Two young optometrists are redefining early-career independence, launching a revitalised community practice in Perth and proving that ambition, teamwork and determination can propel new graduates into successful ownership.
When brothers Mr Steven and Leo Ho opened the doors to their new Perth practice in early November 2025, they were doing far more than launching a business.
They were fulfilling a shared ambition since their optometry student days, taking an unusually early step into independent practice, and – without intending to – becoming the ‘poster pair’ of what’s possible for young practitioners willing to take the leap.
Their practice, Noranda Optometrist, is a reinvention of a longstanding community clinic previously known as Noranda Eyecare. While the Ho brothers are only a few years out of university, their first month of operation proved that the community was ready for the next chapter: patient books filled almost immediately, former patients returned in strong numbers, and online chatter amplified their arrival.
For Leo, who has been working rurally in Emerald and Roma in Queensland while helping run the practice remotely, the decision to pursue ownership so early was driven by both timing and determination. For Steven, already working in Western Australia, it was the natural progression of a plan the brothers had shared for years.
“It was always a dream for both of us. We studied optometry because we wanted to open a family practice and hopefully inspire younger people to chase their goals,” Leo says.
Rebuilding a practice from the inside out
Both brothers completed their optometry degrees at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where each served as president of the student society – roles that gave them strong networks among young optometrists nationwide.
Steven graduated in 2022 and moved to WA for work; Leo graduated in 2024 and took a rural clinical route, serving as the sole optometrist in remote Queensland towns.
As soon as Leo graduated, the brothers began scouting opportunities. Steven’s locum work in Perth meant he had a good sense of which practices might be changing hands. Their breakthrough came when they discovered the owner of Noranda Eyecare, a respected independent in Noranda Shopping Village, was preparing to retire after 28 years. The opportunity was clear, with strong goodwill, a large established patient base, and deep community loyalty.
At the same time, the previous clinic had limitations – no website, an ageing shopfront and a space in need of a major update. When the shopping centre offered the Ho brothers a larger, vacant tenancy just a few doors down, they took a bigger leap than first expected: instead of refurbishing, they would build a brand-new practice.
The process became an intensive education in planning, design and budgeting.
“We really had no idea where to start,” Leo admits, “but we knew we had to find a designer, communicate with the shopping centre, organise drawings and quotes, and just keep moving forward. There’s a lot to consider, but once it gets going, it’s going.”
Their first step was finding a designer; from there came weeks of drawings, approvals and builder quotes. Planning display areas, reception, diagnostic equipment layout and clinical rooms required countless decisions and constant coordination with centre management.
Working within the financial constraints of new graduates, the brothers hunted widely for second-hand diagnostic equipment. They purchased a slit lamp and chair from a WA practitioner closing his clinic, secured a CenterVue DRS fundus scanner, sourced an autorefractor, and bought a frequency doubling technology (FDT) visual fields machine. They are now on track to acquire their Revo FC, an advanced system that combines OCT, fundus photography, axial length measurement, and more into a single automated machine. This is a major step forward they’re incredibly excited for.
“We knew we were on a budget, so we searched everywhere – Facebook, online ophthalmology forums, retiring practitioners – just to piece together the equipment we needed to get off the ground,” Leo says. “Once we generate a good revenue stream, we’ll definitely upgrade our equipment.”
They planned two consulting rooms but are operating with one while the practice is establishing itself. A key strategic decision was maintaining continuity by hiring the long-serving dispenser from the previous practice. They also arranged for the retiring optometrist to continue consulting one or two days a week. This gave the community confidence and helped transfer goodwill directly into the new business.
“We were very fortunate to have the previous owner’s patients follow us straight away. Our book was full in the first month,” Leo says.
Creating a retail space that looked premium but remained accessible was another deliberate design choice. Frames start at $180 – an intentional balance to surprise patients who might assume a higher price point based on aesthetics alone.
Behind the scenes, Leo and Steven have divided responsibilities around their geographic realities. Steven has handled all on-site management and fit-out tasks. Leo, based in Queensland until January, has managed administration, stock, bookkeeping and all remote tasks.
“Anything that needed to be done in person, that was Steven,” Leo says. “Anything that could be done online or through phone calls, that was me.”
A new generation of independents
The Ho brothers’ story has attracted attention from younger optometrists because it challenges the idea that practice ownership must be a late-career milestone. Their visibility isn’t accidental: both built strong peer networks through student leadership, and Leo maintains an active presence on social media, sharing humanitarian optometry and insights from eye disease cases he has managed as a new graduate, which is followed by optometry students and new graduates across Australia.
“Younger people are already feeling burnt out before they even graduate,” Leo says. “We wanted to inspire them – to show it’s possible to open your own practice and be independent.”
One message he emphasises is the importance of partnership. “Doing this alone is very difficult,” he says. “Sharing the workload makes it manageable.”
Co-directorship has shaped every aspect of their workflow, allowing them to balance the intensity of establishing a new business.
Marketing for the practice is a blend of strategic and organic. They worked with a digital agency known within WA’s independent optometry community to build their website and run initial paid advertising campaigns. Simultaneously, their social media networks generated natural interest among peers and patients.
Clinically, both brothers bring strong skills acquired from their mixed experience, with plans to expand into more specialised areas. Myopia management is a major focus for their second year in business, with the goal of purchasing a corneal topographer and building a dedicated program. Establishing relationships with local ophthalmologists and GPs is already underway.
Looking ahead, their first-year priorities include upgrading equipment, consolidating their patient base, and refining their operations now that both brothers are based in Perth, following Leo’s relocation in January 2026. They also hope to speak at universities and conferences, sharing the practical realities of early-career ownership with students and graduates.
“It’s ambitious,” Leo acknowledges, but the brothers see value in showing a realistic pathway for young optometrists wanting autonomy. Their journey is grounded in a simple idea: start small, work hard, and build momentum step-by-step.
Reflecting on their experience – from fit-outs and contracts to interstate logistics and second-hand equipment searches – Leo says the biggest hurdle was simply beginning.
“Once we got started, there was no going back.”
