Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Volkert.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Dr. Kayla Volkert, an optometrist, and the owner of See La Vie Eyecare & Eyewear in Bryn Mawr. I grew up in Pennsylvania, studied life science at Penn State, and earned my optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry. I practiced in Charleston, South Carolina before returning to Pennsylvania and opening See La Vie in 2022.
I had a clear idea of what I wanted to create: a place where people could receive thorough, highly personalized eye care and also enjoy being there. I love the clinical side of optometry; but I also love beautiful eyewear, thoughtful design, and helping someone feel confident in how they see and how they look.
Since opening, the practice has grown well beyond routine exams. We’ve developed specialty services for dry eye, myopia management, advanced contact lenses, and eye rejuvenation. I am continually refining how we work so that, as we grow, patients still feel that someone knows them and has time for their questions.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Opening a practice meant becoming a business owner at the same time I was becoming a mother of young children. In the early years, I was involved in nearly every detail, from patient care and selecting frames to hiring, scheduling, finances, and figuring out what to do when a process stopped working.
One of the biggest challenges has been growing without becoming the kind of practice I set out to be different from. Demand has increased, and I’ve had to make decisions about staffing and scheduling so patients can get appointments while still receiving thoughtful care. I’ve also made difficult decisions about insurance participation because I want the freedom to recommend what I genuinely believe is best for each patient.
Adding services such as our dry eye spa and eye rejuvenation treatments has been exciting, but it has required a significant investment and a lot of learning. Each stage has asked me to take a risk, adjust, and keep going. I’m proud that we’re building a practice with a clear point of view rather than simply doing things the way they’ve always been done.
We’ve been impressed with See La Vie Eyecare & Eyewear, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
See La Vie is an independent eyecare practice and eyewear boutique in Bryn Mawr. We care for patients coming in for their annual eye exam, as well as people who need more specialized help with dry eye, contact lenses, medical eye concerns, or a child’s progressing nearsightedness. Our dry eye spa and eye rejuvenation services have also become an important part of the practice.
I want readers to know that you don’t have to choose between serious eye care and an experience that feels personal and enjoyable. We take the time to explain what we’re seeing, talk through options, and find solutions that fit someone’s life. That might mean a myopia management plan for a child, a specialized contact lens, treatment for uncomfortable eyes, or glasses they’re genuinely excited to wear.
Our eyewear collection is curated, too. I choose designers and frames because they offer something distinctive in their craftsmanship, fit, or style. I love the moment when someone who thought they “just needed glasses” finds a pair that feels completely right.
What I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built. Patients come to us for clinical expertise, but they also tell us they feel cared for here. That’s the standard I want us to keep as See La Vie grows.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My team deserves so much credit. They are the people who help turn my vision for See La Vie into the experience patients actually have, through the way they welcome people, solve problems, and pay attention to the details. Building the right team has been one of the most important parts of growing the practice.
My family has also supported me through the long days and the uncertainty that come with owning a business, especially while raising two young boys. And I’m grateful to our patients. They’ve trusted a young, independent practice, referred their friends and families, and helped See La Vie become part of this community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.seelavieeyecare.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seelavieeyecare/
