Founded by a Dad. Built by an Optometrist.

Not another tech startup learning about eyes. A parent who couldn't make outdoor time stick, so he built something that would.

John Nguyen

Founder & Optometrist

Why illumable Exists

The Problem I Lived

I'm an optometrist with 20+ years of experience. I built Zoom Optics Group to 9 locations across Sydney. Every day, I told parents the same thing: "Get your kids outside for 2 hours."

At home? My kids preferred screens. Just like yours.

The Turning Point

When my daughter was diagnosed with myopia at age 7, I wasn't just the optometrist giving advice - I was the parent desperately trying to follow it.

I knew outdoor light could help slow progression and support her overall health. Research was clear. But making it happen daily felt impossible.

"If I couldn't make outdoor time stick, how could any family?"

The Solution

I realised this wasn't a problem you could solve with better advice or more education. Families needed a practical system. So I built one.

A venture focused on making outdoor time trackable, engaging for children, and measurable for families.

The core insight:

Kids need motivation - behavioral techniques that build habits
Parents need answers - "Are we doing enough?"
Clinicians need compliance data - real insights they can discuss

What Drives This Work

Outdoor time shapes how children learn, develop, and thrive. Vision is just one piece of a much bigger picture: mood, sleep, focus, physical health.

Across my career, I've focused on turning intentions into outcomes. illumable applies that rigour to a problem I know intimately, as both a clinician and a parent.

John Nguyen

Optometrist • Healthcare Entrepreneur • Parent

Our Mission