Helen Whitaker is passionate about the accessibility of professional, prescriptive eyewear, “irrespective of age, mobility, or financial status.”

This led to her launching Secure Vision, a mobile optical business designed to address gaps in services and products, in 2018. And, to assist other aspiring mobile opticians, she launched the Secure Vision Mobile Optical Academy educational platform.

She brings her dedication to the optical craft and her roots in philanthropy to her role as president of the International Opticians Association. 

“Our vision is simple but powerful: a world where every optician has access to the tools, education, and recognition they deserve—and where every person has access to quality, compassionate vision care,” she says.

Here, Whitaker talks art, Aretha Franklin, and more.