Dr Simon Little, Optometrist.

After first training as an Optical Dispenser, Dr Simon Little, gained his BSc(Hons) in Optometry from the City University, London in 1987; MSc (Optometry) from the University of Bradford (UK) in 1991, and first practised Optometry in Queensland in 1992, graduating from QUT in 1996 with a PhD for his research on the layer of tears between the eye and the contact lens.

His career has included roles in private optometric practice, eye research in the field of contact lenses and anterior eye conditions, clinical work and teaching in hospitals and in universities, as well as lecturing in the UK, USA and Australia. He was an examiner for the Professional Qualifying Examinations of the College of Optometrists (UK) from 1996 to 2005. For the 3 years until mid-2005 he was Clinic Director in the Department of Optometry at the University of Bradford, UK, where he taught lecture courses in Contact Lens Practice and Professional & Legal Studies, and ran specialist Diabetic and Low Vision Clinics. He returned to Queensland in 2005 with the goal of establishing an ethical, professional optometry practice to provide a comprehensive eye care service. In addition to his duties at North Lakes Optometry, he teaches part-time at the Optometry Clinic within the School of Optometry at QUT, Kelvin Grove.

In 2008, Simon became  the first local optometrist to complete the Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics at the QUT School of Optometry. Therapeutic endorsement entitles optometrists, who have been trained in the diagnosis of eye disease for many decades, to treat a number of eye diseases by prescribing S4 drugs; eye drops, gels and ointments. This includes conditions caused by minor trauma and foreign bodies, as well as such conditions as bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid), episcleritis (inflammation of the superficial layer of the white of the eye) and various other anterior eye conditions.

Jennifer M Kraut, Qualified Optical Dispenser.

Jenny has been providing spectacle dispensing services to the people of South East Queensland (with a few forays into other parts of Australia) for longer than she cares to remember, receiving her diploma from the Guild of Dispensing Opticians of Australia in 1993. She is a well-known and highly respected character within the optical industry and is renowned for the quality of her service and her eye for detail. With her extensive knowledge of spectacle frame manufacture, fitting, adjustment and repair as well as her experience in prescription lens dispensing and fitting, Jenny’s expert advice is a great asset to our practice.

Melanie Little, Business Manager/Optical Assistant.

Melanie is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). She has worked in the private accountancy practice and small business sectors in both England and Australia. She has also maintained the accounting and payroll records of a UK company involved in conducting clinical drug trials. Melanie continues to develop her knowledge and experience in Business Services and Audit Compliance in accountancy practices. Melanie completed the Optical Assistants course at QUT School of Optometry in November 2006, and is making good progress with her Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing by distance learning with the Tropical North Queensland TAFE.  She is busy studying the theoretical aspects of spectacle making and dispensing as well as gaining practical experience supervised by the “older hands”. Part-time study is always tough and we have been impressed by her efforts! Melanie is somehow able to juggle her studies with her duties as our accountant and trainee optical dispenser!