Ryan Ho was just 10, at his grandfather’s optometry shop on Jalan HS Lee – known then as High Street – when he saw a familiar face.
Years earlier, an elderly lady had been fitted with glasses there. Now, much to Ho’s surprise, a younger version of her had stepped into the store.
“I asked my granddad, ‘Who was that?’ He said, ‘Remember the old lady who came a few years ago? This is her daughter.’ I was so amazed. And years later, she brought HER daughter,” Ho told FMT Lifestyle.
Three generations, all cared for with the same attentiveness that began in 1957 by Ho Kai, the founder of Malaya Optical, and his wife Phone Lai Wah.
“My grandparents never tried to upsell,” Ho added. “They genuinely listened to their customers’ problems and tried to find solutions that worked for them.
“They really cared about people. That’s why families have stayed with us across generations.”
Born in the same year Malaya gained independence, Malaya Optical helped Malaysians see clearly as the country took its first steps of freedom.
“Our forefathers fought for independence and got it … they had the ability to bring about the changes they wanted, march forward, and keep innovating,” Ho said in reflection.
“In many ways, that’s the story of Malaya Optical. We’ve had to keep innovating because the world is ever changing and we have to keep up with the times.”
His grandfather started out as a watch and pen maker. Coming from a poor family, Ho Kai jumped on the optometry bandwagon when it began to boom as an industry.
“He roped in my grandma as well. So, he did the eye testing while she cut lenses by hand and tinted them,” said Ho, who took over the family business in 2001 from his father and uncles.
With a customer base that includes politicians, business tycoons, and ordinary Malaysians, Ho said what has always set Malaya Optical apart were the values his grandparents practised and instilled in terms of care for their customers.
“They were very sincere, understanding and caring towards their customers. That really touched me as a young boy,” Ho recalled.
“I realised carrying these values forward was important as we served new generations. I wanted that continuity – that we would look after our customers for life.
“It’s more than just about eyewear – it’s about eyecare.”
Ho now faces a different challenge: how to honour a proud family legacy while steering the business into the future. The values of eyecare were never in doubt; the real test, he said, was keeping pace with a changing world.
Unlike his father and uncles, who had gone straight from university into the family business, Ho’s time in the corporate world gave him a different perspective.
“I restructured everything, made things more systematic. That was the turning point – suddenly we could grow.”
Of course, growth is never without its struggles. In an industry crowded with online disruptors and fast-fashion eyewear, Malaya Optical has had to fight for relevance while holding tight to the roots that gave it life.
In many ways, Ho sees the company’s journey as running parallel to the nation’s: forged through trial, shaped by resilience, and driven by the same hope that tomorrow can be better than today.
Which is why, as Malaysia marks its 68th year of independence, he doesn’t just reflect on his family’s legacy, but on the very meaning of Merdeka itself.
“What I wish for all Malaysians for this Merdeka is that we put more care into what we do as a people,” Ho concluded.
“Values, integrity, and also to run businesses with generational thinking in mind – just like my grandparents had, 68 years ago.”
Find out more about Malaya Optical here. Follow Malaysia Optical on Instagram.
