Optometrists recognised at College of Optometrists ceremony

Optometrists Andy Britton and Michael O’Kane have been awarded Fellowships (by portfolio) to the College of Optometrists in recognition of their achievements in the workplace and “outstanding contributions to furthering excellence in the practice of optometry.”

The Specsavers practitioners were presented with their fellowships during the College’s diploma ceremony, which took place at Central Hall in Westminster, London, last month and was the first to be held since 2019.

Britton, who is director of Specsavers in Haverfordwest, also collected his professional diploma in glaucoma, his professional higher certification in glaucoma and his diploma in independent prescribing (IP).

He said: “It was a real honour to join what is a very small group of professionals who hold the Fellowship. In addition, my higher qualifications allow me to manage many more patients in my practice who historically would have needed to go to hospital – helping support the NHS by relieving pressure on it.”

Reflecting on his Fellowship, IP optometrist and director of Specsavers in Morningside and Cameron Toll, O’Kane, said: “It’s a genuine honour to be in the same category as amazing clinicians like Dr Frank Eperjesi, Dr Susan Blakeney, and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney. I even got to meet a hero of mine, Professor Bruce Evans, who delivered an amazingly insightful speech.”

Also during the diploma ceremony, Specsavers clinical engagement manager, Jag Singh; director of Specsavers in West Bridgford, Gurbeer Singh Sivia; director of Specsavers in Nottingham, Ravi Chawda; director of Specsavers in Melton Mowbray, Dilraj Gumbe; and lead optometrist of Specsavers in Nottingham, Amandeep Singh, each collected their diploma in therapeutics – IP.

The College awarded 17 fellowships by portfolio at the diploma ceremony.