A PORTHCAWL optician is marking 20 years of serving the community by launching a specialist clinic to support local residents with sight loss as part of the NHS funded Low Vision Service.
According to the UK’s leading sight loss charity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, around two million people are currently living with sight loss in the UK. The charity also predicts that by 2050, one person will lose their sight every three minutes.
The low vision assessment service is funded by the NHS and will be overseen in Porthcawl by Specsavers director, Louise Whiffin.
The service aims to support those with reduced vision to maximise their remaining sight by offering tailored support and visual aids, like magnifiers and specialist lighting, as well as practical advice. It is an innovative and valuable service available via accredited clinicians throughout Wales.
This coincides with Ms Whiffin’s 20th anniversary at Specsavers, after joining the business in 2005 as an optical assistant at the Swansea store.
She has progressed through a variety of roles during her tenure at Specsavers, including dispensing optician and dispensing manager, before moving to the Porthcawl store in November 2022 to become a director.
Over the course of her career, Ms Whiffin has earned multiple certifications including those in dispensing optics, British Sign Language and mental health first aid. Earlier this month, she became a fully qualified contact lens optician.
Commenting on the occasion, Ms Whiffin says: ‘I’m thrilled to be celebrating 20 years at Specsavers by launching our new low vision service.
‘The industry has evolved so much over the past two decades, and there are now more opportunities than ever for us to expand our services and help even more people in the area improve their eye sight.
‘I’m excited to see how we can continue to adapt and thrive as a store, ensuring we provide the very best service to our customers.’
