Optometrists

Diane was born in Southern France and grew up in Sydney's Northern Beaches. After completing her Bachelor of Optometry with honours at the University of New South Wales she moved to beautiful Tasmania in the search of greener pastures and less concrete. Tasmania did not disappoint, and now with a Tasmanian husband and two children, she says it really feels like home.

She completed her ocular therapeutics qualification with the State University of New York held in Hobart in 2003 and is particularly interested in ocular pathology and children's vision. Diane is the current secretary of the Tasmanian Division Optometrists Association Board and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She has worked in Launceston, New Norfolk and Hobart and in 2012 joined the Optomeyes team, practicing in Rosny and Kingston. 

Outside work, Diane enjoys travelling and camping with her family, dressmaking, quilting and gardening. She is a Cub Scout leader and loves working with children.

Greg is a founding member, senior partner and director of Optomeyes and one of the driving forces that has made Optomeyes one of the finest optometry practices in Australia. Greg's commitment and enthusiasm for his patients and his practice is matched by the knowledge and experience he has acquired since he examined his first patient in 1980. 

Greg grew up in Sydney's Northern Beaches and he and his wife came to Tasmania in 1987 "to visit".  They quickly realised that Tasmania is a wonderful place to live and Sydney a place to visit.

Greg is a former Chairman of the Tasmanian Optometrists Registration Board, Past President of the Optometrists Association of Tasmania, Past Vice President of the Optometrists Association of Australia and member of The Optometry Council of Australia.  He is currently a member of the Optometrists Association of Tasmania and a member of the Australian Cornea and Contact Lens Society and the Tasmanian College of Optometrists.

Greg's professional interests include ocular pathology, contact lenses, practice standards and technology in Eyecare.  Outside the practice Greg enjoys his family, travel and sports including golf, tennis, the gym and motor sports.

Recent statistics published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveal that optometry is an increasingly attractive profession for women in Australia. If current trends continue, it won't be long before there'll be more women than men practising in Australia.

Sue Sluce has practised for 25 years - 15 of them with Optomeyes.  And she has her own interesting comments about the changing gender makeup of optometry.  She says that when she started, some male patients were very surprised to find, when they entered the examination room, that she was the optometrist, not, as they assumed, the receptionist.  Some men, indeed, asked to be treated by a man.

But that was years, ago, and it hasn't happened for the last 10 years.  "Either the men have changed, or I have," she says with a smile.

Now, the boot is on the other foot.  Sue says that, over the last three or four years, she's had a number of women patients who definitely want, and ask to see, a woman optometrist.

Why?  Sue says they seem to think that a woman practitioner will spend more time listening to them than a man would.  No one's actually done a survey on whether that's true, and no doubt male practitioners would deny it, but that's what they tell her.

For Sue, work with contact lenses provides her with most satisfaction and pleasure.  Partly because they give her the chance to apply her skills in giving patient satisfaction in making them effective and comfortable.  And partly because she likes the continuity of contact with her patients that contact lenses open up.  The same also applies to diabetic patients who return for checks each year.  And older people who often come regularly.  'I enjoy providing care for people I've come to know and like,' she says.

Asked why she joined Optomeyes, and why she stays, she gives four reasons for joining and five for staying.

The four reasons that attracted her were that she thought Greg Dennis and Finian MacCana were always progressive; always up with the latest trends; always interested in having the latest equipment and that they always involved themselves, beyond the practice, in the wider community.

And the five reasons for staying?  She says they are the same four that attracted her in the first place, plus the fact that at Optomeyes "they are nice people to work for - and nice people to work with".

Sue commenced practice in Launceston in 1983, she moved to Hobart for work in 1986. Sue has worked at her current locations with Optomeyes in Collins St and Rosny since 1993. She became a partner in Optomeyes in 2003 and a director the following year. She has an interest in contact lenses but enjoys all aspects of optometry.

Journalists get stories by asking questions - who? what? when? where? why? and how?  Apparently simple, they are often the hardest to answer.  But try the formula on senior partner and co-Director Ian Bourchier about Optomeyes, and you get to the core of what the practice is and what it stands for.

Who?  Ian says that people - ALL the people who work and practise together - are the foundation of the practice.  It is their skills; their caring; their concern for patients that is at the heart of what makes Optomeyes what it is.  And, because they matter most, the practice works hard at building a team spirit with weekly meetings of the optometrist members, and monthly meetings for all staff to contribute to the way the practice operates.

What?  What Optomeyes aims to be, says Ian, is a practice where each and every client and patient knows that they will get top-quality service and the best value for money. 

When?   All the time.  Ian says it's a part of the Optomeyes philosophy that every practice location offers comparable service, all the time.  Optometrists move from location to location, ensuring equality of quality, expertise and experience in every location.  And ensuring that patients and optometrists are able to build continuing relationships.

