When Deanna Leong, OD, opened Upper Kirby Eyecare in Houston, in May 2025, she brought a definitive philosophy to the venture: “I never regret anything I do. If I decide I’m going to do it, I do it and I try do it well.”
For Dr. Leong, a 2016 graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry, practice ownership was always the goal. After graduation, she spent years building her clinical experience working as an associate at various private practices. But as her two young children grew and began participating in school events, sports and activities, she wanted more schedule flexibility. Motivated by her husband, a fellow entrepreneur, Dr. Leong decided in 2024 that it was time to make her move.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
To help navigate the early stages of a cold start, she partnered with iCare Advisors and joined Vision Source after hearing positive reviews from a colleague in San Antonio. Dr. Leong admits she was highly selective when looking for the ideal practice location. She wanted a spot close to home on a good main road and she researched the area’s demographics and rental history extensively. Her patience paid off when her realtor called with unexpected news: a SmileDirectClub location had become available overnight following the company’s sudden nationwide bankruptcy.
The 1,500-square-foot space was a big, open square. A historic winter storm brought minor delays during demolition but gave her time to think about the final layout she wanted for the practice. Dr. Leong opted for a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic designed to prevent visual sensory overload. “Sometimes spaces have too much going on, from retail stores to restaurants, and it can be overwhelming,” she says.
To make the office feel larger, she left the ceiling open to the roof and sprayed it black. To offset the dark ceiling, she painted the walls a crisp, bright white. She chose gold hardware and finishes to tie the entire office together, adding a touch of warmth and elegance to the clean background.
The front reception desk features a massive slab of porcelain with a gold inlay paired with striped wood paneling on the lower portion. To maintain the minimalist vibe, Dr. Leong deliberately spaced out the frame boards to house about 300 frames. A design quirk turned into a functional highlight: the team accidentally mounted the frame boards further apart than planned, making the top shelf unreachable. She repurposed that top shelf as a décor space for brand display boxes, wooden animal frame holders and a sign designating one frame board entirely to kids.
Inside the practice, two Chinese money trees stand as symbols of growth and prosperity. Both were gifts from her childhood friend group and her husband’s childhood friends. “The problem is, I do not have a green thumb,” Dr. Leong confesses. “My mother has a full veggie garden, but I didn’t inherit that talent. My money trees are making it, but I have a hard time keeping most anything green alive.”
HANDS-ON FROM START TO FINISH
While she leaves the gardening to others, Dr. Leong has mastered another hands-on craft: finishing lenses. The office features an in-house lab equipped with a lens edger. While she initially tried to cross-train her part-time staff, she found she preferred stepping back into the lab herself. “I really enjoy doing the edging,” she says. “It fills my craft itch. I can take the time to enjoy tea or bone broth, have time alone and get in the zone.”
Upper Kirby Eyecare includes two exam lanes, with one fully equipped and another featuring custom beige cabinetry with matching gold hardware, ready when needed. Dr. Leong utilized Vision Source member pricing to acquire an all-Topcon suite, including an Optomap retinal camera, which she says is standard care for every patient, an autorefractor, a lensometer and a MYAH topographer for axial length measurement.
Appointments range from 30 minutes to an hour, keeping the focus entirely on a high-revenue-per-patient model rather than high volume. Whenever she can, Dr. Leong steps out of the exam room to personally style patients. “I enjoy selling and the patient loves it because it feels like a more full and personalized experience,” she says. “If you take care of the patient in the exam lane, everything else will follow.”
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Leong emphasizes that long-term success relies on thorough preparation and strong alignment with a business partner. She and her husband did not just look at the design layout; they evaluated the entire transition as a major financial move.
“The answer is obvious but often overlooked: anyone can open a private practice if they do their research,” she concludes. “Research your area’s clientele, look closely at rent prices and don’t skimp on your core decisions. When you prepare completely, you set yourself up to build a business that will thrive.”
