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She didn’t plan on being a globally recognized eye care influencer, but some down time during COVID provided Inna Lazar, OD ‘15, the opportunity to lay the groundwork for her to expand her optometric influence.
“I thought to myself, what’s a unique way to educate the portion of the public that doesn’t have immediate access to eye care,” said Dr. Lazar. “There are people around the world what don’t have that luxury. I thought I could use social media as a platform to spread the message about some basic things we see every day but a majority of people don’t know about. And, it just took off.”
So much so that she has been named the No. 2 eye care influencer for 2025 by FeedSpot Media, a group that categorizes global media outlets and content creators on Instagram, YouTube and Tik Tok.
Dr. Lazar believes expanding one’s reach through the use of social media also comes with great responsibility for optometrists because they are representing the profession and overall ocular health.
“I enjoy being able to help people when they reach out. Not only for regular people who are following me, but I am honored to help other providers as well, whether it’s within our profession or other professions,” she said. “Social media is the new business card. People check your social media profile before they schedule an appointment. Or they’re finding you on Instagram and they want to schedule a consultation. It opens so many doors.”
Born in Ukraine, Dr. Lazar emigrated to the United States in 2003 and settled in upstate New York. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She chose to continue her education at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), Salus University, which she said provided her with a strong foundation for a successful career.
“The clinical skills at PCO were incredible,” said Dr. Lazar. “You can know all the theories and all the science but if you don’t have the clinical skills, you can’t really practice. PCO/Salus does an incredible job of teaching clinical skills. I was so confident when I graduated, I felt like I could take on the world.”
After graduating from PCO/Salus and getting her license, Dr. Lazar opened her own practice, Greenwich Eye Care in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2016. Soon thereafter, she founded the Dry Eye Institute, a specialty practice that offers the most coveted, technologically advanced drop-less treatments for dry eye.
Over the years, Dr. Lazar has established herself as a leading expert on primary eye health and one of the country’s most sought-after experts in the treatment of dry eye disease.
She was named one of “America’s Best Eye Doctors'' by Newsweek in 2022 and featured in Fairfield County’s Business Journal “40 Under 40 Best Doctors” in 2021. Dr. Lazar recently received an “Ambassador of Sight” award from the National Lions Team, a prestigious, international non-profit organization that aids people with eye care issues and eyeglass needs.
As a specialized eye care professional, she uses her social platforms and the podcast (Transparent Show) she co-founded to educate her followers on unexpected, non-traditional ocular health topics. She speaks candidly about medical discoveries; the benefits and dangers of ingredients found in major brand-name products; and the connection between eye health and aesthetics in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and much more.
“We’re surrounded by aesthetic things. When you look at the optical side of the practice, it is no longer just an optical device. It is a statement piece, a fashion piece. People use optical and frames to really emphasize their personality,” said Dr. Lazar.
She is a frequent public speaker, health care consultant, and advisor to major companies in the eye care industry.
Dr. Lazar also started a nonprofit organization called “Eyecare From the Heart,” which treats children who are financially unable to get current and consistent eye care.
“I am so blessed that I found a niche that I truly enjoy and I just want to help more people. I want to reach more children who are not able to get treated,” said Dr. Lazar.
Although managing an optometry practice while maintaining a high profile on social media is challenging, Dr. Lazar still finds time to unwind by walking with her son and dog at the park or on the beach, which provides her with the opportunity to disconnect from social media.
“I am constantly working, constantly editing, every time I have a free minute. It’s a real internal battle. Yes, it is very time consuming, but there is a lot of joy doing it,” she said. “But if one person sees the content I produce, it could change the course of their life.”
Dr. Lazar can be found @dr.innalazar on Instagram and @eyeballdoc on TikTok.
