O'Briens looking clearly into the future
Jacqui, Anne, Lindsay and Sheeraz
It is 25 years since O’Briens optician has been running and Mr O’Brien has decided that it is a good time to retire and hand over the business. In December 2003 this took place and the practice was taken over by Mr Sheeraz A Janjua. Despite this, the name of the business shall not be changing. ‘O’Briens has an excellent reputation in the area and I would like to maintain and build upon that.’ – Sheeraz.
As a fully qualified ophthalmic optician, Sheeraz offers a complete ‘1 to 1’ contact service with a limited use of locums. Being in contact with the patient throughout the examination, prescription and fitting stages means that he is able to follow what he calls the ‘patient journey’. This complete knowledge of the patient enables Sheeraz to make accurate diagnoses of many optical and medical conditions.
As an independent optician, O’Briens can select from all lens and frame manufacturers – and is not tied to a single manufacturer. This not only has cost advantages, but also gives the widest choice of single-, bi-, and vari-focal lenses and frames in all the latest fashions. Complementing this range, there is always an ever-changing selection of frames at a 50% discount.
Sheeraz is taken with our town and is looking for a house. He makes a point of buying locally where possible and is a regular visitor to Granddad's Shed Café. Sandwich Heaven have created a 'Sheeraz Special' to complement 'Jacqui's Boxes' that they already supply. He would also like to sponsor Brigg Town Football Team with a sideline poster along the lines of "Ref you need your eyes checking! Get down to O'Briens!"
O’Briens stocks the advanced Kodak Precise varifocal lens range. Sheeraz believes that this range is the ‘future’ of spectacle lenses as it mimics the natural eye. The lenses can come with a unique, scratch-resistant anti-reflection design that means that up to 99.6% of light enters the eye giving clearer and sharper vision.
Sheeraz was brought up in Nottingham and studied in Bradford where he gained his BSc (Hons) MCOptom qualification. After graduation he worked in a hospital and as a locum in more than 100 companies throughout an area stretching from York in the north to Spalding in the south.
He has also worked extensively in the North Lincolnshire area, which soon became his favourite location. In what he describes as a ‘moment of fate’ he saw a single advert in a professional journal for someone to take over O’Briens. He immediately wrote to Mr O’Brien – who wrote back to arrange a meeting.
Sheeraz doesn't like the term 'customers' used by the large high-street chain opticians and prefers to call everyone he examines a 'patient'. He offers a complete optical service in which the health and well-being of the patient is paramount.
It was at this meeting that Sheeraz explained his ideas for the future to Mr O’Brien. Sheeraz felt so much at home in Brigg and in the opticians that he asked for ‘first refusal’. His natural enthusiasm and love of his work clearly transmitted itself to Mr O’Brien who selected Sheeraz out of the many opticians who wanted to take over the business. In December 2003, the business was formally handed over.
Four people are employed at O’Briens. Jacqui Edwards has worked as the Practice Manager for 14 years. Anne has worked as an optical assistant for four years and Lindsay has recently started as a second optical assistant and is studying to be a dispensing optician.
Sheeraz’s specialism at university and currently in his practice is the identification of macular degeneration. This condition leads to a gradual reduction in vision – particular in the central area of sight – by the build up of dark pigmentation (similar to liver spots) on the retina. Caucasian people – those with white skin, blond hair and blue eyes - are most likely to suffer. There is a good chance of restricting its progression by the taking of specific vitamins / health supplements, which are available at O’Briens.
When asked about his motivation, Sheeraz didn’t hesitate for a second. ‘It is a chance to change people’s lives’. On many occasions he has been the first person to spot an otherwise unknown medical condition in a patient through the effects on the patient’s eyes.
Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and macular degeneration (see box right) can have long-term and serious affects on a patients health. Diabetes indeed can lead to total blindness. Patients can be referred within 24 hours to Scunthorpe General Hospital.
It is not only the successful identification of life- and vision-threatening conditions which can change lives.
Sheeraz is able to radically improve eyesight too. Someone with what is known as ‘6/60 vision’ (see box right) can be improved to 6/24 or even 6/6 – perfectly normal vision. This allows the patient to lead a fuller, less restricted life.
Vision is specified with 2 numbers separated by a line. For example: 6/24. This indicates that this person can see at 6 metres what someone with normal vision can see at 24 metres. Perfect vision is 6/6. This is known in the USA as 20/20 vision.
Everyone at O’Briens is looking forward to celebrating O’Briens’ 25th anniversary. The most noticeable shall be a relaunch of the business with a new logo (below). They may also hold a coffee afternoon or some other form of celebration.
O’Briens will not only be looking back to the past 25 years: Sheeraz has many plans for the coming years. He is re-launching the contact lens clinic with a new specialist and has plans to stock a complete range of lenses including fashion and speciality lenses.
There are also plans to begin home-visits and to open a low-vision clinic. The practice is ideally sited with parking outside the door and a disabled access ramp.
Related information: Contact details