Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Francisco José Richardson.
Hi Dr. Francisco José, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, in a close-knit family where culture, respect, and service were central values. As an only child, I spent an incredible amount of time with my parents, especially on our family boat, navigating the waters of Vieques and the Virgin Islands. Those long days on the ocean instilled in me a deep respect for nature, a love for the sea, and an appreciation for quiet time spent learning from those closest to me. From those early days, I learned to appreciate God’s creation and developed a deep sense of gratitude for my life and family, which has guided me ever since. That early exposure to independence, problem-solving, and responsibility would later shape my approach to both medicine and entrepreneurship.
In 1988, my family moved to Oviedo, Florida, which became the foundation of my life in Central Florida. I attended Oviedo High School and quickly became involved in the community, earning a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, competing in varsity wrestling and tennis, becoming an Eagle Scout, and joining the founding classes of the Oviedo High School Navy Junior ROTC. Those formative years in Seminole County taught me discipline, leadership, and the importance of contributing to the community in which you live.
Service runs deep in my family. I am incredibly proud to be an American and equally proud of my Puerto Rican heritage. Every generation of men in my family has served in the U.S. military. My great-grandfather served during the Spanish-American War, supporting the United States as Puerto Rico became part of the nation. My paternal grandfather served as an intelligence officer in World War II, while my maternal grandfather was an oral surgeon during the Korean War. My father served as an Army artilleryman, and my uncle served in Army logistics during the Vietnam era. That legacy shaped not only my sense of duty, but also my belief that leadership means taking responsibility for others.
I was honored to receive a congressional appointment to West Point, but ultimately turned it down because my goal was medicine, and at the time, West Point primarily graduated engineers. Instead, I accepted a full U.S. Army scholarship to Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the United States. My time at Norwich was transformative! I immersed myself fully in cadet life and leadership, serving as Chairman of the Honor Committee – responsible for upholding the cadet honor code: “A Norwich Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” I also served as Chairman of the Junior Class Ring Committee and Commander of the Norwich Drill Team, leading armed and unarmed drill competitions, color guard details, arch-of-swords ceremonies for weddings, and 21-gun salutes for funerals and military events. I was also given the opportunity to attend U.S. Army Airborne School while still a cadet.
I graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army as a Transportation Officer, stationed with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I completed the Sabalauski Air Assault School and was assigned to the 494th Transportation Company. In 2000, my transportation platoon was attached to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry “No Slack,” and we deployed to Kosovo in support of KFOR for seven months. As a platoon leader, I was responsible for transporting everything from food and water to weapons, captured enemy personnel, and contraband, logging over 810,000 accident- and incident-free miles.
Following the attacks of September 11th, I deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, in February 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and was assigned as the Base Defense Officer for Bagram Air Field. I was responsible for securing the base and protecting U.S. and coalition forces, reporting directly to General Hagenbeck, Commander of CFLCC. I later became part of the initial force during Operation Iraqi Freedom, staging from Camp New York in Kuwait and crossing the entire country of Iraq, ending at the Turkish border near Mosul. Through both the calm and the chaos of service, my faith in God was my anchor, shaping how I lead, make decisions, and care for those under my responsibility. Shortly after that final mission, I separated from the military to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a doctor, bringing with me a leadership mindset that would later shape how I built teams, systems, and businesses.
I attended optometry school at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During my studies, I was selected as one of only five students from my graduating class to participate in a three-month international externship at one of the premier ophthalmology hospitals in Tianjin, China. Training alongside ophthalmologists, I observed and assisted during complex surgical procedures and helped train local optometrists to function as an integrated extension of the surgical team. One of my most meaningful contributions was helping establish a vision therapy clinic that allowed optometrists to support ophthalmologists by treating conditions such as convergence insufficiency and amblyopia non-surgically. That experience reinforced a leadership lesson that has guided me ever since: meaningful impact often comes from identifying gaps, building practical solutions, and empowering others with simple, effective tools. Years later, that same mindset – born from working across cultures and disciplines – directly influenced how I approached innovation in my own practice and ultimately led to the invention of SightStand.
After training and gaining experience, I returned to Central Florida with a clear vision: to build a practice that delivered medical excellence while treating every patient with dignity, time, and compassion. In 2013, I opened Eyes of Winter Park, an eye care boutique in the heart of Winter Park, one of Orlando’s most vibrant and community-driven neighborhoods.
Entrepreneurship was never about opening a business; it was about creating something meaningful. Eyes of Winter Park was intentionally designed to feel different from traditional high-volume practices. We focus on comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages, emergency eye services, and advanced specialty care. Over time, the practice has become known throughout the Orlando area for its expertise in low-vision rehabilitation, helping patients struggling with vision impairment and blindness regain independence, as well as specialty scleral contact lenses for patients with severe dry eye disease and irregular corneas that cannot be corrected with standard eyeglasses. I view my work as more than a profession; it is a calling to serve others and use the gifts God has given me to improve lives.
