Meet Hieu Nguyen | Optometrist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hieu Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hieu, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always wanted to be a business owner. I grew up in a household where entrepreneurship and hard work was a way of life. As the youngest of eight siblings, I watched my brothers and sisters work hard to excel in their businesses. I pursued optometry because it allows me to live out my passion of helping people and also being able to run my optical one day. After graduating from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, I worked in corporate settings for about 2 years. Within those two years, on my days off from the corporate practices, I worked my 6th day in small private offices. These experiences allowed me the opportunity to see the ins-and-outs of an optometry business from all aspects. From insurance credentialing, to medical billing and keeping up with the latest technology in the eye care and eyewear industry, I learned the initial steps to start an optometry business.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am proud to be a women-owned business and strive to provide a personalized eye care experience to each and every patient at my office. As an optometrist, I make it a goal to care for my patients by building strong relationships and treating each patient like family. I am committed to ensuring patients’ eye health and vision are well cared for by taking the time to know my patients’ needs. I enjoy giving back to the community on a local and international scale by participating in local vision screenings and international optometry mission trips, including Tanzania, Belize, and Vietnam. It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s quality of life, and it makes me happy thinking that I get to be someone’s eye doctor every day.

Running an optometry practice has not been an easy journey. As an entrepreneur and business owner, I have to take risks to start and grow my business. To me, if a business doesn’t make you cry, you’re not working hard enough. If I am ever in a difficult situation, I try to seek good advice from people whom I trust and respect. My mentors don’t waste my time. They know the answers I’m seeking and they keep me focused. I do not allow myself to ponder on the possibility of giving up. I believe that if you put your heart into something, with faith, grit and tenacity, you will achieve it. I am just as passionate about the business of optometry now as I was when I opened my practice two years ago. I am grateful that my business is growing, and am very excited for the future.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I always like to take my friends from out of town to Fort Lauderdale Beach for a fun beach day or do bike rides along the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk. We would also enjoy a delicious brunch at one of the restaurants along the beach. For dinner, we would stop by one of the restaurants in Las Olas for some drinks and yummy food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family has been the most important factor behind my success. I intentionally set my business’ official Grand Opening the week before Thanksgiving as a way to express gratitude towards all of those who supported me throughout the years. That date will also set forth as a reminder to myself to be grateful in the Thanksgiving Seasons each and every year.

Website: www.oaklandeyesfl.com

Instagram: oaklandeyes.fl

Facebook: www.facebook.com/oaklandeyesfl.lauderhill