See & Be Seen Eyecare in Toronto is Seva Canada’s newest corporate supporter and we’d like to welcome them to our community.
Founded by Priya Malik-Patel and her husband Dr. Ritesh Patel, See & Be Seen Eyecare is dedicated to delivering the ultimate optometric experience because they know how important vision is to one’s quality of life. They also believe in giving back and created their own line of glasses called Scene Eyewear to do just that.
We had the opportunity to talk to Priya and learn a little more about her and her husband, their passion for eye care, and why they partnered with Seva Canada to help kids see.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you went into eye care?
Priya: My husband I founded See & Be Seen Eyecare in 2013. Ritesh being an Optometrist, and myself being a Marketing Leader for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, we have a wealth of experience in eye care and share a passion for helping people see their best. Providing a unique patient experience (at every touch point in our patient journey) is something that really differentiates us in the industry.
Q: What is Scene Eyewear and why did you create it?
Priya: At See & Be Seen Eyecare we believe that your eyewear should not only provide comfort and style, it should also come with an added sense of purpose. This supports our core values of giving back and helping the world see their best.
A marriage of German and Japanese craftsmanship, Scene Eyewear is a perfect balance of new-age design meets vintage handmade artistry.
Our mission is to provide high-quality, uniquely designed eyewear while helping others with each purchase.
“We believe in the power of purpose. We don’t just make eyewear. Our goal is to help the world see better and it is the heart of everything we do.”
Q: Why did you decide to support Seva Canada and specifically our pediatric eye care programs?
Priya: We built our partnership with the goal of providing healthy eyesight for everyone and using vision as a conduit to unlocking human potential. By purchasing one of our Scene Eyewear frames, we seek to provide a visually impaired child the chance to have life-altering cataract surgery that will have a monumental impact for the rest of their lives. Through Seva’s “So Kids Can See” program, for every 5 pair of glasses we sell, we cure a child’s blindness with cataract surgery including a lens implant, follow-up care, along with glasses, medicine and transportation.
Q: In learning about eye care in low-income countries, what was something that surprised you?
Priya: That the majority of the world’s blind are women. The drastic disparity among children, where girls make up 2 out of 3 children living with treatable blindness REALLY stuck with us and motivated us to use our platform to bring awareness and address this critical issue. Our hope is that with more females receiving treatment, there will be greater access and ability to learn. As Michelle Obama once said, “when girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.”
Learn more at seeandbeseeneyecare.com
Priya Malik-Patel, Co-Founder