Working closely with these patients sparked something unexpected: innovation. In 2024, I invented and launched SightStand, a small magnetic base that transforms any smartphone into a hands-free magnifier. The idea was born directly in the exam room, watching my patients struggle to read medication bottles, mail, instructions, and small print – even with traditional magnifiers. SightStand offers a simple, portable, and affordable solution that allows people to use technology they already own to see more clearly and live more independently.
What started as a clinical solution quickly evolved into a growing Orlando- / Winter Park- based product business, expanding my role from physician to inventor and entrepreneur. SightStand reflects everything I believe in: practical design, accessibility, affordability, and dignity for those living with vision loss. Today, it is being adopted by patients, caregivers, and eye care professionals who want real-world solutions that meaningfully improve quality of life.
Outside of work, Orlando is home in every sense of the word. I make a point to slow down and stay connected to family and nature, values that shaped me from an early age. One of my favorite traditions is spending time fishing with my father, continuing a lifelong father-son bond that began on the water in Puerto Rico. In Central Florida, that often means early mornings chasing largemouth bass on the Conway Chain of Lakes or heading to the salt flats of Mosquito Lagoon on his flats boat in pursuit of redfish and speckled trout. Those moments on the water are grounding, reminding me where I come from and reinforcing the balance between family, service, and purpose that guides both my life and work.
I am married to the love of my life, and together we are raising two wonderful daughters here in Central Florida. My wife is an exceptional Spanish teacher who, until recently, taught at Park Maitland School, and she now works alongside me to grow SightStand and help run our family business with intention and efficiency. Building a company together while raising our children and staying rooted in the Orlando community has been both humbling and deeply rewarding. I am incredibly proud of our 12-year-old daughter, who is deeply immersed in the performing arts as a member of the Orlando Youth Opera and has had the opportunity to perform at the Steinmetz; watching her discipline, confidence, and love for the arts develop has been a true joy. I’m equally excited to watch our 5-year-old grow and discover who she will become. She already shows many of my own qualities, for better or worse, and reminds me daily that leadership at home matters just as much as leadership at work. Our family life is rooted in faith, and we strive to keep God at the center of our decisions, our work, and the values we model for our daughters.
Looking ahead, my focus remains on serving others, both professionally and personally. I hope to continue helping patients through Eyes of Winter Park while expanding the SightStand brand to empower even more people living with vision challenges. I am committed to supporting my wife as we grow together, keeping God at the center of our family and business. I want to instill grit, discipline, and faith in our daughters so they can navigate life with courage and purpose. Spiritually, I am exploring the possibility of serving as a Deacon in our church, embracing the opportunity to guide and support others as a spiritual leader. Ultimately, I hope to live a life of service, leadership, and love, with faith as my compass in all that I do.
From the waters of Puerto Rico to military service, medicine, and entrepreneurship in Orlando, my journey has been guided by service, family, and a commitment to helping others see their world more clearly – both literally and figuratively.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Challenges / Obstacles
1. Learning a new language and navigating identity
Moving from Puerto Rico to Central Florida meant learning and mastering the English language while adapting to a new culture. As a young student, I also had to confront moments of mild racism and misunderstanding, which forced me to mature quickly and develop resilience. Balancing pride in my Puerto Rican roots with my growing identity as an American shaped my confidence, my empathy for others, and my lifelong commitment to service and leadership.
2. Choosing an unconventional path Turning down a congressional appointment to West Point was not an easy decision. It meant walking away from a highly respected and clearly defined path to pursue a less certain road aligned with my calling to medicine. That choice required trusting my instincts, my faith, and a long-term vision over prestige or expectations.
3. Leading under real-world pressure Military service, particularly deployments to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, placed me in situations where my decisions carried real consequences for the safety and wellbeing of others. Leading in high-risk environments tested my judgment, emotional resilience, and faith, especially when operating with uncertainty and limited information.
4. Transitioning from military life back to the classroom Leaving the military and returning to school was one of the most defining transitions of my life. I went from leading soldiers in combat zones to sitting in a classroom, learning alongside civilians who had never experienced war. Managing the effects of combat-related stress while relearning how to study, build relationships, and re-engage socially required humility, patience, and intentional healing.
5. Learning to connect beyond the uniform Rebuilding social connections outside the military was challenging. I had to learn how to relate to people who did not share the same experiences, language, or intensity shaped by combat and command. Developing healthy relationships with civilians helped me grow emotionally and reinforced the importance of communication, empathy, and vulnerability.
