[OCT and its application in optometry] Pedro Borja, an example of specialization

"Your vision is my priority, generation after generation."

This phrase is more than just a motto — it is a true statement of intent, reflecting this young optometrist’s deep commitment to his profession.

In the heart of Gandía, a passion for visual health has been passed down from generation to generation. For over 60 years, the Borja family has cared for the eyesight of their community, building a strong tradition of dedication and service. Today, Pedro J. Borja Tormo proudly carries on this legacy, bringing a fresh perspective and advanced specialization to the field of optometry.

Born and raised in this region, Pedro has always felt a deep admiration for both healthcare and technology. After completing his degree in Optics and Optometry in 2016, his pursuit of excellence led him to further specialize through rigorous academic programs: a Master’s in Clinical and Hospital Optometry in Madrid, a Master’s in the Latest Advances in Vision Therapy at the University of Valencia, and valuable hands-on experience at the prestigious Clínica Universidad de Navarra.

In 2019, Pedro returned to Gandía to join his father at the helm of Multiópticas Borja, founded in 1985. Since then, his commitment to cutting-edge visual care has been unwavering. Through numerous national and international congresses and clinical placements, Pedro has introduced specialized contact lens services to meet complex visual needs, along with advanced myopia control programs — a growing concern for many families.

On a more personal note, Pedro is passionate about motorsports and athletics. Beyond these interests, he is also deeply engaged in the optimization of overall health through biohacking — a growing trend focused on enhancing well-being and quality of life through science-backed lifestyle strategies.

1. Your career path shows a clear commitment to specialization, both in contactology and clinical optometry. How does this specialization influence your practice and your patients?

Absolutely — my journey has been a deliberate commitment to specialization, and that’s no coincidence. To me, modern optometry has moved far beyond the traditional idea of simply being a place where people come to get glasses. My vision — which forms the foundation of my practice — is to be a primary visual healthcare center, and specialization is the only way to achieve that.

My expertise in clinical optometry and ocular pathology allows us to go one step further. We don't just prescribe glasses. We carry out screenings for conditions like glaucoma, monitor retinal health in diabetic patients, and closely follow macular changes in cases of AMD. This turns the optical practice into a trusted link between the patient and the ophthalmologist. We are not competitors — we are collaborators. This early detection capability positions us as a reference center, a place where both professionals and patients come because they know we provide clinical accuracy and a level of safety that goes beyond the conventional.

Thanks to advanced contactology, we rarely have to say "there's nothing we can do." Patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas after surgery, or high prescriptions who couldn’t see well with glasses now enjoy clear and comfortable vision through scleral or customized contact lenses. We’ve moved beyond simply being "contact lens retailers" — we are visual solution specialists, tailoring precise adaptations for each individual.

2. Your practice clearly embraces new techniques and technologies. What has motivated you to invest in such advanced equipment?

The motivation is very clear: responsibility. My commitment is not only for the patient to leave seeing well, but to leave with the certainty that their visual health is monitored at the highest possible level.

3. What led you to incorporate Optovue Visionix OCT technology into your practice?

The decision to incorporate the Optovue OCT was strategic and based on two main reasons:

• Anticipation: I wanted a tool that would allow me not only to detect problems but to anticipate them. The Optovue OCT provides an exceptional resolution view of the retinal layers and optic nerve, enabling me to detect signs of glaucoma or maculopathy years before the patient notices any symptoms.

• Communication and trust: The images are incredibly clear and easy for patients to understand. Being able to show them a scan of their retina and explain that everything is fine — or why we need to start monitoring or refer them to an ophthalmologist — creates a level of trust and reassurance that is fundamental in my practice. It moves the patient from “believing” everything is fine to “knowing” it is.

4. What clinical application of OCT would you highlight in your practice?

Without a doubt, while its use in detecting retinal pathology and glaucoma forms the cornerstone of my practice, if I had to highlight one clinical application for its direct impact on solving complex problems, it would be the analysis of the anterior segment for the fitting of scleral contact lenses.

This allows me to ensure a safer, more comfortable fit with better long-term visual outcomes for my most complex patients.

5. In which cases do you incorporate OCT into your ocular examination protocol?

I include the Optovue iFusion OCT exam in cases suspected of retinal alterations, whether due to family history, systemic diseases such as diabetes, patients undergoing treatment with certain medications that may have a direct ocular impact, or when the patient presents with nonspecific vision loss unrelated to refractive causes.

6. What benefits would you highlight about the Optovue iFusion system?

What I appreciate most about this system is its fast capture speed, the high quality of the optic nerve and macular images, and the versatility offered by its anterior segment functions, such as the corneal and epithelial thickness maps.