Niall O’Kane Ophthalmic Optician started business on 6th January 1981 away from the town centre in a small vacant shop in Darnley Road in Strood. The first member of the public to come through the door was a blind man wanting a hair cut - the shop had been a hair salon before Niall took over. Unfortunately Niall couldn’t help him with his sight or his hair!
Working with just one receptionist, Niall soon became well-known for providing the best quality eye care in a friendly and caring way. The business developed well and began to grow beyond its premises.
In October 1986 the present premises at 78 High Street was purchased and the business became Niall O’Kane Optometrists. Since then, the building has been expanded upwards and backwards and finally sideways (when the shoe repairers' shop next door was bought) to reflect the growing patient demand.
The business is run under the personal supervision of Niall and his wife Anne, who is the Practice Manager. They are helped by a highly qualified and experienced team of dispensing opticians, customer service assistants, administrators and an IT manager to provide the very best service.
Many patients come from the Medway towns, with the majority from Strood itself. Some continue attending the Practice when they move further away and everything is done to arrange their appointments to fit in with their travel needs - although no one can predict the dreaded M25.
Niall’s philosophy has always been to treat his patients in the way he would like to be treated as a patient and would never recommend anything to a patient that he wouldn’t recommend to one of his family.
About Our Team
What makes Niall O’Kane Optometrists different? The people that work here! We pride ourselves on being fully qualified, friendly and approachable, and committed to providing you with the very best service we can give. You can find out more about all of our team and the various members of staff at Niall O'Kane Optometrists by clicking on Meet Our Team!
What is an Optometrist?
An optometrist (or ophthalmic optician) will examine your eyes to see how well you can see and to check the health of your eyes and your general health. The examinations optometrists perform - in addition to including a standard eye test, which centres on your ability to focus, co-ordinate your eyes and see colours and depth - can detect other general health conditions, such as diabetes.
They have the ability to diagnose and treat visual disorders or diseases that can arise, including glaucoma, cataracts or other serious eye conditions, liasing with other specialists when necessary.
What is a Dispensing Optician?
Using the prescription written by the optometrist, a dispensing optician will advise you on which types of lenses and frames will be best for you, including help with style, weight and colour. If you prefer, they may fit you with contact lenses. They also give advice on when to wear and how to care for your glasses and contact lenses. Some other high street opticians employ 'optical assistants' with no formal qualifications to sell glasses and frames.