By Heather Lusk
Greeted by officials from the Town of Whitestown and the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce, Visionelle Eyecare’s ribbon cutting ceremony brought owner Dr. Nytarsha Thomas’ “Disney dream” of starting her own optometry business to reality.
The optometry and eyewear office opened on Whitestown Parkway after Thomas and her husband, Tobe, made their home in the area a year ago.
“I’m humble, and never just imagined you could open a place,” Thomas said. With encouragement from her husband, who told her to “go for it,” they began searching for the right location and found a spot in front of Meijer. The location is not a franchise, but the Thomas’ own creation to allow doctor to have more personal time with her patients.
“I love one-on-one with patients,” she said. “We want to have more time and more personal (impact).”
Thomas started in pediatric optometry in California seeing patients as young as six months. She encourages young children to get their vision checked early and emphasizes healthy eyes for everyone.
Youth frames are available from Peace, Jellybean and Sketchers with plans to add more in the future. Eventually she would like to open a pediatric-only clinic, but for now she’s happy with her current location.
She had been working as an optometrist in the area after moving to Indiana three years ago. Tobe Thomas, a pilot for Republic Airways, also serves as CFO for the office.
The decor is meant to be “open, spa-like and pretty,” Thomas said. The many windows of the main room provide the light that Thomas felt is needed for optometry.
“We wanted something that would be eye popping and catchy,” said Tobe Thomas of the teal and grey walls.
Visionelle Eyecare will carry at least 20 different brands from budget frames to high end brands such as Tom Ford – with 14K gold in the temples – and Lafont eyeglasses handmade in Paris.
