Optometrists

Mr Gary Hardwick MCOptom

Gary Hardwick is a local lad. He was born in Blackpool. Following graduation from Manchester in 1981 he undertook his post graduate year in central Preston. He passed his professional qualifications in 1982 and was contacted by his own optician (Sean Jameson) with an offer of a partnership of a practice in Cleveleys.

He is a past Chairman of the Local Optometric Committee and is currently the administrator of the N W Lancs LVA (Low Vision Aid) Scheme. He is also on the committee of the Lancashire Optical Society which has been formed to provide continuing education for Optometric practitioners in the area. Over the years he has built up a good working relationship with other eyecare professionals, be they ophthalmologists, other optometrists and dispensing opticians and orthoptists.

Mrs Kate Hurt MCOptom

Kate qualified from Bradford University in 1990 and moved to the Fylde coast to complete her pre-registration year. She has worked in independant practice ever since, joining G R Hardwick (Optometrist) in November 2006.

Kate is a member of the Lancashire Optical Society and regularly attends meetings & continuing education groups as part of the Lancashire Optical Committee and 1st Choice Eyecare Consortium.

One of the highlights of her career so far was a trip to Kenya working as a voluntary optometrist for Vision Aid Overseas, an international charity dedicated to fighting poverty by transforming access to eye care in developing countries.

Mrs Julia Stanley MCOptom

Julia completed her Optometry degree in 1999 following 3 years of study at Bradford University. Her Pre-registration year was spent at Barry Stott Opticians and after spending 6 years working between practices in Blackpool and St Annes, she joined G R Hardwick (Optometrist) in 2006.

Julia has particular responsibility within the practice for the organisation of our peer-review study group. These sessions are a thought provoking discussion looking at various unusual case histories in order to determine whether individual patient needs were met to the very best of our ability. They are part of our ongoing Continuing Education and Training which the professional staff must undertake in order to remain registered with the GOC.

Julia is also a member of the Lancashire Optical Society and regularly attends meetings as part of the Lancashire Optical Committee and 1st Choice Eyecare Consortium.

Mr Drew Thompson MCOptom FBCLA

Drew qualified from Bradford University in 2000 and has special interest in corneal disease and its management with contact lenses. He is heavily involved with continuing professional development and currently holds a committee position on the Lancashire Optical Society which organises and implements educational events for qualified professionals.

Since 2006 Drew has been part of the Victoria Hospital Corneal Clinic as a volunteer, working closely with the department in delivering a quality service to those with corneal disease and post-operative care to those with corneal graft surgery.

Drew's primary interest in practice is the fitting and management of complex contact lenses for keratoconus. He is a Fellow of the BCLA (British Contact Lens Association) and regularly attends and participates their annual international conference.

Miss Sharon Lamson MCOptom

Sharon is originally from Toronto, Canada and moved to the UK in September 2008 to begin studying Optometry at Aston University in Birmingham. After 3 years of study she began her pre-registration year at G R Hardwick (Optometrist) and gained her full qualification in 2013.

Prior to arriving in the UK, she spent 2 years working as a clinical assistant at an opticians in Pickering (Canada) before going on to complete a degree in Biochemistry at Queens University in Kingston.

Dr Chris Howell-Duffy MCOptom PhD

Chris came to optometry relatively late having first of all studied Veterinary Science at Cambridge and Pharmacy at Liverpool John Moores University. Following the completion of his pre-registration year in the Channel Islands he went on to undertake a doctorate in "Spectacle Prescribing" at Bradford University, subsequently gaining a PhD in 2013.

He currently spends his time employed as an Optometry Clinical Tutor at Manchester University as well as spending 1 or 2 days each week at G R Hardwick (Optometrist) as a locum optometrist.