Meet our experts

They do this as a result of ongoing training across all fields of eye and ear health and with access to
advanced equipment in store and at home.

We’re proud to say that millions of people choose us to look after their eyes and ears, because your
sight and hearing is something we take very seriously.

 

Kevin Liu
MOptom (Hons) MCOptom Dip Tp(IP) Prof Cert Glau Prof Cert Med Ret

Kevin is the optometrist director at Specsavers in Altrincham, Sale and Urmston. His background lies in education with previous roles as a chemistry teacher and lecturer in optometry.

He maintains a keen interest in developing others and is also a lead assessor for the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC), college assessor and examiner. Kevin works hard to maintain his own skills and strives to deliver clinical excellence for his patients. To support this, he has undertaken further training in independent prescribing, glaucoma and medical retina.

 

Andy Britton
BSc (Hons) MCOptom Prof Cert Glauc Dip TP(IP)

Andy graduated from Aston University in 1996 and has practiced in all areas, including university and hospital clinics. He has a strong interest in using technology to provide affordable enhanced eyecare.

He’s a passionate advocate in continued education for himself and his team and lectures in pathology to Specsavers pre-registration optometrists. Andy is an active member of both his local optometric committee and represents FODO (Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians) on Optometry Wales.

He has a personal interest in glaucoma and acute eyecare holding a professional certificate in glaucoma alongside being qualified as an independent prescriber.

 

Dr Nigel Best
DOptom BSc (Hons) MCOptom FBCLA FAAO

Nigel graduated from Manchester University in 2002 and has been the resident optometrist in his own Specsavers store for 20 years. He examines people of all ages, but the majority of his work is now with very elderly customers who often present with complex visual needs, poor general health and reduced cognitive function. Nigel was awarded a doctorate from Aston University in 2013 for a piece of research on dry eye and retains a keen interest in any matters related to dry eye, particularly in contact lens wearers.

 

Dr Josie Forte
DOptom BSc (Hons) MCOptom

Josie is an optometrist registered with the UK General Optical Council and New Zealand Board of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians. She graduated from Cardiff University in 1997 and achieved a professional doctorate in optometry in 2015 from Aston University.

Josie started her career working in a hospital eye department where she gained experience helping patients with more complex eyecare needs. With a keen interest in bringing more eye health services to the high street, she has been an ophthalmic partner in Specsavers since 2008 and also works with the Specsavers Enhanced Optical Services team. Josie provides a wide range of additional services including diabetic screening, glaucoma and cataract co-management (previously delivered in a hospital eye department) alongside accredited optometrists in her own stores.

Passionate about optometry education and high standards in practice, Josie also regularly contributes to the wider profession in a number of forums, including optical education and professional regulation.

 

Ross Campbell
BSc (Hons) MCOptom Prof Cert Glauc. Prof Cert Med Ret.

Ross is an experienced optometrist, pre-registration optometrist supervisor, and lead assessor for the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC). Since qualifying in 2008, Ross has owned and worked in his own store in Richmond North Yorkshire, and more recently, has been working as a professional advancement consultant in the role of director of Optometry Advancement for Specsavers UK and Ireland.

Ross has a particular passion for the provision of enhanced optical services, working to widen the delivery of primary care services not only in his own practice, but also in the profession as a whole. He also has an interest in helping other colleagues develop and has a large amount of experience in creating and delivering professional development sessions at regional and national training events, and is a regular contributor to ProFile, Specsavers’ journal for professional staff.

 

Paul Morris
BSc (Hons) MCOptom

Paul Morris is the director of professional advancement for Specsavers Opticians in the UK and Ireland. The role involves furthering clinical scope, professional services, standards, training and forming future strategy for the group including audiology and ophthalmology. Paul is also the ophthalmic director of the Bridgend and Porthcawl stores in South Wales.

Outside of Specsavers, Paul has been a director of FODO (Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians), chair of the Optical Confederation IT & Information Committee as well as an Optometry Wales vice chair. He has previously undertaken work as a clinical supervisor for the Association of Optometrists (AOP) and was founder and Director of BAM Optical Training & Solutions that delivered teaching to optometrists and pharmacists in ocular pathology. Paul has also held positions within the Hospital Eye Service as well as the School of Optometry & Visual Science in Cardiff. In 2011, he began working within WOPEC (Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre) to deliver postgraduate training to a range of health care professionals and inform policy.

He is passionate about improving clinical outcomes for all patients as well as education of clinicians, allied professions and the public on the importance of eyecare.

 

Satvinder Singh Soomal
BSc (Hons) MCOptom FBCLA FBDO

Satvinder has worked in the optical sector from a young age, studying the dispensing and contact lens course distance learning with ABDO (Association of British Dispensing Opticians) while working with Specsavers.

After qualifying with a first-class honours degree in optometry from Anglia Ruskin University, Satvinder decided to do his pre-reg in an eye hospital in Birmingham, he continued working there after qualifying and became the optometry manager and deputy head of optometry.

As a senior specialist optometrist within the eye hospital, Satvinder’s role involved managing a team of optometrists and support team as well as working in the general ophthalmology clinic, advance contact lens clinics, paediatrics, diabetes, glaucoma, low vision, refraction and corneal clinics. Satvinder thoroughly enjoyed these 10 years and they gave him a great foundation to do his current role as lead head of Enhanced Optical Services as part of the Professional Advancement team for Specsavers.

Satvinder has experience delivering lectures, workshops and peer discussions at many optometric events. He is also the ophthalmic partner at Specsavers Daventry and Towcester.

Hayley is an optometrist and prior to joining Specsavers in 2016 has worked in a variety of settings, including hospital and independent practice. Most notably, Hayley was National Optometry Development Manager for Ultralase, and is a refractive surgery and intra-ocular lens specialist.

Hayley works for Specsavers as Head of Enhanced Optical Services, aiming to expand the scope of optometry beyond standard eye tests by offering a wide range of eye health services in Specsavers stores. Hayley is also a Lead Assessor for WOPEC (Cardiff University's post-graduate scheme) and has accreditations in glaucoma, cataract and minor eye conditions.

 

Gordon Harrison
BAAT, RCCP

In 2017 Gordon joined Specsavers as Head of professional advancement and group clinical lead for Audiology for the UK and Ireland and leads the clinical support team in our desire to develop and improve the clinical standards across the business. Originally from Glasgow he started work as an Audiologist in 1989 and spent over 10 years in the NHS, before moving into manufacturing. He has covered a wide range of roles from Audiologist, Sales Representative, Technical Support Audiologist, Sales Manager, General Manager UK and Business Development Director EMEA for Unitron and finally Brand Manager for Widex before joining Specsavers. Gordon is extremely passionate about Audiology, the development of people, products and services that allow clinicians to deliver the best experience for our customers.

 

Samantha Dixon
PGCE FdSc RHAD MSHAA

Samantha works in the professional advancement team as national training manager for audiology. She supports Specsavers desire to continue to raise clinical standards through organising training events such as our annual conference, training clinical leads, conducting clinical audits, observing clinicians and providing guidance to other areas of the organisation. She was elected onto The British Society of Hearing Aid Audiology council in 2018. Samantha began her journey from optics into audiology in 2011 and during her time in audiology has supported students throughout their degrees, IQIPs accreditation across many locations and has become qualified in microsuction wax removal. Her key interests include clinical governance and research linking hearing loss to loneliness, depression, isolation and cognitive decline.