After a decade with Vivo Group, Lynden Mason is returning to optometry

Kiwi entrepreneur Lynden Mason, co-founder of New Zealand’s largest hairdressing group Vivo, has sold his share in Vivo to return to optometry, pursue philanthropic interests and start new business ventures.

A New Zealand-registered optometrist, Mason formerly launched the country’s first online contact lens retailer and a chain of optometry clinics, Carlisle Mason Optometrists, before venturing into the world of hairdressing. Back after a 10-year hiatus from optometry, he is now working with the Painga Project, a charitable health and education initiative seeking to identify and treat vision conditions among vulnerable tamariki in South Auckland. “I've rediscovered the joy of people. You almost forget how much of an impact an eye exam can have on a person and their life. I'm really loving that side of it,” he said, adding how much he’s enjoying talking to practice owners about industry changes and being in the exam room again.

One significant change is today’s prevalence of OCT and topographers compared to 10 years ago, he said. “All the advances in imaging equipment makes what we do so much more accurate and visible to the clients. When I first started in optometry back in 2000, we were still using direct film scopes most of the time and the patients had no idea what we were doing. Now you can involve the patient and show them images, explaining what we are looking at and why it's important. I think it gives our clients a whole new understanding and appreciation for the importance of eye checks. It also enhances the accuracy – you're picking up things so much more easily. It really enhances the experience both for the client and for the industry, so that's been amazing.”

A South Aucklander himself, Mason said he wants to give back to that community by helping to improve access to healthcare services. “What we know about vision conditions in young people is that they are often undiagnosed. When students can't see reading material, they can become frustrated and are mislabelled as disruptive, unnecessarily putting them on a path towards poor educational and life outcomes. By identifying these conditions and intervening early on we can help remove a barrier to learning for up to 30% of intermediate-aged students. These types of initiatives have the potential to make a real difference in the lives of hundreds of children and I’m looking forward to supporting them as a clinician where I can.”

While charitable initiatives will form part of the next phase of his career, Mason and wife Teréze Taber are also looking to start new business ventures, including a consulting firm for retail and other industries. “When I started out in business, it meant focusing on the numbers and data and using that to direct employees and their efforts. But when Teréze joined Vivo six years ago, I completely pivoted my leadership approach, based on her observations and input. It’s understanding that the data simply reflect people, their experience with a business and their behaviours. Growth comes naturally when employees feel part of something bigger than themselves and are able to contribute in meaningful ways.”

The Painga Project is seeking partnerships with lens- and frame-makers to provide children in need with glasses. For more, click here.