2026 marks 15 years since Kevin Choi first stepped into the optometry industry. His journey didn’t begin in a consulting room as an optometrist. Instead, it started on the practice floor as a dispenser while he was studying optometry.
When I graduated as an optometrist from the University of New South Wales, I thought I had my future mapped out. I would become a good clinician, continue developing my skills, and perhaps one day pursue a clinical specialty. Like many graduates, I imagined my career would follow a fairly straight path.
It didn’t.
Instead, it has been shaped by unexpected opportunities and a willingness to say “yes” even when I wasn’t completely sure I was ready.
As my confidence developed, I discovered another passion: helping other optometrists grow.
Where It All Began
Like many of my colleagues, I came to optometry because I couldn’t see. As an uncorrected myope in Year 12, I struggled to read the board from the back of the classroom. Receiving my first pair of glasses transformed not only my vision but also my appreciation of the impact optometry can have on people’s lives.
After graduation, I accepted a position in a semi-rural OPSM practice on the Central Coast of NSW. Moving away from Sydney was outside my comfort zone, but it became one of the most valuable decisions in my career. Working in a busy regional community exposed me to a diverse range of patients and pathology, accelerating my clinical growth through real-world experience.
As my confidence developed, I discovered another passion: helping other optometrists grow. Becoming a managing optometrist for OPSM allowed me to mentor new graduates and support their transition into practice. Watching clinicians develop confidence became one of the most rewarding parts of my role.
During this time, I completed advanced rigid contact lens training at the Australian College of Optometry, reinforcing a lesson that continues to guide me today: learning never stops in our profession.
The past 15 years have shaped me and reminded me that the greatest opportunities often come from paths we never planned.
Beyond the Consulting Room
If you had asked me early in my career whether I would move into leadership, I would have said no. I have always considered myself an optometrist first.
So, when the opportunity arose to step into a regional sales manager role for EssilorLuxottica, I hesitated. I wondered whether leadership would take me away from what I loved most – patient care.
What I discovered was the opposite.
The role enabled me to influence patient care beyond the consulting room. Partnering with store managers and optometrists across different locations allowed me to understand the challenges faced by teams and help create environments where clinical and retail teams could work together to deliver exceptional care.
The role gave me a unique perspective on the connection between clinical capability, team culture, patient experience, and practice success. It challenged me to grow as a leader, developing skills in coaching, communication, operations, and business while reinforcing the importance of building trust, developing people, and empowering teams to thrive. During this time, I also had the opportunity to support the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, providing eye care services to vulnerable communities and seeing firsthand the broader impact our profession can have outside the practice.
Today, my role as Area Eyecare Manager has brought me closer to my clinical roots while allowing me to improve the delivery of eye care on a broader scale. I support optometrists through clinical coaching, education, and development, while helping teams adapt to advances in eye care technology, including low-level light therapy and intense pulsed light.
While my responsibilities have changed over the years, my purpose has remained the same. My clinical background continues to guide my decisions, with a focus on improving outcomes for our patients.
Looking back, I have learned that there is no single path to success in optometry. Whether through clinical practice, education, research, business, or leadership, every journey contributes to the strength and evolution of our profession.
The past 15 years have shaped me and reminded me that the greatest opportunities often come from paths we never planned. Now it’s your turn to take your next leap of faith!
Kevin Choi is the Area Eyecare Manager for Greater Sydney with EssilorLuxottica.