Why?  Optomeyes is the kind of practice it is because the partners and staff believe that's the way it should be.  And, because everyone is a part of the decisions that really count, everyone 'owns' those decisions.  And people who own things nurture and care for them.  Which, says Ian, is what happens in the practice and why clients and patients can always be sure that they will always see highly competent and fully committed people in every practice.

Ian is one of the founding members of Optomeyes and has been practicing since 1983, graduating from the University of Melbourne. He works at the Macquarie St practice and regularly does visits to other regional areas such as Queenstown.

His abiding professional interests are contact lenses and eye conditions such as diabetes.

Outside of Optomeyes, Ian's interests are family, tennis, and travel.

Daryl has been practicing on the North West Coast since 1995. Prior to moving to Tasmania he was Deputy Clinic director for the Victorian College of Optometry and had teaching responsibilities in the Department of Optometry, University of Melbourne. He set up practices in Somerset and Penguin in 1996. He, and the practices, joined up with Optomeyes in 2003. He now practices from the Somerset, Burnie and Penguin and while he has amassed some 30 years of optometric experience, his passion and pursuit of clinical excellence remain as fresh as when he graduated in 1979 with his Masters Degree.

Daryl has had a particular clinical interest in the treatment of anterior eye disease, visual assessment post-stroke, head injury and diabetes. He also enjoys fitting hard contact lenses.  

For over a decade he has taught throughout Australia and New Zealand on the treatment of eye infections and dry eye. His other clinical interests include the effects of diabetes on the eye and neuro-optometry.

When asked what he liked about his job, Daryl states simply: "People. One-to-one consultations is what makes the job fun". On why he joined Optomeyes: "Joining Optomeyes meant I could part of a group of  like minded optometrists who are organised and committed to what they are doing. I felt it was better for me professionally to be part of a vibrant group such as Optomeyes and I was able to expanded the services that I could offer patients.".

Public health policy has been an abiding interest of Daryl's. He has been President of the Tasmanian Division of the Optometrists, Chairman of the Optometrists Registration Board in Tasmania and is the first non GP chair of a Division of General Practice in Australia. Outside of optometry, Daryl likes to try to stay fit and is an avid hiker.

Heath completed a Bachelor of Optometry at the University of Melbourne in 1994.  Upon the completion of his degree he was awarded a travel scholarship to the United States in recognition of excellence in contact lens practice.  He later went on to complete an authorisation course in class 1 substances with the State University of New York held in Hobart. 

Since graduation, Heath has worked in Melbourne, Horsham and, since 1999, Hobart and surrounds with Optomeyes.  The move to Tasmania was made easy by the outstanding reputation that the practice holds both on mainland Australia and with industry pundits the world over.  Since moving to Tasmania, Heath has specialised in contact lens fitting, paediatric contact lens fitting, retinal pathology and practicing orthokeratology. 

He is a national councillor to the Australian Cornea and Contact Lens Society and consults to the Department of Health and Aging on the Visiting Optometrists Scheme. 

When not at work, you will normally find Heath spending time with his beautiful wife and gorgeous daughters and on, in or under the water.  He is a keen fly fisher, windsurfer and scuba diver. 

Yet another Tassie convert, Ian graduated from the Queensland Institute of Technology 1986 and moved to Launceston in 1987, before purchasing his own practice in Devonport in July 1990.

He merged his practice with Optomeyes in July 2000 after 10 years of working as an independent solo practitioner.

On why he decided to merge, Ian offers:

"The opportunity to merge was logical as the Optomeyes partners practice high quality eyecare with comprehensive examinations using modern technology and reputable products. This is how I practice and it was an easy to choice to join such a professional group of Optometrists. Also Optomeyes is 100% Optometrist owned, which means the Optometry profession and patient care is always put first in the service we offer."

He still works at Devonport now as an Optomeyes optometrist and specialises in Contact Lenses, with a particular interest in Orthokeratology  (Contact Lenses that correct your vision while you sleep). He also has interests in Ocular Pathology and Low Vision.

"I like dealing with people each day, and helping to make them see as well as they can as can and make sure they know all the options available to them.", says Ian.  He also is passionate about working in the smaller regional community. 

Among his many professional society memberships, Ian is currently Vice President of the Tasmanian College of Optometrists.

He has a young family, so his spare time is now spent with them and working around home on his small acreage. He enjoys golf, bushwalking, camping. He's also tries to be involved in the local community and was recently been Life Membership of the Apex Club of Devonport.

