Women’s Month may be over - but spotlighting young women entrepreneurs is a priority for IOL Business.
This September, we are excited to showcase a dynamic optometrist and entrepreneur in the eyewear and optometry space, who started building her brand online and has launched a new brick-and-mortar store in Cape Town.
Prianka Cuppusamy is a 30-year-old optometrist who started her journey in KwaZulu-Natal and hopes to transform the industry.
“When I discovered that the eye is the most complex structure in the body after the brain, I was captivated,” she shared. “I always knew I wanted to help people, and eye care became my way of making a real impact.”
After completing her degree in Durban, Cuppusamy moved to Cape Town to launch her career, gaining valuable experience at major franchises like Torga Optical, Spec-Savers South Africa, and Neovision. Despite her success, she felt something was missing.
“I realised I wasn’t being pushed out of my comfort zone. I had ideas and a vision, but I couldn’t fully express them within the structure of private practice,” she explained.
At that time in her life, she said that she learned a lot and gained a plethora of experience and clinical knowledge but she was not being pushed out of her comfort zone.
“I felt like I did not find my purpose and it was not fulfilling. I wanted to add my personal touch, and in that corporate space you can't,” she said.
“I had so many ideas, and thoughts that I wanted to showcase, but it was not my store and it was then that I realised that I wanted to become an entrepreneur and create an eye care store that prioritised the patient holistically.”
That is how her company, Mood Eyewear Optometry was born.
“Mood Eyewear is a culmination of my passion for optometry, fashion and art. I wanted to live my purpose and provide comprehensive ocular care in an authentic and elegant environment,” she said.
The brand originally started as an e-commerce store in 2020 and due to a huge demand grew into an optometry practice.
Her store is in the suburb of Claremont in Cape Town and was launched on August 1, 2024.
She said that the store has a personalised touch and she did not want it to be marred by the franchise side of the optometry industry.
The store is the embodiment of her personality and she wanted the patient to feel at ease and welcomed with not having to feel overwhelmed by the exorbitant prices of lenses and frames.
“I wanted to create a space that offers comprehensive eye care in an authentic, elegant environment that reflects my personality,” she said.
Affordable pricing was extremely important to Cuppusamy when she launched the store.
“Eyesight is a basic need and something that should not break the bank,” she said.
Price range
She said that her store is currently offering patients a promotional eye test for R99.
The store is also offering patients promotional package deals that include a free eye test, frames and lenses that range from R999 upwards.
The most important thing for Cuppusamy is that she provides what the patient needs at an affordable price.
Giving back
Cuppusamy said that part of this entrepreneurial journey is giving back to the people who have supported her, saying that what is extremely important to her is providing eye care to those who cannot afford it.
“Eye care is a human right,” she emphasised.
She has made participating in community outreach programs a priority and is focused on ocular screenings to create awareness and promote eye health.
Cuppusamy said that October is breast cancer awareness month and Mood is collaborating with the Pink Drive for a campaign to help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
Cuppusamy said a portion of her sales will go towards the Pink Drive and she hopes that this contribution will make a difference.
To other young entrepreneurs
To other young people, and especially women who want to enter this field she said: “You need to follow your passion and realise this is hard work and don’t give up.
“Stay consistent and know that every small step will lead you to your dream. Have perseverance and if you have an idea, take it forward. Your vision matters and you don’t need to conform to the norm, breaking boundaries is vital,” she advised.
IOL BUSINESS