Lanard C. Atkins, LDO, ABOC, NCLEC, believes glasses should always display the wearer’s personality, or, as he likes to call it, their “EYEdentity.”

In 2017, Atkins founded Timeless EYEdentity, a mobile eyeglass and contact lens company that offers custom lenses and frames for TV and film, launched to help translate a character’s persona from the script to the screen.

He also rocks his optical prowess within various industry organizations; he’s first vice president of the Opticians Association of Georgia and part of the board of directors for the Opticians Association of America and the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners.

Your most distinctive characteristic?

Wearing a nice trucker hat tilted sideways with a cool pair of glasses on.

Greatest advice to fellow opticians?

Never let anyone define your optical journey—blaze your own trail and enjoy the ride!

Best activity to find calm?

I like to just kick my feet up and take a nap any time of the day.

Most rewarding professional accomplishment?

Becoming the opticianry program director at the college I received my degree from. Assuming the role prepared me for my journey today.

The song playing in the soundtrack to your life?

“Morris Brown” by OutKast.

Most memorable experience as an optician?

Working on my first television/film production. The first television show I worked on was called “Single Ladies” on VH1. Since then, I have worked on numerous TV shows and movies, sourcing them with stylish eyewear and custom lenses, both prescription and nonprescription.

Most likely to splurge on?

Eyewear and sneakers.

Greatest source of inspiration?

The sunrise.