While studying at Melbourne University, Andrew was not completely sure he wanted to be an optometrist. However, three quarters of the way through the course, it all came together when he started to see patients. Then, he found that he enjoyed being able to solve patients' problems. A key element of which was being able to really listen to what people are saying, a skill he has always believed is essential for a top line optometrist.

More than that, he discovered that he had a special capacity to communicate, to make clear to patients exactly what their problem is, and how it is to be best managed.

This ability to communicate clearly, understandably and in a listener friendly way has won him a unique position in present day Australian optometry.  He is a regular contributor to ABC Radio, usually with optometry talkback, and at other times as the resident Comic Book Bloke. But he also works for ABC radio sport, covering local football across Tasmania. And, as Andrew puts it - "if enough people are away, I get to host Grandstand". He was an integral part of last years live broadcast of the Southern Football League grand final.

Andrew is passionate about local football. He has a 15 year association with umpiring in Tasmania, including two Statewide League grand finals in the nineties, and 6 years as an umpires coach. In the early days of his umpiring career in Victoria, he had the privilege of umpiring at the MCG, which rates as a highlight for him. In private practice, he is a consultant to the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, which brings him into contact with many of the state's elite athletes.

Andrew decided he was going to practice in Tasmania virtually from the moment he set foot in the state. "I thought I might stay for a few months, and I ended up staying forever". He lives on a little property in the south of Tasmania with his partner and baby son. He has been active in the profession from day one, serving three years as President of the Optometrists Association, and currently sitting on the National Executive. For Andrew, going to work is obviously more than just testing eyes and prescribing glasses.

After growing up in Devonport, Rebecca studied Optometry at QUT in Brisbane, graduating in 1992. She has since completed the Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics.

She joined Dennis and MacCana Optometrists/Optomeyes in 1995 and has been primarily based at the Moonah Practice since 1998.

Rebecca says that one of the enjoyable aspects of practising optometry is the opportunity to develop a warm and trusting relationship with patients. It is satisfying to serve patients who in turn refer their family and friends for ongoing eyecare.

Rebecca is interested in all aspects of primary eyecare and is particularly involved in providing advice regarding safety eyewear in industry.

Apart from optometry, Rebecca enjoys outdoor pursuits such as mountain biking and sea kayaking and plays indoor volleyball.

Tim Powell graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry) in 1997.  After Graduation, Tim started practising in the North West Tasmanian town of Burnie where his exposure to primary care eye care began and his interest in eye care issues facing people in rural areas developed.  Two years later Tim and his partner Janet travelled overseas, basing themselves in London where they both worked, and travelled throughout Europe.  On returning to Tasmania, Tim resided in Hobart for three years and completed the Tasmanian Therapeutics Course enabling him to prescribe eye medications in Tasmania. 

After living in Hobart for this time, the pull of the North West Coast was too great to resist and Tim and Janet moved back to Burnie where Tim divides his professional time between practices stretching from Penguin to Wynyard. 

Tim has interests in primary care optometry including pathology detection and treatment, public health policy in optometry and issues facing patients and professionals in rural areas.  Tim has been a member of the Optometrists Association of Australia (Tasmanian Division) Council of Management since 2005, being elected President of the division in 2007 and secretary and vice president prior to this.  Tim has recently taken up the position of director on the National board of the OAA, a challenge he is excited to take on. Tim sat on the inaugural rural optometry committee of the Optometrists Association of Australia and has participated in two leader's forums for the Optometrists Association of Australia.  Tim participates in the Rural Allied Health Mentor Program, mentoring undergraduate allied health students who have obtained government scholarships to study health related undergraduate degrees.

Outside work Tim and his wife are kept busy with their three young sons.

Karen was raised and educated in France where she obtained her Optician diploma in 1996. After further studies she graduated from the University of Orsay (Paris) in 1998 with a Science Master's degree in Optometry. After a stay in Australia during her last year of study where she trained in a private practice specialized in children she decided to work in Australia. For the recognition of her French diploma she had to study three more years at Melbourne University to obtain her Bachelor of Optometry in 2001.

She started working for Optomeyes in early 2002. She is mainly based at the Rosny practice. She became therapeutically qualified in 2003. Her professional interests are in behavioural optometry and children's vision.

She is a member of the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists and attends regular seminars in this particular area of Optometry. She is also a member of the Tasmanian College of Optometrists.

Outside work her passion is horses, with a particular interest in dressage now after doing show jumping in France. She enjoys trail riding and also loves going bushwalking to discover the endless beautiful places Tasmania has to offer.

