Eye Recommend is proud to announce Alexandra Tensen, a University of Waterloo optometry student, as the recipient of this year's EmpowerHer Scholarship.

The $7,500 award recognizes an emerging leader in independent optometry, and Alexandra's application made it clear why she stood out. With more than 5,000 hours of hands-on experience in independent practice, a designation as a Canadian Certified Optometric Assistant, and honours graduation from her opticianry program as a Certified Optician, Alexandra has spent years immersed in the profession before ever setting foot in optometry school.

A career built on what vision makes possible

For Alexandra, the decision to pursue optometry was never about visual acuity alone. Vision, she says, touches nearly every part of a person's life: how they learn, work, drive, and stay independent. That conviction has only deepened through her clinical experience, including shadowing an ophthalmologist and observing cataract surgery, which gave her a firsthand look at how optometry, ophthalmology, and other healthcare professionals work together.

She also points to the independent optometrists she's worked alongside, some with more than two decades at Eye Recommend practices. Watching them stay curious and invested in their patients after years in the profession has shown her what a fulfilling, lifelong career can look like.

Why independence matters to her

Alexandra's passion for independent optometry comes down to what independence makes possible for patients. Having worked in several Eye Recommend practices, she has seen clinic owners shape their businesses around their own communities. Actively curating their equipment, services, and patient experience based on what their patients actually need.

That belief shapes how she wants to practice: building trust through active listening, meeting patients where they are, and letting recommendations follow from genuine understanding rather than assumptions. Her volunteer work with Special Olympics Opening Eyes reinforced this philosophy, teaching her that excellent, equitable care sometimes means adapting how care is delivered, not delivering it the same way for everyone.

As Alexandra put it, “Independent optometry is the kind of care I’d want for my own family, and that's the standard I plan to bring to every patient who trusts me with their vision.”