 Geoff is the driving force behind the Contact Lens Practice. He has always been passionate about Contact Lenses and this shows in everything about him and his practice. Dragged kicking to the opticians at fourteen he hated glasses from the word go and, when he had to abandon the idea of being a fighter pilot because of his short sight, he decided that he'd like to help people see clearly - without glasses. Whilst studying for his Degree he volunteered to be a guinea pig for students to practice fitting Contact Lenses.
The first choice lens of the sixties was the hard micro corneal lens, the predecessor of today's rigid oxygen permeable lenses. He still recalls his half hour walk, in agony, around the streets of Aston shedding gallons of tears wearing the first trial lenses but he was adamant he was going to beat them and not visa versa! Within a few weeks he'd mastered wearing lenses all day long and has never looked back now sleeping in varifocals that also correct his astigmatism.
Geoff sometimes smiles to himself when, remembering his struggles, he sends his patients home today with lenses so comfortable they sleep in them on the first night! Graduating in 1966 with an Honours Degree in Optometry, he soon found himself doing more Contact Lens fitting than he ever dreamed of. The Contact Lens Practitioner in the company he worked for left and he was the only one interested in taking over his patients. Thrown in at the deep end he was immediately fitting lenses far more complex than anything he'd learnt about at University - Scleral lenses (large hard lenses covering the whole eye), bifocals and lenses for astigmatism. Undaunted, but in his element, this challenge decided Geoff that he would like to specialise in Contact Lenses. So in 1973 seeking independence and freedom from commercial pressures, he took what he now admits was the most daring step of his life! He opened his practice at 5 Lower Temple Street intending only to fit Contact Lenses - something possibly never done before! Risky to say the least because, in those days Opticians could not advertise so he simply had to wait for patients to find him and then recommend others.
As his reputation in the Optical profession grew many colleagues with less contact lens experience started referring patients to his practice. In 1974 he was honoured by being one of 10 practitioners asked to clinically trial Permalens - the very first soft sleep-in lens. In 1976 came the first Soft Lenses to correct astigmatism and Geoff, quickly realising their importance, soon mastered fitting them and for many years was one of just a few Opticians supplying them. He has, over the years, evaluated many new lenses for manufacturers and has even designed new lenses, one of which, a toric lens for astigmatism, is currently fitted World Wide. From one consulting room, and one receptionist in 1973 to four consulting rooms, three practitioners and six assistants today - with 20/20 hindsight Geoff says, going it alone was the best step he ever took. He is modest about the phenomenal success of his practice but claims that he was simply in the right place at the right time! Anyone who meets him soon discovers however that he is still just as passionate about Contact Lenses as ever.
He readily accepts that many people don't mind wearing glasses - but his mission in life is to make sure that everyone discovers that they could easily wear Contacts if they wanted! Certainly, from my personal experience, if you're a bit more complicated to fit and can't wear 'off the peg' lenses, he'll leave no stone unturned until he fits you with something, which suits! Geoff leads a superb team all of whom share his passion and dedication - come and meet them soon. | |