Paul completed his studies in Optometry at the University of Auckland and postrgraduate at the University of NSW and now practices at our Macquarie St practice in the city.He has interests in all areas of optometry with a subspecialty in low vision - people with vision that can't be fully corrected by glasses or contact lenses.
He says its "always enjoyable to meet a wide range of people from all sorts of backgrounds - people aren't just eyes, and a solution that is right for one person may not be right for another. The challenge is finding the right solution for the individual", and he joined Optomeyes because of the "attraction of working in a team environment with colleagues with the the highest clinical standards."
Paul is also a Consultant Optometrist at the RHH Low Vision Clinic since 2000 and is principal optometrist of Hobart Optometry, specialising in home and nursing home visits. He has 18 years experience in optometry and is an ongoing member of the VCO and OAA.
He enjoys reading, playing with his young son, and using Apple computers.

Leah completed her studies at QUT, Brisbane and then went on to complete her Therapeutics qualification in Tasmania. She has also done an MPHO in Bangladesh.

She works part-time in the Launceston practice and has a particular interest is eye care in developing countries and optometrical aid programs in general.

She joined Optomeyes because she 'knows here I am encouraged and supported to give the best possible care to patients, and that's what makes the job satisfying.'

Other than her work, Leah's interests include spending time with her young brood, listening to music and gardening.

Greg completed his studies at the University of Melbourne in 1984 and has been practicing for 24 years. A recent addition to the Optomeyes team, he now works at our Macquarie St, Rosny & Collins St practices.

Greg has professional interests in general optometry and therapeutics. He enjoys meeting interesting people & helping them with the care of their eyes and vision, learning new skills, and helping others to develop new skills.

He joined Optomeyes for the opportunity to join a group practice he considered the best in Tasmania, access to technology, and probably most importantly, the support to expand the field of practice, especially in therapeutics, not just for himself, but for the profession as a whole.

When he'd not practicing, Greg likes the Great Outdoors, and is an avid climber and walker.

Bill completed his studies in optometry in Brisbane at the Queensland University of Technology in 1988 and lived and worked in Adelaide for a number of years.  He came to Tasmania initially for the wedding of a fellow Optomeyes optometrist in 2004, Paul Graveson.  By 2005, he had moved here with his wife and young daughter and joined Optomeyes in Devonport, providing coverage in Burnie, Penguin and Launceston.

In 2009, the family relocated to Launceston where Bill is based full time at the George Street practice.

At Optomeyes, Bill finds the perfect marriage of how he wants to practice and fulfil his potential as a practitioner through the practice's focus on technology in the delivery of eye care, He enjoys being part of a privately owned group practice and values having peers who are all clinically excellent.

He is about to complete his postgraduate studies in Ocular Therapeutics thought the University of New South Wales which will enable him to diagnose and treat minor eye disease and inflammation.

When not working, he loves spending time with his young family (2 daughters and a son).  He also enjoys playing basketball, touch football as well as being a fan of; motorsport, AFL, gadgets ("you name them, I probably have them") and tinkering with "stuff".  He also likes visiting hardware shops to determine the next power tool to add to his collection.

Profile coming soon.

Karen Garner graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry) in 1998.  Needing a cooler change Karen moved immediately to Geelong.  Deciding this wasn't quite far enough south, Karen then headed to Burnie and work there  initially and then some time in Devonport too.  Deciding again this wasn't quite cool enough, she headed further south to Hobart and worked in management roles throughout Tasmania for the next few years.  Deciding a change across the ditch to New Zealand might satisfy her yearning for a cooler climate, Karen spent 18 months in New Zealand looking after 40 stores across the country.  After this time Karen returned to Hobart, deciding this climate and patient base was the best fit for her. 

Since returning to Hobart, Karen has resumed her work with the Optometrists Association (Tas Division) of which she is now president, has done some project work with the Royal Guide Dogs and works part-time, based in the Sandy Bay practice with Optomeyes. 

Karen has completed the Tasmanian Therapeutics Course enabling her to prescribe eye medications in Tasmania, which is immensely useful for the varied patient base she sees in SandyBay. 

In addition to work, Karen is kept busy by her 3 year old son, Jayse, and running - both after him and to keep fit.

Profile coming soon.

Optometry is a relatively new career for Stephen, who previously worked as a teacher and translator in Japan. Stephen graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry) in 2010. He was one of two 2010 graduates from the School of Optometry to be awarded a QUT medal for academic excellence in undergraduate study.

As a Tasmanian and a previous patient of Optomeyes in Hobart, Stephen was keen to return to his home state following graduation and began practicing at Optomeyes in Devonport in January 2011. He is relishing the challenge presented by real world optometry and feels privileged to be able to draw on the knowledge of his more experienced colleagues within Optomeyes. Stephen is interested in all aspects of optometry, and is planning to begin a Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics in 2012.

In his free time, Stephen enjoys exploring Tasmania's natural beauty with his wife Kayo. Stephen and Kayo are looking forward to the birth of their first child in 2012.