One Team, Many Stories: Meet the People of KSA
KSA Eye Center is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. This journey has been shaped by the people whose dedication and care have helped make KSA a trusted and special place for our clients.
On this occasion, we would like to introduce part of the KSA team – the people whose daily work helps make the world a little clearer for our clients every day.
Dr. Ants Haavel – Eye Surgeon and Founder of KSA
For Dr. Ants Haavel, these 21 years at KSA have passed faster than one might expect. During this time, there have been many patients, continuous development, and important decisions that have shaped KSA into the clinic it is today. While the early years were full of learning and excitement, experience has now brought confidence, balance, and the ability to provide consistently high-quality care.
One of the most important principles that has become firmly rooted in his work over the years is the idea that no more should ever be done to the eye than is truly necessary. It was this understanding that led KSA, in 2010, to move entirely toward non-invasive procedures.
Today, this has proven to be one of the best decisions the clinic has made — in more than two decades, there has not been a single case of ectasia with the Flow procedure. For Dr. Haavel, this provides strong confidence and confirms that long-term patient safety has always been the top priority.
What continues to give him the most energy are procedure days. Every day, he meets people who each have their own story and their own reason for wanting to become free from visual aids. The opportunity to improve their lives is what continues to inspire him, even after 21 years.
Outside of work, Dr. Haavel is a passionate sailor and nature lover. If he were not an eye surgeon, he says he could easily be a forest ranger — he enjoys walking in the woods with his dog, and being in nature helps keep his mind fresh. He describes himself best as a traveler and a seeker.
Ave Treier – Procedure Nurse from the Beginning
Ave Treier is one of the people through whom the story of KSA over two decades can be clearly seen. Having worked as a procedure nurse for more than 20 years, she has witnessed both the growth of the clinic and the rapid development of medical technology.
According to her, KSA has become more environmentally conscious, technologically stronger, and more efficient over the years, but one thing has always remained central: the human being. Even with the most advanced equipment, the need for a calm voice, a warm attitude, and genuine presence does not disappear.
In Ave's work, a particularly important moment is when a client needs calmness and reassurance before a procedure. She believes that often a calm voice, clear explanations of every step, and the knowledge that the clinic will also be there after the procedure are enough. For her, KSA's 24-hour support line is more than just a contact option — it is a sense of security given to the patient.
One of the most memorable moments for her is a woman from Narva who, after the procedure, burst into tears of joy and asked if she could give her a hug. Moments like these remind her that this work goes far beyond a medical procedure.
In her free time, Ave restores her energy through movement — cycling, nature, and sports help her unwind from intense workdays.
Liisi Mölder – Senior Optometrist
For Liisi, the role of a senior optometrist means more than just daily patient work. It involves responsibility for the quality of work, supporting the team, and ensuring smooth processes. She is often the one colleagues turn to with more complex questions and cases.
Liisi believes that trust is built through calm communication and the ability to truly listen. For her, it is important that the patient feels safe and understands what is happening during the examination. Every step should be explained so that the person does not feel simply "checked," but genuinely cared for.
She was drawn to optometry because it combines medicine with very practical help. What appeals to her is the opportunity to help a person see better immediately and thereby directly improve their quality of life.
If Liisi had to describe her profession as a piece of music, it would be a calm, precise, and layered classical composition — one where every detail matters and the whole is created through balance.
Helena Nisu – Optometrist at KSA Tartu Clinic
Helena joined KSA after 13 years of working in an optical shop. Previously, her work focused on prescribing and fitting visual aids, but now she helps people become free from that dependency. This difference is significant and meaningful for her.
At the KSA Tartu clinic, she is especially fascinated by the thorough diagnostics and the opportunity to perform examinations at a level that was not possible in an optical shop. She also values the smaller, more homely atmosphere of the Tartu clinic, which makes relationships with clients warmer and more personal.
Her work is also strongly influenced by personal experience — Helena has undergone the Flow procedure herself. Since she knows firsthand what it means to live for years with glasses or contact lenses, and what it means to be free from them, she is able to understand and support her clients particularly well.
Outside of work, Helena's great passion is folk dancing. For her, dancing is a complete stress reliever, and the emotions connected to dance festivals are something that always draw her back. When asked which makes her heart beat faster — a dance festival or a life-changing moment for a patient at KSA — her answer is simple: both.
Tiit Tammeniit – Optometrist
Tiit's daily work focuses on pre-procedure examinations and decisions that determine whether a person is suitable for the Flow procedure. One of his most important tools is the Schwind Sirius device, which allows very precise assessment of the eye surface and its suitability for the procedure.
