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Kirk Road Eye Care – Optometrists
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Kirk Road Eye Care – Optometrists
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Kirk Road Eye Care – Optometrists
Why are we opening a practice in Houston?
There is currently no eye care provision in the village and both Neil and Johnathan are very passionate about providing a quality service to the local population that is accessible to all. The idea to open a practice started a couple of years ago but we had to be patient in order to find the correct location. Situated next to the local GP, pharmacy, dentist and beauticians, the site is ideal as it brings all the local health care/ wellbeing services together in one space.
Both Neil and Johnathan have lived in Houston for many years and have always known there was potential to open a practice here but finding the right location took time! Fate drew them together and they formed a partnership in early 2023 in order to bring their experience and knowledge into one place and create a modern eyecare clinic which can offer a range of services and vision correction solutions.
‘Although our focus will be on this independent venture, we will continue to work within NHS and private ophthalmology, stepping back from those commitments as the practice grows. We are passionate about eyecare and vision correction and believe that working as an independent practice will give us the freedom to provide the best level of care and service to our patients.’
Neil M Barnes
BSc(hons) MCOptom DipTp(IP) Refractive Optometrist
NESGAT accredited
Neil spent his entire childhood in Houston and qualified from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2011. His formative years were spent working in Aberdeen and Glasgow for a large multiple optician before switching to work in an independent practice in East Lothian. It was working in independent practice that opened the door for Neil to move into hospital optometry where he worked at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh to obtain qualifications in Independent Prescribing (IP) and glaucoma management.
In 2021 Neil relocated back to Houston and broadened his scope of practice by working in refractive surgery – laser eye surgery, cataract, refractive lens exchange. This is something that Neil remains very passionate about and will continue this interest whilst working at Kirk Road Eye Care.
Away from practice, Neil has a young family and loves spending time with them. He enjoys being outdoors and likes to play tennis and golf when time allows.
Johnathan C R Waugh
BSc(hons) MCOptom DipTp(IP) MSc NESGAT accredited
Professional certificates in Paediatric Eyecare, Medical Retina and Low Vision
Johnathan qualified in 2000 from Glasgow Caledonian University and undertook his pre-registration year at Royal Liverpool and Alder Hey Hospitals, developing a core understanding of pathology and management of eye disorders.
He then spent time as a locum and travelled to Australia and New Zealand before working for various large companies before settling into a full time NHS role in Glasgow.
During his years within the ophthalmology service he developed specialist knowledge in the areas of children’s eyecare, glaucoma and macular disease alongside core optometry.
Johnathan spent 3 years as a co-Director of an independent practice in Hamilton before a period with Optimax laser clinics and then The Outside Clinic providing home visit eye examinations across the West of Scotland.
Before the Covid pandemic Johnathan joined the NHS Glasgow & Clyde Diabetic Retinal Screening team and still works with them, providing reassurance to the 70,000+ diabetic patients within the Health Board.
Away from the consulting room, Johnathan has always had an interest in optometry development and has served on both the Association of Optometrists Council and The College of Optometrists Council, more recently as a Trustee on the Board of Directors.
Most of the time left is spent with family but every so often on a nice sunny day he might sneak away for a few holes of golf 🙂
