Growing up in Pikesville, Melissa Shear visited her father’s store often after school. During college, she even worked there over the summers. So, when it was time to choose a profession, optometry seemed like the right fit.
Shear’s family founded Bernard Shear Opticians in 1957. Her parents, Harvey and Eileen Shear, currently own the practice. After graduating from the SUNY College of Optometry, Shear began working for Bernard Shear Opticians as an optometrist in 2007. She is the fourth generation of her family to work in eye care.
When did you realize that you wanted to be an optometrist?
I think I always knew that I wanted to be in the medical field, and this was the most logical transition. When I started working, it was my dad, my mom and my grandma Betty. They were opticians, so I was the first doctor.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
I guess I do a little bit of everything. I’m a medical provider. I help treat medical conditions. Helping people see better is always good, so giving them a finished product of glasses or contacts is great. I like working with people and helping them pick out eyeglasses so that they feel good about themselves. I’m happy to continue a family tradition. It’s a lot of problem solving, too. If someone hasn’t been seeing well for a while, we try to figure out what the issue is and how to fix it.
What’s it been like working with your dad for all this time?
It’s great. I’ve been with him for so long, but at the beginning I remember thinking you grow up and you have a relationship as a child. But to have a relationship as an adult with your parent just gives you a new perspective.
How would you describe your relationship to Judaism?
Judaism and Jewish life is a part of my every day. It’s interesting to be in a mix of communities. It all blends together with the people that I see at work. My kids have been very involved with our synagogue, Chizuk Amuno. My son has his first paying job as a junior counselor at the CA Camps. My children went to Krieger Schechter Day School for middle school. Our life is attached to the synagogue.
Do you find that things have changed with how people view a smaller optical business?
Yes, I think that the difference is really the customer service, the one-on-one time with picking out glasses and helping style you as opposed to with a bigger chain you have to help yourself to figure out what would be best for you. Our store is a smaller, more intimate environment. If someone has questions for me as a doctor, I’m more easily accessible. It doesn’t take days to get back to somebody.
Why do people come to you?
They come to me as an eye doctor because they know that I have lots of patience. I take my time with them, try to make them see as well as they can, figure out what is going on with their eyes. As far as our business is concerned, there are people who both them and their families have been coming to us for decades. There’s a certain level of trust in our business. We try to have eyewear that’s unique and something for everyone.
Do you have flexibility within your job?
It’s flexible in the sense that if I need to take care of a kid or there’s an appointment, I can make my own schedule. It’s about making good choices. It is nice to be in a family business and in a profession that would allow me to do that, as well. I don’t have night hours or times where I’m on call during the night.
Are you proud to have had a business in Baltimore for so long?
Oh, of course. People say all the time it’s so hard to find family-run businesses. I know that not everybody can work with family.
Do you think you’ll encourage your kids to look into optometry?
My kids are young teenagers. I don’t know where they’re going to go and what they’re going to do. If they want to go into medicine, that’s great. If they want to work in the family business, that’s great. I just want them to be happy with their path.
Shira Kramer is a freelance writer.
