May 26, 2026
By Amrit Bilkhu, OD, FAAO, FOVDR, FCCSO
Northern Sight Optometry
All images courtesy of Dr. Bilkhu
Good eyecare should feel simple, not like a shopping trip. When I opened Northern Sight Optometry in 2023 in Vaughan, Ontario, I had that core idea in mind: provide comprehensive, practical eyecare without overwhelming families with too many voices or conflicting recommendations.
My partner, Manraj Fervaha, OD, and I divide the week so each of us can focus on the approaches we prefer while still offering a full range of services under one roof. That structure keeps decision-making clear and coordinated for families.
AN ‘UMBRELLA’ PRACTICE
From the start, it was clear our approaches differed enough to make partnering useful. We’ve been able to develop and grow our respective specialty areas, while making sure families have access to the full “umbrella” of treatment options.
Dr. Fervaha focuses on traditional myopia-control modalities: various soft lenses, spectacles and orthokeratology. My focus tends to be low-plus lenses, micro prisms, syntonics phototherapy and vision therapy — treatments that address binocular-vision issues commonly present in fast-progressing myopes.
NETWORKING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Half my week is spent doing clinical work at our practice, and the other half is spent focusing on content creation. I work on my personal professional page, the Northern Sight Optometry page and two podcasts: Four Eyes and Future Focus.
This is something I’ve done since 2020, and it has allowed me to build a strong network of optometrists across both Canada and the U.S. My social media posts have contributed to a great deal of career growth – especially in the early days of practice, as it helped to catapult my referral network, and I’m very grateful for that. As a young optometrist, I had doctors – from two to four hours away, referring their patients over to me for second opinions, which was amazing. My posts focus on tangible tools to help practitioners with pediatric prescribing and the intersection between binocular vision and myopia management. My goal was always to share my knowledge with as many ECPs as possible, and help them realize that this approach to myopia management is much more functional than they may think it is.
Dr. Bilkhu showcases glasses in Northern Sight Optometry
CREATING CONTENT THAT PARENTS ACTUALLY USE
In addition, social media has driven much of the patient education offered at our practice. Educating the general public on myopia, binocular vision conditions and vision therapy led to parents finding me online and coming to our office for second opinions for their kids. Even if a child already had an exam with another doctor who explained treatment options thoroughly, parents felt connected to seeing social media posts that feel personally relevant to their child.
My posts about infant vision, myopia and vision therapy generate questions and direct messages from parents, so all of our media emerged organically to meet demand. I design all of our office marketing materials in-house, shaped by the real questions parents ask online. Branded, free content helps support families who need quick guidance at home, which also alleviates extra questions during consults. This brings more informed patients through the door.
We have parents who call the practice and say, “I want to book an appointment with Dr. Bilkhu. I saw a TikTok video, and I want to talk to her about my kid.” This already built-in trust in us enables us to provide more effective care.
WHAT EVERY OPTOMETRIST CAN DO— AND WHAT I ADD
Not every clinic immediately needs expensive technology to make a difference. Topography and axial length tools are useful, but simple steps matter too: prescribing low-plus lenses or micro prisms, advising on posture and reading habits, and screening for binocular issues can be done in a standard exam.
Myopia management is part of routine care at our office; we don’t charge extra for myopia-specific follow-ups. Fees apply only for specialty services such as OrthoK and vision therapy, which require additional time and resources. Framing myopia as a routine concern rather than a separate specialty helps normalize care and improves access. Myopia patients are regular people who need options in routine exams for optimal management.
WHAT’S NEXT?
There are already many effective treatments available for myopia. Still, a gap exists between current myopia therapies and understanding how binocular vision and behavioral factors influence progression. Research that looks beyond accommodative amplitude and phoria posture — incorporating measures of autonomic responses, posture, breathing patterns and even psychological factors — could reveal why some children progress faster than others despite using standard treatments. Better integration between medical and behavioral approaches would let parents and clinicians combine strategies rather than choose one or the other. This is what we aim to bridge at Northern Sight Optometry.
Myopia care doesn’t need to be exotic to be effective — it needs to be practical, personalized and communicated clearly. That’s how real families get better outcomes, one visit at a time.
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Amrit Bilkhu, OD, FAAO, FOVDR, FCCSO, is a behavioral optometrist focusing on pediatrics, binocular vision disorders and visual processing challenges. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2019 and completed a Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation residency in 2020. She has achieved a Fellowship with the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), Optometrists in Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) and the Canadian College of Specialties in Optometry (CCSO). Dr. Bilkhu is the co-owner of Northern Sight Optometry, a full-scope practice in Vaughan, Ontario, that offers vision therapy and rehabilitation services, and serves on the board of Vision Therapy Canada. She has lectured at various conferences across North America on binocular vision topics, published journal articles, and has been featured on podcasts discussing pediatric vision development. She is the creator of the Pediatric Eye Care Masterclass, an online course designed to help optometrists worldwide gain confidence in infant vision development and binocular vision testing. Beyond the clinic, she co-hosts the Four Eyes Optometry and Future Focus NextGen OD podcasts and creates social media content to educate and inspire the next generation of optometrists. |
