In Ghana, where access to quality eye care can feel scarce, widespread gaps in affordable, approachable vision services leave many underserved. Dr. Raphael Kyei recognized this challenge and took action.
In 2020, he founded Lenzvision Optical with a clear mission: to reshape how eye care is accessed and perceived. What started as a small, self-funded venture has grown into a trusted company with two well-loved clinics in Accra. From the beginning, Dr. Kyei has focused on improving accessibility and affordability while challenging the stigma around eye care, especially among younger generations who often overlook the importance of vision health.
Building a business from a background rooted in science was no easy task. With limited knowledge of entrepreneurship, Dr. Kyei turned to the University of Utah’s Master of Business Creation (MBC) Global program. The program offered him not just guidance, but practical skills that helped him understand the real costs behind customer growth and how to market confidently.
“That was actually the first time I had a mentor in my life,” he said. “I’m somebody from a rigid science background and knew so little about business and had very little practical experience. I had always had to figure things out on my own.”
Dr. Kyei’s commitment to eye care stems from his upbringing in a remote part of Ghana, where educational opportunities were limited. One of only two students in his class to reach university, he initially aimed to study medicine but shifted to optometry because of his discomfort with blood. His father’s hospital work gave him early exposure to healthcare, but it was during visits to schools for the blind that Dr. Kyei saw the preventable reality of many vision problems firsthand. “We would visit these schools only to find out that they lost their vision from very, very simple issues,” he said.
That realization deepened when he noticed a cultural bias against wearing glasses, especially among young people. Many avoided them, not because of cost or availability, but because of how they were perceived. Determined to change that perspective, Dr. Kyei introduced fashion-forward frames that merged style with function, hoping to shift public attitudes.
“I realized that people actually did not want to wear glasses, even when they needed them, because there was so much stigma surrounding them,” he said.
Dr. Raphael Kyei (pictured) is making vision services more accessible in Ghana.
This strategy goes beyond offering fashionable frames. Lenzvision Optical introduced a new way of delivering care by combining education, personalized consultations, and convenient service in a healthcare environment where these options were not widely available.
Starting a business during the COVID-19 pandemic forced Dr. Kyei to innovate quickly. With clinics harder to access, he brought eye care directly to people’s doorsteps through mobile consultations and promoted his services via social media.
“I would come to social media, market my service, then do a consultation for them there,” he said.
By using social media effectively, Lenzvision Optical engaged a younger, more tech-savvy audience. This digital-first approach, paired with mobile outreach, distinguishes the company within Ghana’s healthcare scene, creating an experience that is informative, supportive, and stylish.
Looking to the future, Dr. Kyei envisions Lenzvision Optical as more than just an eye care clinic. To him, it is a movement to transform how Ghana thinks about eye care. He aims to expand beyond Accra, into towns and villages where eye care has long been overlooked. By blending technology, education, and personal connection, Dr. Kyei hopes to make regular eye check-ups a simple, routine part of life for everyone.
With a clear mission and growing momentum, Lenzvision Optical is set to change the landscape of eye care in Ghana. Dr. Kyei’s dedication extends beyond business, as he aims to solve real, everyday challenges faced by those around him. As the company grows, it stands as a hopeful example of how innovation and compassion can come together to address real community needs.
Visit Lenzvision Optical to learn more about their upcoming initiatives.