6. Operating outside my comfort zone globally Being selected for the Tianjin, China externship pushed me far outside my comfort zone. Navigating language barriers, cultural differences, and a foreign healthcare system challenged me to listen first, adapt quickly, and lead without formal authority, skills that later became essential in entrepreneurship and innovation.
7. Building a medical practice from the ground up Opening Eyes of Winter Park required significant personal, professional, and financial risk. I had to balance patient care, staff leadership, regulatory responsibilities, and business operations, often without a safety net, while staying true to my values and maintaining medical excellence.
8. Innovating without a roadmap Inventing SightStand meant stepping into unfamiliar territory: product design, manufacturing, pricing, education, marketing, and distribution. There was no clear playbook. Progress required persistence, iteration, and the discipline to stay mission-focused while learning through setbacks.
9. Finding my partner and building a faith-centered family Dating and finding my life partner was its own journey. Learning what it meant to lead with humility, align values, and keep God at the center of a relationship took time, reflection, and growth. Building a marriage rooted in faith has been one of the most meaningful and challenging accomplishments of my life.
10. Maintaining grit through constant change Across every transition – culture, language, military service, education, medicine, entrepreneurship, marriage, and fatherhood; the greatest challenge has been maintaining grit. Staying disciplined, adaptable, and grounded in faith through constant change required perseverance, self-awareness, and trust that each season was preparing me for the next.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Eyes of Winter Park and SightStand are both built on the same foundation: service, problem-solving, and dignity.
Eyes of Winter Park is a boutique medical eye care practice in Winter Park, Florida, focused on comprehensive eye exams for patients of all ages, emergency eye care, and advanced specialty services. We are particularly known for our work in low-vision rehabilitation, helping patients with vision impairment and blindness regain independence, and for specialty scleral contact lenses for patients with severe dry eye disease and complex corneal conditions that cannot be corrected with standard eyeglasses. What sets us apart is time, intention, and depth of care. We are not a high-volume practice, we are built around listening, educating, and partnering with patients to find real solutions.
I view my role not just as a doctor, but as an advocate and problem-solver. Many of the patients I serve have been told there is “nothing more that can be done.” One of the things I am most proud of is building a practice culture that challenges that mindset and focuses on what can be done – whether through advanced technology, creativity, or simply spending the time others do not.
SightStand grew directly out of that philosophy. It is a small, magnetic base that transforms any smartphone into a hands-free magnifier, allowing people to read small print, medication labels, mail, instructions, and enjoy hobbies using technology they already own. I invented SightStand in the exam room after watching patients struggle daily with tasks most people take for granted. What sets SightStand apart is its simplicity, portability, and affordability – it was designed intentionally to be accessible, not intimidating or expensive, and to preserve independence and dignity for those living with vision loss.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is that both Eyes of Winter Park and SightStand are mission-driven. Neither was created to chase trends or scale for the sake of growth. They exist to solve real problems, serve real people, and make a meaningful difference in quality of life. I want readers to know that behind both brands is a deep commitment to service, integrity, and faith, using the skills and opportunities I’ve been given to help others see their world more clearly, both literally and figuratively.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is faith, family, and meaningful connection.
My faith in God is the foundation of my life. It guides how I lead, how I serve, and how I make decisions, especially during seasons of uncertainty or challenge. Keeping God at the center gives me perspective, humility, and purpose in both my personal life and my work.
My wife and family come next. My marriage is my greatest partnership, and raising our daughters with love, discipline, grit, and faith is my highest responsibility. I want them to grow into confident, compassionate individuals who understand the value of service, perseverance, and integrity. Building a life and business alongside my wife has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
I deeply value friendships, especially those built on trust, shared values, and accountability. True friendships have sustained me through military service, transition, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. They remind me that leadership and success are never meant to be pursued alone.
My connection to my patients also matters deeply to me. Medicine, for me, is about relationships. Listening to patients, understanding their fears and frustrations, and walking alongside them as they navigate vision challenges is both a privilege and a responsibility. Those connections are what drive my passion for innovation and service.
Ultimately, what matters most to me is living a life of purpose, serving others with integrity, staying grounded in faith, maintaining grit through change, and leaving the people and communities I touch better than I found them.
Pricing:
- SightStand retails at $80
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eyeswinterpark.com and www.sightstand.com
- Instagram: eyesofwinterpark; sightstand
- Facebook: eyesofwinterpark; sightstand
- LinkedIn: Dr. Francisco Jose Richardson
- Youtube: eyesofwinterpark; doctorlowvision; sightstand
Image Credits
All images belong to me
