In 2019, Dr. Khatkur diagnosed her then 4-month-old daughter with retinoblastoma, which was confirmed by staff at The Hospital for Sick
Children in Ontario the following day.

“I imagine what life could have looked like for her if she didn’t have an eyecare provider as a parent,” she says.

Now, Dr. Khatkur, who expanded her practice, Brantford Optometry, last year to include a fully equipped dry eye clinic and medi-spa, wants to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis. 

She recently launched 5•17 (Dr. Khatkur and her daughter, Avanya—pictured above—were born on May 17), a clothing “eyeWEAR” brand she designed, with partial proceeds donated to retinoblastoma research.

Here, this inspiring optometrist shares more.