Newcastle optometrist Michael Offord celebrates anniversary

Award-winning Newcastle optometrist Michael Offord has marked 35 years delivering eye care with a day of celebration attended by many of his patients old and new.

Guest of honour Elsie Wearn, who was Offord’s first ever patient when his practice opened its doors on September 1, 1981, cut a special ‘35’ shaped cake.

Offord qualified as an optometrist in 1973, working first for other opticians in the north-east. But he says it was always his dream to have his own practice and in 1981 he took the leap and opened Michael Offord Optometrists in Newcastle’s Kingston Park Shopping Centre.

‘The world of optometry has changed almost beyond recognition since the practice first opened, not least with the changes in technology which have improved the accuracy of eye examinations and dispensing. But one thing that hasn’t changed is that we are an independent practice, proud to be independent and truly local to the community we serve,’ said Offord.