Kent Eye Care - Independent Specialist Optometrists & Opticians

General information

We are an Independent Specialist Optometrists & Opticians established ten years ago and is owned and run on a daily basis by John Gurney and Claire Forrester. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a professional friendly affordable specialist eye care service for all the family.

One of only two specialist optometry practices in the whole of Kent

3D Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) Kent Eye Care can offer you a scan as part of your examination using one of world’s most advanced and newest generation 3D OCT devices, this is avaliable to both NHS and private patients

Our Topcon 3D -1 Maestro OCT uses the same technology as found in both Maidstone and Medway hospital eye departments .We can pick up changes within the retina up to few thousandths of a millimetre. Our Optometrists can therefore detect and monitor conditions such as Glaucoma, macula degeneration, diabetic eye changes, optic nerve and corneal diseases earlier than we could ever dream of in the past, ensuring you peace of mind that your eyes are healthy .If a problem is detected then very early intervention and treatment by a Specialist Optometrist or Ophthalmologist can be instigated.The scan is non invasive,painless and takes just a few seconds

Private eye examinations

FREE NHS GOS eye examinations for both adults and children

Spectacle dispensing

NHS Vouchers accepted

Home Visiting NHS domicillary service for the whole of kent

Large range of spectacles to suit all budgets

FREE kids GO FREE Range

All types of Contact lenses fitted and supplied

Specialist NHS Community Ophthalmology clinics for chronic and acute conditions.

Specialist diabetic screening for the Paula Carr diabetes Centre

Specialist post surgerical consultations on behalf of Maidstone Hospital

Spectacle repairs

Clinical tests including objective and subjecting refraction, contact tonometry, gonioscopy, slit-lamp bimicroscopy, indirect and direct ophthalmoscopy, dry eye assessments,lacrimal syringing,foreign body removal

Experienced proffesional ,knowledgeable friendly staff

Disabled and Wheelchair access
The Kent Eye Care Team

Kent Eye Care is an Independent Specialist Optometrists Opticians established ten years ago and is owned and run on a daily basis by John Gurney and Claire Forrester. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a professional friendly affordable specialist eye care service for all the family

Staff and profiles

John Gurney
Specialist Registered Independent Prescribing Optometrist /Clinical Director/Contact Lens Practitioner

Bsc (Hons),MCOptom ,DipTp(AS), DipTp(SP), DipTp(IP), Prof Cert(Glauc),FBDO(CL), SMC (TECH),OPwSI (Ophthalmology)

John entered optics in 1986 qualifying as an optical technician at the City and East London College in 1988. After further study John became a registered Dispensing Optician in 1992 achieving the Masters Prize, and qualified in Contact lenses two years later. In 1995 he attended the City University London for 3 years obtaining a 2:1 degree in Optometry. He achieved two prizes at City the Nissel Memorial Prize for clinical work and Leonard Lurie Memorial prize for Pathology. Following Professional Qualifying Exams he was elected a member of the College of Optometrists in 1999 and was registered as an Optometrist with the General Optical Council (GOC).

In 2008 John undertook further study at the Institute of Optometry London in Ocular Therapeutics Additional supply and Supplementary prescribing. Between 2010-2011 John attended The City University London and Maidstone Hospital Rapid Access Eye Clinic, following further College of Optometrists examinations he qualified as a Specialist Independent Prescriber. John is one of only 43 Optometrists (OIP Vol 12 Issue 3 87-98(Hytti) 2011)) in England with an Independent Prescribing Specialty. This Specialty allows John to prescribe and issue medical prescriptions (FP10) s for both NHS and private patients for the treatment of any eye condition.

Although John is already one of the most qualified specialist optometrists in the country he is currently undergoing even more post graduate study and research, at two universities concurrently Aston and Cardiff for the Ophthalmic Doctorate and College of Optometrists Diploma in Glaucoma. John is also the clinical supervisor and mentor of Mark and Katie who are undergoing their training to become Registered Dispensing Opticians with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and General Optical Council (GOC).

John is accredited with the Paula Carr Diabetic Eye screening service examining patients who have been referred to him with diabetic eye problems.

John is member of the Community Ophthalmology Team (COT) employed as an OPwSI(Optometrist with Special Interest in Ophthalmology) by the West Kent NHS and Medway , this role sees him examining and treating patients who have been referred by the hospital, local General Practitioners and community opticians. John runs two clinics per week for the COT examining and treating patients for a wide range of both acute and chronic eye conditions such as dry eye, red eye, corneal ulcers, uveitis, ocular hypertension and glaucoma

He is qualified and proficient in advanced ophthalmological techniques for the benefit of his patients these include- applantation tonometry, corneal pachymetry,Punctal probing, Lacrimal syringing, gonioscopy and foreign body removal .

John performs two week post surgical follow ups for patients who have undergone cataract surgery at Maidstone hospital.

John carries out NHS and Private Eye Examinations for both the practice and home visiting service.

Claire Forrester
Company Secretary

Claire is responsible for the overall day to day running of Kent Eye Care both the practice and home visiting domiciliary service. She ensures that our high standards of clinical care and service are always adhered to. Claire set up Kent Eye Care with John over ten years ago. Prior to this Claire worked in several opticians in both dispensing and managerial roles.

Marion Smith
Practice Manager

Marion has been in this role for the past twelve years she ensures the smooth running of our practice

Katie Jackson
Trainee Dispensing Optician

Katie has over 9 years optical experience she currently performs dispensing in our practice. She is undertaking further studies with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) to become a qualified registered Dispensing Optician.

Katy Coomes
Optical Dispenser

Katy has over 7 years optical experience she currently performs optical dispensing for both the domiciliary service and in the practice.

Mark Raggett
Trainee Dispensing Optician

Mark has over 13 year’s optical experience he currently performs optical dispensing for both the domiciliary service and in the practice. He also delivers any spectacles back to patients from our home visits carrying out the required fitting and adjustments.He is undertaking further studies with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) to become a qualified registered Dispensing Optician.

Katie Barwick
Clinical assistant

Katie has been with Kent Eye care for the past year and helps with the day to day running of the practice and performing OCT scans and Visual field tests for patients.

John and Claire also employ two locum optometrist's Jaspreet Ubhi Bsc (Hons), MCOptom and Nicola Sabokbar Bsc (Hons), MCOptom on a regular basis to carry out both NHS and Private eye examinations for both our practice and home visiting service.

All our experienced staff are committed to providing the highest quality eye care for all the family.

Come in and see for yourself