By the time Anwi Etame, OD, arrived in Texas in 2018, she was ready to put down some roots after her education and career had taken her all over the map.
Originally from Cameroon, West Africa, Dr. Etame graduated from Illinois College of Optometry before completing clinical rotations in Las Vegas and Missouri. She then gained experience in private practice and corporate affiliated offices while participating in international mission trips.
In 2018, Dr. Etame moved from the Midwest to Texas with her family — six months pregnant and with two young children in tow. Less than two years later, she was ready to create a space of her own where she could build relationships with patients and practice how she saw fit.
“I wanted to have more time to spend with patients,” Dr. Etame says. “I sought the freedom to provide comprehensive care from start to finish, follow my patients through their journey, manage more of their care within my own practice and refer out only when it was truly necessary.”
A PLACE OF HER OWN
Her journey into private practice and the opening of Keller Premier Eye Care in Keller, Texas, was truly a family affair. Dr. Etame now had three young children at home, and news of a looming global pandemic began to emerge just as her cold start plans were taking shape. She says the timing felt anything but ordinary.
With the unwavering support of her husband, whom she calls her “biggest fan,” Dr. Etame decided to push forward.
| Dr. Etame says iCare Advisors and Vision Source were instrumental during the startup process. She thanks Eric and Bob at iCare Advisors, for the invaluable guidance and resources they provided; and Vision Source, for ongoing support, equipment purchasing support and valuable connections in the industry. |
She secured a 1,600-square foot space — a former bakery — in a bustling shopping center. Transforming the space required extensive demolition, including the removal of an old industrial oil drain system. Dr. Etame says even during the messy demolition days, she had a vision for what she wanted the final product to become: “a practice where patients can feel cared for and completely at ease.”
Working alongside Karina K Studio, Dr. Etame set out to create a practice that felt less like a traditional clinical environment and more like a warm, welcoming home. Keller Premier Eye Care includes two fully equipped exam lanes, two pretest rooms, an on-site finishing lab with a lens edger and advanced diagnostic technology chosen intentionally to support the comprehensive care she provides.
A Topcon Maestro2 OCT allows Dr. Etame to screen for and monitor eye disease, often revealing important findings even before dilation. Other technology supports her particular areas of clinical interest, including topography for patients with keratoconus and specialty scleral lens fittings, meibography for dry eye evaluations, a Haag-Streit Octopus visual field test for thorough glaucoma evaluations and the iCare tonometer for precise eye pressure measurements without the intimidating air puff.
A striking blue wallpaper was installed directly behind the front desk, which anchors the cool, relaxing feel of the practice. Dr. Etame opted for plush, cushy reception seating sourced from Wayfair, inviting patients to relax. She also sourced Wayfair for optical cabinetry and frame boards, while incorporating additional pieces from IKEA and Home Depot to bring the space together. Vibrant blue dispensing chairs match the reception wallpaper and bring a playful pop of color to the styling stations.
Adding warmth and life to the office—and soaking in the ample natural light that shines through the front windows— are several large, thriving snake plants, lovingly cared for by office manager, Amber.
SUPPORTED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
Dr. Etame says she leaned heavily on her support system. Her husband was her greatest champion, scouting locations online and driving by potential sites at different times of the day to study traffic patterns. Her mother-in-law also stepped in to help care for her youngest child, providing invaluable support as Dr. Etame navigated the demands of opening and growing a new practice.
She also learned to trust her own instincts.
“I’m a doctor by training, not an entrepreneur,” Dr. Etame says. “There was so much I had to learn, and of course there were moments when I wondered whether I could truly pull it all off. But something in me kept saying that this was the right thing to do, and that I was capable of doing it.”
Today, Dr. Etame says her team at Keller Premier Eye Care has become more like a family. While her current team happens to be all women, what she values most is the genuine sense of connection, mutual respect and shared commitment they bring to the practice each day.
“The energy at the practice is contagious,” she says. “We understand each other’s challenges, celebrate each other’s wins and genuinely support one another. I believe our patients feel that connection the moment they walk through our doors.”
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