Isn't That Rich Podcast

If you've been putting off going to the eye doctor, you're not alone, and this story might just be the encouragement you needed to finally make that appointment. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Sykes Thompson on the Isn't That Rich podcast, and honestly, it was one of our favorite conversations we've had. He's local, he's passionate, and he's opening Thompson Eye Care right here in Southern Illinois. We can't wait for you to meet him.

It Started with a Tornado and a Kid Who Needed Help

Before he was Dr. Thompson, he was just a freshman at Harrisburg High School with a bad eye infection and a heart full of compassion for his community. During the tornado that hit the area, he showed up to volunteer, infection and all, and a local eye doctor spotted him in the crowd. She pulled him aside, took him to her office on a weekend, and took care of him on the spot.

"I saw at that point I really can help people," Dr. Thompson told us. "From that point on, really freshman year of high school, I decided I want to follow this route and really never looked back."

A freshman in high school with his entire career path mapped out. That kind of clarity is rare, and it tells you everything you need to know about who Dr. Thompson is. This was never about a paycheck or a title. It started with one person stopping to genuinely help another, and that moment planted a seed that has been growing ever since.

Now, all these years later, he's coming back to plant that same kind of care right here in the community that raised him.

Six Years, a Pandemic, and a Lot of Growing Up

Dr. Thompson headed south to Tennessee for his education earning his undergrad in Jackson and optometry school in Memphis. Six years of hard work, learning the science, and preparing for a career he'd been dreaming about since high school.

But he happened to be in school right in the middle of COVID, which made things more complicated than anyone expected.

"Typically, they tell you in school you'll see about 3,000 to 5,000 patients before you come out," he explained. "I was limited. I only saw about 1,500."

Rather than let that discourage him, he came home to Harrisburg and spent four years making up for every one of those missed experiences. He worked alongside experienced doctors, built his confidence in the exam room, and quietly became the clinician he always knew he wanted to be. He didn't rush it. He let the process do what it was supposed to do.

"I had to come out and use those four years basically to build on what I missed experience-wise in school," he said. "I was fortunate I've worked here in Harrisburg, and for a doctor over in Marion who really helped me feel comfortable."

There's a real lesson in that. He mastered his craft before taking the next step, and that kind of patience and humility is exactly what you want in a doctor.

The Seed Was Planted Long Before the Leap

Even while Dr. Thompson was in optometry school, he was already thinking about what it might look like to one day own his own practice. He helped lead a Private Practice Club that brought in doctors and business owners from all over the country, and he got a first-hand look at what it actually takes to build something from scratch.

"I decided if I ever had the opportunity to open up a practice here, I would," he said.

Fast forward to early 2025. He connected with a consulting group called IARE Advisors, who specialize in helping optometrists open practices from the ground up. Together, they looked at the population data for Saline County and the surrounding areas, and the results surprised even Dr. Thompson.

There is more than enough need for another eye doctor here.

With his wife's unwavering encouragement, the inspiration of his brother-in-law who owns a dental practice nearby, and the support of a community he's loved his whole life, he made the leap.

What Actually Goes Into Opening an Eye Care Clinic?

Most of us have no idea what "opening a practice" actually involves. It turns out there are a lot of moving pieces, and Dr. Thompson was generous enough to walk us through all of it.

It starts with your why.

Before he talked to a single bank or looked at a single building, Dr. Thompson sat down and wrote his mission statement. And it's a good one.

"Thompson Eye Care exists to bless the community through the gift of vision. By providing advanced technology and premium eyewear, we hope to improve the quality of lives in this town. We strive to be good stewards of our abilities so that when a patient leaves our office, they not only see better but also positively impact those around them."

That's not a tagline, that's a calling. And everything about the way he talks about this practice reflects it.

Then comes the business side.

Getting approved for a loan, filing with the IRS to create Thompson Eye Care PLLC as a legal entity, finding a location, all of that had to come together before anything else. He found a spot right in the heart of Harrisburg, in between McDonald's and Dairy Queen, with a wonderful landlord who's been supportive from day one.

Then the optometry side.

In the fall, he and his wife flew out to Las Vegas for an industry expo, 20,000 square feet of equipment, frames, contact lenses, and vendors. They got to test everything, make their selections, and purchase what they needed. Right now, it's all arriving at their house a little at a time. "It's like Christmas every day," he laughed.

Getting credentialed with medical and vision insurance providers was another big undertaking, about eight months of work, but Dr. Thompson's goal is to be a provider for everyone. He doesn't want anyone to feel like they can't come in because of coverage concerns.

And then there's the staff. He'll be honest, one of his biggest fears going into this was whether anyone would want to come work for him. He's happy to report he's already got two wonderful team members hired, plus his wife joining the office.

The building is currently under renovation, and once that wraps up, everything gets moved in, set up, and calibrated. Dr. Thompson is handling the IKEA shelves himself. The big medical equipment, thankfully, is a job for the professionals.

The Moment That Tested Everything

There was one moment this past fall that put it all on the line.

