NOA 2023: Anwuli Eye Wear creates inclusive frames with Black facial features in mind

Nwamaka Ngoddy, OD, founder of Anwuli Eye Wear, caught up with Optometry Times® to share about the creation on Anwuli Eye Wear while at the 2023 National Optometric Association meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Transcript

Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity.

Nwamaka Ngoddy, OD:

Hi, I'm Dr. Nwamaka Ngoddy. I'm the founder and CEO of Anwuli Eye Wear.

In 2019, after several years of being in practice, many of my patients complained of difficulty finding fashionable frames that really fit well. And I have struggled with that my whole life, with my wide face and my high cheekbones.

I created Anwuli Eye Wear, where we design frames specifically with Black facial features in mind. Truly, they are an extended fit frame, they have larger eyes sizes, longer temples, so that the frame extends over the ear. And then we incorporated low bridge fit principles so that they fit flatter noses a bit better.

We definitely want to be in opticals nationwide and globally so that our partners can really fit those patients that are struggling to find fashionable frames that fit well. We want to make frames that make a statement without speaking, super cute things that also fit well, that [patients] can put their prescriptions in or have sun lenses in.

We wanted to really be an inclusive global brand so that it's size inclusive. And as we continue to grow our brand, we're going to have different fit principles that we incorporate that address some of those pain points as well.

NOA I love, it's one of my favorite conferences. Being a NOSA member while I was at PCO, and being one of the executive board members, it's just always a family experience. We get to see old friends and meet new people. So I've been having a great time at NOA. I love coming to this conference and it's really exciting being on the vendor side this year.