Optimax’s Father-Daughter Duo Share A Clear Vision For Better Eye Care In Malaysia

Since opening its first outlet in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur back in 1995 and becoming the pioneer for laser vision correction surgery in the country, Optimax has grown from strength to strength, driven by a growing awareness about eye-associate health issues among Malaysians.

Yet, its founder and Managing Director, Datuk Tan Boon Hock, was certainly an outsider to the health industry when he first set up Optimax back in the day. “I actually went into business first in the field of electrical engineering and lighting management back in 1984 for high-impact projects such as airports, township developments, specialised high mast lighting setups and the like,” remembers the good Datuk with a grin.

Datuk Tan remembers those early days in business as a time that shaped him into who he is today. He clearly recalls setting up his first firm – Sena Letrik Sdn. Bhd. – with just three people working for him. This was when he started out doing subcontractor work in the construction field, everything from electrical cabling to erecting streetlight poles. Datuk Tan remembers taking on jobs that many more established contractors were not interested in doing. But his company took them on because he knew that he had to start from somewhere and leave a mark.

“It certainly was a very dirty job, involving road digging and working late nights. It is also a messy job. There was always the possibility of some pipe or the other bursting. And we could only start working well past midnight when everyone else is asleep.” Datuk Tan explains.

Building on his firm’s mechanical and engineering knowhow, Datuk Tan soon found greater opportunities in the construction business and began getting involved in hospital construction projects across the country. This was when he picked up key knowledge surrounding high technology medical tools like equipment used to control air quality and eventually saw him starting up a new company, Optimax Healthcare Services Sdn Bhd.

Through this company, he began construction work for an MYR80mil hospital in Rawang, back in 2010. After construction was completed three years later, he then sold the hospital to a local healthcare services provider. At around the same time, he also went on to buy over a bungalow in Penang and refurbished it into an eye hospital, from which Optimax has been operating since 2011.

“I suppose some out there would call me an entrepreneur with a conscience, and I was always driven by a passion to be of service to society. So, I have embarked thus far on a journey to do just that,” continues Datuk Tan. “One day, I was fortunate enough to be presented with the opportunity to venture into the field of eye care. That happened when a friend introduced me to a group of doctors. They went on to inform me about the emergence of the excimer laser technology, which is now widely used in the quest for medical eye correction.”

The excimer laser procedure utilises a form of ultraviolet laser which is commonly used in the production of microelectronic devices, semiconductor-based integrated circuits, and also used in modern eye surgery. The laser uses ultraviolet energy to disrupt chemical bonds in a patient’s cornea without causing any thermal damage to surrounding tissue.

“Now, I may not be a medical expert, but being the entrepreneur that I am, I quickly saw the wonderful opportunity for such technology to be used in treating short-sightedness and be a great help to anyone struggling with eyesight issues. So, I quickly looked into ways to turn this into a viable business and eventually, with an initial investment of MYR2 million, Optimax was born,” remembers Datuk Tan proudly.

He then went on to sign a franchise agreement with a UK.-based eye clinic. This agreement helped build up the initial human capital of eyecare professionals for Optimax. Over the years, more and more Malaysian ophthalmologists were trained by Optimax’s UK associates, thus ensuring a constant supply of qualified eye care professionals to spearhead the brand’s rapid expansion in Malaysia.

“Right now, we have 13 Optimax branches across the nation and we hope to increase our presence eventually to all the major cities in Malaysia. Then, we may also consider expanding across the region as well,” he reveals further.

Now at the age of 65, Datuk Tan still keenly scans the horizons for new business opportunities and is quick to point out that Malaysia’s medical tourism market has been growing between 16% and 17% year-on-year over the last five years, outperforming the global industry’s average growth of between 10% and 12%.

“Hence, we have now also expanded our services even further in view of this exciting growth. We now operate a full-fledged eye hospital in Penang, which was launched in 2011. With our current range of eye care services, we are in a wonderful position to serve society here in Malaysia and also visitors from abroad keen to take advantage of our affordable healthcare offerings.”