Kathleen Wong, Founder of Dandy Contacts
Dandy Contacts, Seva Canada’s new corporate supporter, was founded by Kathleen Wong in Edmonton in 2019. After her son was born, Kathleen’s priorities changed and she resigned from her corporate role to take on a new challenge and start her own company.
We recently spoke with Kathleen and learnt a little more about her, Dandy Contacts, and why she decided to support Seva Canada.
Seva: How did you become a founder of a contact lens company?
Kathleen: It was all a bit serendipitous. I did not envision myself as an entrepreneur when I started the journey. My curiosity and passion just took over!
I have always worn contact lenses. I was used to the hassle of running out and overpaying for them. During my time off, I started digging into why daily contact lenses were so expensive and discovered that there’s really no magic at all. I began working with a manufacturer in Singapore and we discussed the dry Canadian climate and how it would be great to have daily contact lenses that were suitable for all-day wear. Soon I realized that there is a way to remove complexities in the supply chain yet still deliver premium quality contact lenses that are affordable – direct to door when consumers want them.
I founded Dandy Contacts because I believed there was a better way.
Seva: What is Dandy Contacts and why is it different?Kathleen: Dandy Contacts delivers premium quality, Health Canada approved, daily contact lenses to the consumer’s door. Our contact lenses are made with Spin Cast technology to create a super-smooth rounded edge for all-day comfort. Dandy offers flexible subscription plans to suit different lifestyles. We are a small Canadian company. We believe in transparency, simplicity, and to always give back.
We call our give back program “our collective vision”. With each new Dandy subscriber, we will donate 1 pair of eyeglasses through Seva’s pediatric eye care program, giving children the opportunity to learn, play, and build brighter futures.
Seva: Why did you decide to support Seva Canada and specifically, our pediatric eye care programs?
Kathleen: In creating Dandy, I wanted to create a company that does the right thing by giving back. This was something that I had such a strong connection to that I wanted to do the work personally. Seva Canada was chosen as the partner and they are the perfect fit.
Dandy believes that children should be given the chance to learn and create a generational change in their lives. For some, this is not possible because of poor vision. With a simple pair of eyeglasses, we can help children bring their world into focus and transform their lives.
We call our give back program “our collective vision”. With each new Dandy subscriber, we will donate 1 pair of eyeglasses through Seva’s pediatric eye care program, giving children the opportunity to learn, play, and build brighter futures.
Seva: What surprised you the most about eye care in low-income countries?
Kathleen: Globally, 19 million children are visually impaired or suffer from blindness. Most of these kids live in areas of the world where even the most basic eye care services continue to be out of reach. As a mom and community member, this is a heartbreaking fact. I believe we can all play a role in creating a brighter future, 1 child at a time.
For more information on Dandy Contacts visit dandycontacts.com