When Tiit can tell a patient that they are suitable for the procedure, he feels he has helped them take a step toward a better quality of life. At the same time, a negative answer does not mean failure to him — there are often other solutions that can be discussed with the patient.
According to Tiit, all his skills have developed over the years to the point where he feels confident in almost any work situation. His wish that everyone could enjoy clear vision comes very simply and sincerely: the beauty of the world is much better experienced when it can be seen clearly.
In his free time, he enjoys making music, sports, technology, and building — a diverse combination that reflects his personality well.
Anita Zuravljova – Optometrist
Anita's path to optometry was not planned from the beginning. It started with the practical need to find part-time work while raising two children. This led her to an optical shop, then to optometry studies, and finally to a profession that truly suited her.
What fascinates her about optometry is that every client and every pair of eyes is different. She describes the work as somewhat similar to detective work — observing, analyzing, and putting together a complete picture.
At KSA, she especially appreciates the thoroughness. Compared to a regular optical shop, the examinations are deeper and more interesting, and clients bring with them many different stories about how they decided to give up glasses or contact lenses.
One of her warmest memories is of a 6-year-old child to whom she gave glasses. The child looked outside and said with genuine excitement: "Wow, I can see!"
In her free time, Anita enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time in nature with her family. If she had to describe herself with three emojis, they would be quite telling: 💃🐑🔥
Anita Bauer – Optometrist
Anita Bauer joined the KSA team in the autumn of 2024, and already in the first months she has been positively surprised by how many people come for procedures with very small vision corrections. According to her, she sees every day how even a small change in vision can improve a person's quality of life.
Her previous work in an optical shop gave her a strong foundation, but at KSA she became aware of the greater weight of procedure-based decisions. While glasses can always be adjusted, here the decision is more final. This makes the work more responsible, but also very meaningful.
Her favorite part of the workday is performing measurements and examinations. This is where professional precision and knowledge come most into play. At the same time, Anita believes that alongside all this precision, one of the most underestimated aspects of optometry is human connection — trust and communication with the patient influence the outcome more than is often thought.
Outside of work, she values sleep the most, but if she had unlimited time and opportunities, she would spend it observing inspiring people, learning, and gaining new experiences.
Birke Padar – Administrator of the Tartu Clinic
For Birke, the most distinctive feature of the Tartu clinic is its personal nature. In a smaller city, communication is more open, trust develops more quickly, and the overall client experience is more direct. She feels that the calmer pace allows more time to be dedicated to each person, which is especially important when clients come from farther away.
She also values the balance of living in Tartu — everything is close by, yet a sense of calm remains. Outside of work, she has a creative hobby: braiding afro braids. It gives her the satisfaction of seeing immediate and clear results from her work.
If Birke had to describe the Tartu clinic as an animal, it would be a big-eyed turtle — calm in pace, yet inviting and intriguing.
Polina Salajev – Optometrists' Assistant
Polina's daily work focuses on the human side of the process. She assists with examinations, prepares clients for procedures, and considers it most important that a person feels as comfortable as possible throughout the day.
What stays with her the most are clients who arrive with great anxiety but say afterward, with relief, that everything was much easier than they had feared. Moments like these confirm how important it is to be able to calm, support, and be present.
Polina joined KSA after working in an optical shop and began studying optometry alongside her work. According to her, the most important quality of an optometrist's assistant cannot be learned from a textbook — it is empathy.
She has also undergone the procedure herself and vividly remembers the morning a few days later when she woke up and could immediately see everything clearly. For someone used to wearing glasses, it was a completely new feeling.
Lilia Kazakova – Client Consultant
Lilia's journey to KSA began with a very personal experience — she was once a KSA client herself. The atmosphere, the experience, and even the music stayed with her so vividly that when the opportunity later arose to apply for a client consultant position, the decision came naturally.
For her, the first 30 seconds of a phone call are the most important. This is when hesitation must be eased, excitement preserved, and an atmosphere created where the caller feels: I can get help here.
Lilia has a diverse background — she has studied Finnish philology and is also involved in social media, presentation creation, and graphic design. Her story shows well that one person does not have to fit into just one job title. Skills, interests, and paths can be diverse, and that can become a strength.
In her free time, she is interested in music creation, painting, and handicrafts, and if she could instantly master one new language, it would be Italian.
The Heart of KSA
The stories of KSA people are very different. Among them are sailors, dancers, athletes, nature lovers, creative minds, and technology enthusiasts. Yet some common keywords repeat in their stories: attention, precision, calmness, development, and a genuine desire to help people.
It is these people who shape the face of KSA. Not only through procedures and equipment, but through how every client feels here — heard, cared for, and in safe hands.
