When two driven minds meet in optometry school, a decade later, they can build one of the most respected specialty eye care practices in Houston. On this episode of Play Chess Not Checkers, host Dr. Adam Ramsey sits down with Dr. Anith Pillai, co-founder of Evolutionary Eye Care, to talk about mentorship, business ownership, personal values, and how passion can shape a doctor’s legacy.







Topics Covered From Engineering to OptometryCultural Expectations and Family InfluenceFashion, Identity, and Professional PresenceBuilding Evolutionary Eye Care: Partnership and PurposeOvercoming Early SetbacksTeaching the Next GenerationOn Not Doing a Residency—and Still ExcellingBeyond the Exam Lane: Speaking, Mentorship, and Social MediaWhy He Chooses Industry Partnerships Carefully



From Engineering to Optometry



Dr. Anith Pillai’s story begins in Houston, Texas, where family expectations were clear: become a doctor. Ironically, his path started in a different direction—engineering. “I was an electrical engineering major for two years,” he said, laughing. “After an internship, I realized this isn’t it.”



A part-time job at an optometry office changed everything. What started as a pragmatic choice—“it’ll be a good job”—quickly became a lifelong calling. “The moment I started seeing patients, I fell in love with it,” he reflected. “Clinic days and externships just sealed it.”



Cultural Expectations and Family Influence



Dr. Ramsey, himself an immigrant from Trinidad, drew parallels between their stories. Both men grew up with the pressure to “make something” of themselves through medicine, law, or engineering—professions equated with success and family pride.



For Dr. Pillai, that expectation came with humor and heart. “When I told my dad I wasn’t going to be a doctor, he said, ‘Fine—but at least marry one!’” he recalled with a smile. Beyond career choices, both doctors shared how family sacrifice shaped their work ethic. “My parents came from India with nothing,” Dr. Pillai said. “Their dream was stability for us. That’s what drove me.”



Fashion, Identity, and Professional Presence



Anyone who’s seen Dr. Pillai at a conference knows his three-piece suits are as much a signature as his clinical expertise. “It started when I began speaking more,” he explained. “You’re on stage, and you want to represent yourself well. Then it became part of my identity.”



Dr. Ramsey laughed, comparing it to his own signature hats. “If I see a three-piece suit, I know that’s you,” he said. “And if someone wears a hat, they’re trying to be me.”



Behind the sharp style lies a message of professionalism and pride in the field. “Patients notice how you present yourself,” Dr. Pillai said. “It sets a tone. It shows respect for the profession.”



Building Evolutionary Eye Care: Partnership and Purpose



Dr. Pillai’s journey to ownership began during his fourth year at the University of Houston College of Optometry, when he and classmate Dr.