David P. Austen: From Kent.
David Austen, the owner of David Austen Optometry, graduated with a BSc in Optometry from City University in 1968, qualified in 1969 and earned his Masters of Science degree from Indiana University, USA in 1971. He is a well-known voice in Optometry in the UK, having been an examiner for the College of Optometrists for 27 years, a National

Councillor for the Association of Optometrists for 16 years and a lecturer at home and abroad in various aspects of Optometry. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Honorary Member of the Association of Optometrists.
In addition to his national and international commitments, he also works actively for local Optometry by serving as a committee member on several influential area groups such as the Charnwood and North West Leicestershire Primary Care Trust. He is the Chairman of the Leicestershire Optometrist Shared Care Committee. His commitment to eye care services in the Loughborough area is further reflected in his active liaison with local primary care providers: the practice is contracted to the Loughborough General Hospital Walk-in Centre and the local GP surgeries to triage ophthalmic patients which has resulted in a reduction of referrals to Leicester Royal Infirmary by 78%. Like his colleagues who work alongside him, David Austen is accredited in the Leicestershire Cataract and Lens Implant Referral Service and the Leicestershire and Rutland Assessment Scheme for Young Children.

Anthony G Richards: From Leicestershire.
Anthony Richards read Optometry at Aston University, graduating in 1979 and qualifying in 1980. He then worked in the East Midlands area specialising in contact lens fitting until joining the practice in September 1982. Anthony Richards divides his time between this practice and his other practices in Sileby (Leicestershire) and Newark (Nottinghamshire).

He is accredited in the Leicestershire Cataract and Lens Implant Referral Service, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Assessment Scheme for Young Children.

Patti K Cranton: From Massachusetts, USA.
Prior to a career in Optometry, Patti Cranton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from University of Massachusetts and a Masters degree from the University of Surrey, England. Patti Cranton then trained as an Ophthalmic Medical Assistant in the USA, specialising in retinal photography and working alongside a retinal surgeon.

Upon moving to this country, she trained in Optometry at Bradford University where she earned a First Class Honours degree. She joined the practice in 1996, and has a special interest in OVC and complex contact lens fitting. She too is accredited the Leicestershire Cataract and Lens Implant Referral Service, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Assessment Scheme for Young Children. She is the website designer and writer.

Matthew DI Austen: From Leicestershire.
Matthew Austen read Optometry at Aston University and qualified in 1997. During his qualifying year he worked alongside Mr Andrew Field, Secretary of the British Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry. Matthew Austen joined the practice in 1997, and has since specialised in helping dyslexic patients, using colour filters and the Intuitive Colorimeter. From 1997 - 1998 he was a Clinical Instructor at Aston University.

He currently manages the extensive computer system at the practice, on which is kept all of the patient records, and into which is linked diagnostic instrumentation such as the Humphrey Visual Field Analysers, the digital fundus camera and the consulting room slit lamp cameras. He is also accredited in the Leicestershire Cataract and Lens Implant Referral Service, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Assessment Scheme for Young Children.

Hardeep Kaur Sembi: From Leicestershire,
Hardeep joined the practice in March 2007, after having finished a year of training at the Leicester Royal Infirmary where she worked within the hospital casualty department, the cataract clinic, fitting complex contact lenses, dispensing low vision aids, and dispensing complex spectacle lenses.

Hardeep read Optometry at Aston University, qualifying in 2006. She also has a first class degree in Optical Management, which gives her a wide breadth of knowledge in spectacle lens dispensing. Her current areas of special interests are punctum plugs and syringing, OVC, and scleral contact lenses. She is a member of the Local Optometric Committee for Leicestershire and Rutland, the statutory NHS organisation which represents all optometrists in the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland; this committee develops and communicates local pathways and schemes with the Primary Care Trust for improved local ophthalmic care. She too is accredited for the Leicestershire Cataract and lens Implant Service. She is proficient in Hindi and Punjabi languages.

Jennie Austen graduated in education in 1969, and has taught in Grade School in Indiana USA and in state and independent schools in Leicestershire. As the Practice grew she spent more time on business matters and left teaching to become an Administrative Partner. As Practice Administrator, Jennie spends her time managing the support staff, managing the business finances, coordinating Practice functions, and is involved in other vital matters of the running of the Practice.

In addition to Practice Administration, Jennie has worked with David on other projects outside the business. Together David and Jennie set up the in-house glazing laboratory which operated successfully for many years, and in the nineties they worked together on a standard text book on Practice Management.

Jenny Fraser originally joined the Practice as an assistant and worked part time whilst her family were growing up. Jenny soon showed great potential as a manager and has been leading our team of assistants for over twenty years. She has has been a familiar face to many patients and their families. Jenny has also implemented changes in our practice to respond to changes in the Optometric profession and patient care.

Always a support to David Austen she accompanied him on a fact-finding tour to a well-known Optometrist in North America to gain ideas and management strategies. Her latest venture has been to advise and assist with the recent alterations and expansion of the Practice.

Rakesh Patel graduated from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, with a BSc (Hons) in Optical Management in 2002 qualifying as a Dispensing Optician in 2004. Rakesh worked within the East Midlands building his experience both clinically and as a practice manager, joining the practice in April 2008. He enjoys a close working relationship with patients and has a special interest in assisting patients with more complex prescriptions.

Rakesh works closely with the prescribing Optometrist, further optimising the quality of the spectacle dispense. In addition to his role as Dispensing Optician he actively supports and leads the other staff with a focus on training and customer service. He has developed close working ties with our lens supplier, Nikon, finding their superior lens quality and customer service uniquely beneficial to the practice and our patients. As the first Dispensing Optician to be employed at the practice his knowledge and ideas have been a significant asset to the team.

The practice employs six assistants to support the Dispensing Optician and the practice manager, all of whom are familiar with the numerous tasks involved in patient care at the practice.

The assistants fulfill vital roles within the practice. All are well versed in reception duties including management of patient records, contact lens supply and advice on government financial assistance. On the clinical side, they also measure intraocular pressure and visual fields, undertake fundus photography, Optomap imaging and contact lens instruction. They help with frame selection and fitting, and provide spectacle lens advice and other important tasks.

In addition, they have all embraced the recent computer software update which has taken place over the last year. The new software incorporates all elements of patient care, including patient details, clinical notes, contact lenses and spectacle dispensing records, patient financial history, and other information such as referral letters.