Who are Andrew Keirl Opticians?
Andrew Keirl Opticians is a long established independent optometric and optical practice serving the patients of South East Cornwall and beyond with a trusted reputation for providing the highest levels of clinical care. We are passionate about independent Optometry and offer an extensive collection of spectacle frames coupled with the latest state-of-the-art equipment which allows us to tailor an eyecare solution to your individual needs.
Andrew Keirl Opticians
Andrew Keirl is both an Optometrist and a Dispensing Optician and has been working in optics for longer than he cares to remember. His career actually started way back in 1979 as a student Dispensing Optician in Somerset and he often recalls the fact that his first job was to sweep the pavement outside the practice! Following qualification as a Dispensing Optician he worked as a practice manager before qualifying as an Optometrist.
For many years Andrew was a Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge teaching optometry and ophthalmic dispensing to undergraduate students. Andrew is the proprietor of Andrew Keirl Opticians in Liskeard and is passionate about eyecare and is proud to be an independent Optician. Andrew’s practice is part of the Peninsula Optometrists Community Glaucoma shared-care scheme which provides convenient, local care to patients with stable glaucoma. He was previously secretary of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Optical Committee and has also worked as a Low Vision Practitioner at the Royal Eye Infirmary in Plymouth.
In 2019 Andrew was awarded the prestigious title of "International Optician of the Year".
Passionate about eyecare and
proud to be an independent optician
Andrew has lectured and examined in many overseas countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Kenya, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Zimbabwe. Andrew’s current posts include Principal Examiner for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and Visiting lecturer in Optometry at Plymouth University. When he tells his students about his first job in optics they usually don’t believe him. Andrew has written numerous articles and papers for optical journals, a textbook and three educational DVDs for opticians. Andrew also acts as an Expert Witness and Performance Assessor for the General Optical Council and has provided medico-legal reports for the Medical Defence Union. Andrew is married, likes music, cooking (and eating), gardening and walking his two dogs. However, his passion is his work. “That’s why I get up in the morning” he says!
Of course, the practice is not just about Andrew! Andrew is part of a great team of colleagues who are equally passionate about providing excellence in eyecare. We are proud to be one of the first practices in Cornwall to offer OCT scans in the community.
Theresa Johnson, Lauren Prout and Frankie Blake make up our team of Optical Assistants. They are involved in the day-to-day smooth running of the practice, are able to multi-task at a moment's notice and can offer advice on spectacle frames, spectacle lenses, sunwear, contact lenses, eye drops and minor eye conditions. They also help Andrew by performing visual field assessments when we are running Glaucoma Clinics.
Tracy Smith is our Dispensing Optician/Contact Lens Optician. Dispensing Opticians, like Optometrists, are registered with the General Optical Council and are experts in spectacle frames and spectacle lens. Tracy also hold a specialist qualification in Contact Lens Practice.
Experienced Optometrist Anita Harper is a new member of the practice team and works alongside Andrew one day per week.
So what is the ethos of the practice? Above all we listen to the needs and concerns of our patients, take the time required to perform a full and thorough eye examination and offer individual and unbiased advice. We treat patients how we would like to be treated ourselves!