With a colourful play area for the kids and a welcoming coffee lounge for the adults, it is not hard to see why McCrystal Opticians walked away with the title of Family Optician of the Year this April. Located in the centre of rural Dungannon, Northern Ireland, practice owner Noel McCrystal and his team of colleagues work hard to create a relaxing environment fit for the whole family.
The independent was established in 1995 when McCrystal, returning from his studies in the North West of England, decided to open a practice in his home county; a move which McCrystal describes as being a ‘natural progression’. Today, McCrystal Opticians is a valued part of the local community that caters for all age groups.
Optical advisors Aimee Lawson and Laura Hughes are on hand to provide a dedicated bespoke, age-appropriate eye care service which McCrystal says is making a real difference to families in Northern Ireland. The independent practice also offers specialist clinics in dyslexia solutions, myopia control, visual stress and a bespoke children’s fitting service – for those with Down syndrome and abnormal facial symmetry.
After missing out on Optometrist of the Year two years ago, the practice owner and his wife Yvonne – to whom he dedicates much of his success – were delighted to get their hands on an Optician Award this year, describing the feat as ‘absolutely amazing’. ‘It was certainly hard to believe because the competition was really good. The other five [practices] all specialised in various things, so to get our name called was great,’ says the father-of-two.
McCrystal was one of the first optometrists in Northern Ireland to develop a keen interest in helping individuals with sensory processing issues to achieve optical equilibrium. Having struggled with dyslexia as a child, the optometrist has spent the last 14 years developing innovative ways to treat a whole list of conditions.
At present, the independent, which has recently undergone a shop redesign, offers various techniques: cerium overlays, chromagen, intuitive colourimetry, schoolvision and orthoscopics. Above all, McCrystal is most proud of his unique approach to dyslexia, which involves an initial two-hour benchmarking process, with follow ups every six weeks to track progression.
As a specialist in multisensory optometry for children, the practice owner says he treats patients who have travelled from far and wide to seek his expertise. ‘We had people from Wexford yesterday. It took them about four hours to get to the practice.
‘They had done research through the internet and felt that we were the only opticians in the whole of Ireland that were doing what they felt they needed to do with their child,’ said McCrystal.
At the moment, the Irish practice enjoys an 85% success rate when treating individuals with dyslexia, with some patients only needing one visit to correct their issues. However, McCrystal admitted there was a point when he almost lost faith with trials for treatments for dyslexic children.
With help from fellow optometrists like Geraint Griffiths, director of School Vision UK, and Mark Houlford, Brock and Houlford Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, McCrystal says he has been able to perfect his techniques which are helping people across Northern Ireland. Now, the optometrist says his work gives him a sense of tremendous pride and satisfaction.
‘The most rewarding thing is getting the result. I’m now getting such a firm result out of it all, that it really motivates me and it’s given me a whole newfound interest in my career, really,’ says the practice owner.
The practice reaches out to families affected by autism through its partnership with the National Autistic Society and, after 14 years, McCrystal believes he has discovered the key to delivering quality service for children with sensory processing issues.
‘The key is to get them to relax before exams and to get them to familiarise themselves with the environment, so when they come back next time they are immediately comfortable,’ explains McCrystal.
By reaching out to schools in the community, McCrystal Opticians is taking its expert knowledge to the road. Recently, the team’s Eye Healthcare Awareness campaign reached out to 22 schools, highlighting the importance of regular eye exams and healthy vision for learning and academic growth to students and parents.
Although children may have a reputation for being difficult to work with, the family optician admits that it is sometimes the adults – not the kids – who prove more challenging to treat, explaining that some older patients have trouble admitting that they have a problem with their vision.
‘We pride ourselves in a deep discovery conversation of needs and therefore, we can find a tailored optical solution for each individual,’ says McCrystal.
Family Optician of the Year 2017
Winner
McCrystal Opticians
Shortlisted
Barracloughs the Opticians
Bawtry Eye Academy
Cameron Beaumont
Edmonds and Slatter
Planit Opticians