Inspiring Conversations with Lina Than of LT Optometry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lina Than.

Hi Lina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I graduated from UC Berkeley School of Optometry in 2006, and after gaining experience working at a private optometry practice for 1 year, I took a leap of faith and took over an existing optometry practice in Westminster, California in the heart of Little Saigon. Being a Vietnamese refugee, it’s deeply fulfilling to serve my community by providing quality eye care. In my 20 years practicing as an optometrist, my guiding principle has been to provide exceptional eye care that is personalized and meets the needs of each individual.

My need to wear glasses from a young age drew me to optometry and I was fascinated to learn about orthokeratology (Ortho-K). Ortho-K utilizes a contact lens worn during sleep to correct one’s prescription and slow down its progression. Early on in my practice I made a commitment to helping young children preserve vision and slow down their prescription progression through Ortho-K. It is very rewarding to help children be free of glasses while also preventing the rapid progression of their prescription. The constant innovations in optometry have made my career both challenging and fulfilling, allowing for continuous growth and expansion of services to better serve the needs of my community.

The most exciting part of my career thus far has been the expansion into aesthetics. Creating LT Beauty has allowed me to expand my knowledge into skin care and cutting edge skin treatments; more importantly, it created a space for me to work alongside my two younger sisters, Terry, a physician assistant and Beverly, a registered nurse that performs the aesthetic treatments. Building something together with my sisters has been a beautiful and humbling experience. It has challenged me to be a better optometrist by expanding our dry eye services to include TempSure radio-frequency. Radio-frequency has been used in aesthetics for tightening and firming of wrinkles for several decades, but more recently its application has expanded into eye care because the therapeutic heat revitalizes the eyelid oil glands that are crucial for a healthy tear film. Our dry eye clinic was a huge success because patients experienced dry eye relief and a reduction in their eye wrinkles. Soon patients were requesting to have full face radio-frequency facials. Serving a predominantly Vietnamese population, we quickly identified a demand for hyperpigmentation treatments, so we introduced the PicoSure laser, the gold standard for treating sunspots, freckles, and melasma. As we continued to expand our aesthetic services we saw a need for Potenza RF microneedling. The combination of the dual technologies promotes resurfacing and delivers energy deep into the skin to create intense rejuvenation and transformation in skin texture for radiant youthful skin.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a small business owner is exhilarating because of all the road bumps you have to navigate along your journey that force you to grow. When I first took over the optometry practice I had to quickly learn how to speak Vietnamese. I grew up understanding Vietnamese, but not speaking it at home, so one of the biggest challenges in the beginning was learning how to do an eye exam in Vietnamese. Other challenges that continue in the eye care industry include the consolidation of vision insurance companies and frame manufacturers. This consolidation reduces competition, keeps insurance reimbursements low, and drives up the cost of frames. In an effort to support small businesses, we have expanded our frame selection to include products from small, family-owned frame vendors, and we choose to work with local, family-owned optical labs to process our prescription lenses. Another big challenge for the optometry industry has been the exponential growth of online retailers that offer low-quality, inexpensive glasses and contact lenses. Fortunately, the vast majority of our patients choose to purchase their eyewear and contact lenses from us, because of our competitive pricing for high-quality products, and our unwavering commitment to excellent customer service. In our current digital age, where things feel increasingly impersonal, people are craving human interaction more than ever. I’m so grateful for the continuous personal relationships that have been fostered with my patients over the years.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about LT Optometry ?
LT Optometry and LT Beauty are unique because nestled under one roof you can have your eye care and skin care needs met. As a small family owned boutique clinic operated by three sisters, we emphasize high-quality personal care over high volume. We pride ourselves in consistency and continuity of care. When you come to the office the same friendly front staff greets you; and I have many patients that had their very first eye exam as adolescents with me now bringing their own children in for their wellness eye exams. LT Optometry focuses on providing individualized eye care that meets the needs of the whole family from the little ones to the grandparents.

In regards to LT Beauty, we specialize in treating ethnic skin using advanced laser devices. We recognize that ethnic skin has unique needs. Most medical spas adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, often overlooking the specific care required for more pigmented skin. Our expertise is rooted in our own personal experiences dealing with sunspots and melasma, which can be tricky to treat due to its multi-factorial causes and triggers. We have a deep understanding of our Vietnamese community’s concerns regarding hyperpigmentation, and their preference for minimally invasive approaches that are effective without the use of toxins or harsh chemicals to achieve radiant glowing skin.

Our intimate setting ensures that your treatments will only be performed by Terry or Beverly which ensures continuity of care. At LT Beauty, you’re not just another client – you are part of our family. We pride ourselves on maintaining a small practice where we build lasting relationships and know each patient on a more personal level. By handling every aspect of your care personally, we guarantee a level of attention and customization of treatments that fit your skin’s unique needs and goals.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is the importance of team work and open communication. LT Optometry’s success is due to my amazing front staff and the harmonious way everyone works together to provide exceptional customer service. Han is our highly skilled optical specialist who possesses a mastery in frame selection. She has an uncanny ability to find that perfect frame for patients that is both attractive and functional. Trixie has exceptional organizational skills and is efficient at processing lens orders, and insurance billing. Everyone has their specialized roles, but we work together as a team to support each other to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently while always prioritizing our patients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ltbeautyoc.com; www.ltoptometry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltbeautyoc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/LT-Beauty/61566848504784/#
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lt-optometry-westminster?osq=LT+Optometry
• Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lt-beauty-westminster?osq=lt+beauty

Image Credits
Tony Marino