Eyecare Plus optometrist and owner, Shannon Peckham, believes great eye health starts with a routine check up. Doing so can often detect potential eye health issues early on such as glaucoma, macular changes or on rare occasions ocular melanomas, and will help protect your eyes now so you can have your best chance at good eyesight for years to come.
With twenty years of experience as an optometrist, Shannon’s seen and taken care of many people’s eyes across Australia and now calls the Burdekin home. This passionate, warm and friendly optometrist is all for helping people with their vision needs, and the importance of conversations to understand their vision requirements. It’s something she prides herself on.
“I like helping people with their vision and their eyewear needs. Sometimes it's about having a simple conversation to uncover their optimal vision needs. It’s finding out more about the person and what they like to do with their eyes, to see how we can help them to see better, and thus improving their life,” Shannon says.
Shannon, who has been running Eyecare Plus for the last four years as the owner, does so from the most established and recognised optometry practice in the district. It’s a practice that dates back to the 1940s, making it the oldest in town.
“This place has been around since about 1940. When I first came in, we still had paper patient cards, some dating all the way back to the 40s, which was pretty interesting and cool,” she laughs.
This Mareeba born product who studied in Melbourne, earning a Bachelor of Optometry from the University of Melbourne, followed by a postgraduate certificate in ocular therapeutics from the Queensland University of Technology, and is involved with the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand, means that she is able to bring the best optometry services to rural areas such as the Burdekin, providing comprehensive eye care.
Not only does Shannon and Eyecare Plus take the very best care of adults eyes, but she also works with families for pre-school testing to ensure children's eyes are functioning well for learning and concentration.
“I check that their eyes are working at their optimum so that when they are in a learning environment they can concentrate and focus, which helps them perform to their best ability.”
“In older people, I deal a lot with cataracts and eye health issues, whereby I’ll do an eye health assessment for things like glaucoma, macular changes or diabetic retinopathy. We also perform driving vision assessments and I get a number of referrals from the GP’s and hospital in town, for foreign body removals such as metal shavings, mostly for farmers!” Shannon states.
Eyecare Plus currently has great promotions like discounts on second pairs and prescription sunglasses, with package deals starting at $149 for complete spectacles. Other promos include a free Mako cap with prescription Mako sunglasses.
“Comprehensive eye care services and the importance of regular checkups, are vital for maintaining good vision. I’d like to think I improve people's lives by helping them see better to do the activities they love,” she smiles.
For your all your eye care needs, be sure to phone: (07) 4783-1361 or email: ayr@eyecareplus.com.au or visit Shannon at 137 Queen Street, Ayr.
Eyecare Plus optometrist and owner, Shannon Peckham, believes good eye health starts with a check up. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen