Inaugural Scottish Optometry Awards celebrates 14 winners

The inaugural Scottish Optometry Awards, held on 15 November in Glasgow, celebrated optical professional’s skills, achievements, and contributions to the profession.

The awards were hosted by the Scottish Optical Conference (SOC) and Vision Scotland ahead of the SOC day of education. 

The awards saw more than 290 attendees, and 13 awards. Out of the awards, four were open to optical professional across the country.

The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto, opened the awards, speaking of the relationship between the optometry sector and the Government.

Award winners

Hannah Einarson (pictured above), of J M MacDonald Opticians, was named optometrist of the year 2025. 

Talking to OT about this recognition, she said: “Winning Scottish optometrist of the year came as a complete surprise. I am so thankful to be nominated; it is such an honour. There are so many amazing optometrists in Scotland and I'm so proud to be recognised alongside them.”

Jones Eyecare was named independent practice of the year 2025, with Lindsey Jones, optometrist and co-owner, telling OT: “We were absolutely thrilled to win the best independent practice category at the Scottish Optometry Awards in its inaugural year. As a new business, and a very small husband and wife team, it means a huge amount to get recognition for all our hard work over the last two and a half years.”

Specsavers Opticians, Wick, received an award for multiple practice of the year. Ian Morris, practice partner, was also surprised to be named a finalist for the outstanding achievement award – a peer-nominated award.

Morris said: “I am incredibly proud of the team, current and previous team members, for this achievement, it is thanks to their hard work, dedication and passion which made this possible. It’s fantastic that our practice was recognised at the inaugural awards and I was honoured to have been shortlisted in another category too.”

“These awards tend to go towards large city practices, so it’s brilliant for small town like Wick to be recognised,” Morris added, also thanking the practice patients and customers, “who trust us with their eye health – their loyalty does not go unnoticed.”

Colette Dunsmore’s Localeyes Optometrists was recognised as enhanced services practice of the year.

Dunsmore said: “I was shocked and thrilled to receive the award. It was very unexpected as I was nominated by a friend. It meant the world to me to be voted by my peers for the award.”

Urquhart Opticians received the award for marketing practice of the year, while Urquhart Ayr was recognised as contact lens practice of the year.

Alistair Duff, group clinical director for Urquhart Opticians, a network of 15 independent Hakim Group practices in Scotland, said: “These achievements highlight our dedication to delivering exceptional care and a specialised experience to every patient we serve, from the expert services we provide to our commitment to the local community. It means so much to our team for this to be acknowledged through the Scottish Optometry Awards.”

Specsavers Opticians in Edinburgh Morningside were recognised with the hearing care practice of the year award.

Michael O’Kane, clinical director at Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll, said: “I would like to congratulate Jonathan and the hearing team who deserve this award and the recognition for their hard work, dedication and passion for hearing care in the community.”

Simon Berry, optometrist and creator of the Visual Fixation System, was awarded optical supplier product of the year for the device, which helps clinicians examine the eyes of patients who find eye tests difficult. 

Berry told OT: “I am immensely proud that the Visual Fixation System has won this award. It has been such a long journey to get this device to market and I really hope this is the start of it becoming more widely used. Obviously I’m biased, but it is a really useful device. The new VFS has been launched this month too. So, this is just the beginning: watch this space.”

An award was also given to Specsavers Opticians, Glasgow Fort, for sustainability practice of the year, and Scott Gilmour Optometrists was recognised with the myopia management award.

Claire Tolan, of Kirk Road Eye Care, was named support staff member of the year, and Susan Ferguson Visioncare at Home was named dispensing optician of the year.

Joint recognition

Joint winners were revealed for the outstanding achievement award 2025, paying tribute to the contributions two optometrists have made to the profession.

Heather Grandon, who worked at Cameron Optometry and died in February this year, was recognised with the award. 

Ian Cameron, managing director and specialist optometrist at Cameron Optometry, said: “For more than three decades, Heather was the beating heart of Cameron Optometry. Her exceptional clinical expertise, compassion, and unwavering dedication transformed countless lives. Renowned across the UK for her work in specialist contact lens fitting, she restored not just sight, but confidence and independence to so many patients.

“Heather was also an inspiring mentor, guiding and supporting generations of optometrists with patience, generosity, and humility. Her influence continues to shape our practice and our profession every day.

“This award is a fitting tribute to a remarkable career and an extraordinary person whose legacy will always be part of our practice,” Cameron shared.

Dr Graeme Kennedy, optometrist and a senior lecturer in vision sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), who died in 2024, was also recognised for the award.

Professor Gunter Loffler, professor of visual neuroscience at GCU, shared: “During his time as an academic at Glasgow Caledonian University, Graeme Kennedy held several key roles, including the leadership of the Vision Centre (eye clinic); programme lead for the undergraduate optometry programme; and, more recently, the development lead for the new Master of optometry with independent prescribing programme. Graeme was instrumental in designing this innovative training for the ultimate benefit of advancing patient care across Scotland.”

“Graeme was a passionate and devoted academic who was highly regarded by the many generations of students he taught and [was] a rock-solid mentor to all his colleagues. We were delighted to see Graeme's contributions to optometry being recognised at the Scottish Optometry Awards.”

30 years of CPD

The awards were handmade from Scottish beechwood by a craftsman, and certificates were also given to all finalists. During the awards, £10,000 was raised for a sight saving trust.

Lawrence Scott Photography

Dr Scott and Dr Roisin Mackie, of Mackie Consultants, who organised the conference, were also honoured with a surprise award recognising 30 years of running continuing professional development courses. 

Dr Scott Mackie told OT: “I didn’t have a clue. It was really nice,” though added: “The award was the biggest thing I’ve seen in my life.”

“A lot of people came up to say well done. I thought that was lovely,” he said, adding: “The course has grown and grown, and the main thing is that people get really good and affordable training.”