesthetic procedure, or helping someone understand their skincare routine, her goal remains the same:
Help people feel healthier, more confident, and more comfortable in their own skin.
A Woman Who Built Her Career From the Ground Up
Megan's story is especially meaningful because she did not begin her career knowing where it would lead.
She started at the front desk.
She learned.
She took on more responsibility.
She became a technician.
She became a manager.
She discovered a passion for dry eye care.
She pursued specialized training.
And eventually, she built and ran an entire dry eye department.
Her journey demonstrates that influence isn't always created by having the biggest title or the most traditional career path. Sometimes, it comes from becoming exceptionally good at what you do, continually learning, taking ownership, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people you serve.
Megan's career is a testament to the power of experience, perseverance, curiosity, and believing that there is always another level to reach.
Looking Toward the Future
As Megan continues to grow professionally, her vision extends beyond the walls of her own practice. She is passionate about sharing the knowledge she has gained throughout her career and helping other practices develop successful dry eye programs.
Her experience has shown her that advanced technology alone doesn't create a successful dry eye department. It takes education, organization, patient communication, treatment protocols, staff training, and someone who understands how to bring all of those pieces together.
That is the perspective Megan hopes to share with other professionals in the future.
From a front desk position to leading a specialized department, Megan Cheeley's story is one of growth, determination, and purpose.
She didn't simply find a career—she built one.
And after ten years of growth, learning, and caring for thousands of patients, she is only getting started.
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