Dr. Thompson and his wife were at the equipment expo in Las Vegas, excited, picking out everything for the practice they'd spent a year working toward, when his phone rang. It was the bank. They were missing paperwork. They were considering pulling the loan.

He got on the phone with his consulting group, figured out what was needed, and handled it. The loan stayed. The dream stayed on track.

"We were going to pivot and delay if needed," he told us. "But it all worked out, thankfully."

Looking back, he says that experience taught him one of the most important lessons of this whole journey: patience.

"I like to have control as much as I can, just like everybody does," he said. "There are a thousand different pieces to the puzzle. Just watching all of that finally come together is really neat."

A Practice Built Around the Patient

If there's one thing that shines through every part of this conversation, it's that Dr. Thompson is not building a transactional practice. He's building a place where people actually feel cared for.

Inspired by the Savannah Bananas' "fans first" philosophy (his son is a big fan) he adopted a "patient first" mentality for every decision he's made about Thompson Eye Care. He thought through what patients will see when they walk in the door. What they'll hear. How they'll be greeted. What the whole experience will feel like from start to finish.

"While the patient may not be aware of any of those things going on, it's important that it is a positive experience for them," he said.

He also wants to know you. He wants to know about your family, your job, your upcoming vacation. He sees those conversations as part of doing his job well, because the more he knows about your life, the better he can take care of your eyes.

"If you mention you're going to the beach, well, do you have a pair of sunglasses? Or maybe you're in front of a computer all day and getting headaches, I can help with that," he said. "The more I'm able to get to know somebody, the better I am able to do my job for you."

In a healthcare world where it can feel like you're just a number, Thompson Eye Care is being intentionally designed to feel different. And we believe him.

So When Should You Actually Go to the Eye Doctor?

Since we had a real optometrist in front of us, we had to ask, especially since one of us admitted she's 28 and has only been to the eye doctor once as a child.

Here's the breakdown, straight from Dr. Thompson:

• 6 months old — First recommended eye exam. Earlier than most people realize.
• Every couple of years through childhood.
• Kindergarten — Required in Illinois. Dr. Thompson will be doing his own son's exam this year.
• Throughout adulthood — Every couple of years, or annually if something's been flagged.
• If you're an adult who hasn't been in a while — It's time.

Here's the part people often don't think about: a lot of eye conditions don't come with obvious symptoms. You might feel like your vision is totally fine and still have something developing that an eye doctor could catch early and manage. Dr. Thompson shared that earlier in his career, he's even detected cancer through an eye exam.

"I hope you show up and I say everything's great, see you back in a couple years," he said. "But I don't ever want anybody to ignore it just because they think they can see."

A Few Things Worth Knowing

We also got into some of the questions people ask all the time:

Blue light glasses — are they worth it? According to Dr. Thompson, yes, with some nuance. The strongest research right now connects blue light to disrupted sleep, since it affects your circadian rhythm. Whether it causes long-term eye damage is still being studied. His take: better to protect against it than to wish you had. The good news is that most prescription lenses now include blue light protection automatically.

Glasses or contacts? Dr. Thompson wears neither, his vision is 20/20. Any glasses you see him in are purely for fun. For his patients, though, he's a fan of both. He encourages everyone to at least try contacts if they're curious. He'll walk you through it, and if it's not for you, that's completely okay too. He just wants people to have options.

What's the most common mistake he sees? Two things come up most often: waiting too long for that first exam, and wearing contact lenses longer than recommended. Those little lenses need to be treated with care, and he's a gentle advocate for doing things right.

Coming Home

We asked Dr. Thompson what it means to him to be opening his practice here in Harrisburg, not somewhere bigger, not somewhere else, but right here.

He didn't hesitate.

"I've felt loved in this community all my life. Getting to come back to the town that helped raise you, I almost feel this obligation to give back. My goal is not only to be an eye doctor, but to make this community better."

His parents are teachers here. His dad is a pastor. His grandparents are from Harrisburg. This is home in the deepest sense of the word, and he's choosing to invest in it.

He sees something exciting happening right now, people his age coming back, building things, contributing. He wants Thompson Eye Care to be part of that story. And somewhere in the back of his mind, we imagine he's hoping to be for some future kid what that eye doctor was for him on a weekend during a tornado, someone who stopped, paid attention, and made a difference.

How to Connect with Thompson Eye Care

Thompson Eye Care is officially opening May 15th, and they are accepting patients right now.

• Located in Harrisburg, between McDonald's and Dairy Queen at 607 South Commercial Street, Suite 1 Harrisburg, IL 62946
• By phone at 618-217-1201
• Website: Eye Doctor in Harrisburg, IL | Thompson Eyecare
• Facebook & Instagram: @ThompsonEyeCare

A soft opening begins mid-May with friends and family. An open house is planned for the end of May. A full grand opening celebration will follow later this summer once all the renovations inside and outside are complete. Online booking is also coming this summer.

If you've been meaning to schedule that appointment, this is your moment. Call, get on the calendar, and go meet Dr. Thompson. Your eyes deserve it, and so does this community.