Over 20 years, Nasen Udayan has transformed a half-week practice into a bustling three-room operation that turns over nine times its original revenue. His philosophy? Invest in cutting-edge technology, design an inviting space, and hire a fantastic team that loves coming to work.

Although we used a professional fit out company, I did most of the planning and design, knowing how I like our patient flow from reception to separate pretest rooms, consulting rooms, dispensing lab and dispensing areas. All the rooms were designed to fit the huge range of instruments and equipment we use, and all systems were linked via a network.

Truthfully, I didn’t really know all that optometry entailed when I started studying it in the early 90s. I had always wanted to be a dentist as I was drawn to the gadgets and technology, but when I missed out, I decided to try optometry! Thirty years later, my fascination with great equipment and cutting- edge technology has become central to how I’ve built my practice at Eyecare Plus Toronto on the shores of Lake Macquarie in NSW.

Patient accessibility was a key consideration. With two steps to walk into the original practice, my staff were often helping people with walkers or wheelchairs. We eliminated the steps and installed an automatic door. It was expensive, but worth it. Many of our patients are elderly, and this makes our space much more welcoming and accessible.

When I first started, the practice had half a week of optometry coverage. Today, we have three optometrists, two working four days a week and another five days, across three consulting rooms. We only open Monday to Friday and are usually booked out a week or two ahead, with patients driving 100 kilometres or more to see us. We close between Christmas and New Year – yes, typically the busiest time for optometry – but I believe in a balanced lifestyle, and it certainly hasn’t slowed our growth or damaged our reputation for excellent patient care. And the staff love the break!

“I strongly believe it is equally important to invest in your business; otherwise, you won’t get the return you deserve. So, every year, we invest in equipment, fit outs, and /or information technology“

EXPANDING WITH STRATEGY One of the biggest and best business decisions I’ve made came about 14 years ago. We were operating in the initial 57 m through investment in fit outs and technology had outgrown it.

space and

Philip Rose from Eyecare Plus (then business development manager; now General Manager) and I discussed options for expansion.

Our location, at the main intersection in town with a lot of passers-by, meant we were reluctant to move so, when the space diagonally behind us became available, we took it. It was a bit strange at first. Patients would do their eye exams in one room, then walk across to choose their glasses. We had to run two receptions and two teams; it gave me an insight into managing a second practice.

LEADING WITH TECHNOLOGY We often hear about the benefits of investing in shares or property. But I strongly believe it is equally important to invest in your business; otherwise, you won’t get the return you deserve. So, every year, we invest in equipment, fit

In 2021, the spot linking the two rooms became available and I didn’t hesitate to take it. I refitted the entire practice to make it more inviting – it was my third refit, and this time, our space increased from 100 to 184 m

outs, and / or information technology. We run the full ZEISS suite – using the latest Cirrus 6000 with optical coherence tomography with angiography, Humphrey Field Analyser 3 with a liquid lens, and the Clarus ultra-widefield retinal camera – all linked with Forum, which also combines anterior eye images from the three slit lamp cameras.

As a behavioural optometry practice, we often use computer-based vision therapy and provide Cerium Precision Lenses for Pattern Glare, which enables us to narrow lens colours to one in 110,000 for Irlen Mears syndrome. We help patients see colour vision if they have congenital colour vision deficiencies with iRO lens. Since 2017 we have offered intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for dry eye management, initially with E-Eye IPL and more recently, Lumenis OptiLight, which also allows us to treat facial rosacea and telangiectasia. We have Meta AI glasses and have started offering Nuance Audio glasses to help with low to moderate hearing impairments. All this draws many patients through referrals from family and friends, and from other optometrists, ophthalmologists, and GPs.

BUILDING THE RIGHT TEAM I believe in investing in good people. Our team of 12 loves working here – most have been with us for around 10 years and recently one of our optical dispensers retired after 18 years. People often comment on how happy the place is, and they refer others – in fact, our biggest growth comes from referrals from people who we have looked after.

Having been runner up for several years, in 2024 our team managed to win the National Eyecare Plus Performance Practice of the Year Award – that’s testament to our continued investment in equipment, space, and dedicated people who deliver great service every day.

Nasen Udayan BOptom GradCertOcularTher is an optometrist and Director of Eyecare Plus Toronto in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales.

Q: My provider number is being used for health fund claims on days when I am not working in the practice. Should I be concerned?

A: The key risk is that you, the optometrist, may have no oversight of claims being made in your

name. To manage this risk, practice owners can apply for a ‘store’ provider number,

which can be used to process private health fund claims for services provided by

front-of-house staff, such as spectacle and contact lens collections.

Our Optometry Advisor Help Desk is here to support on clinical matters, Medicare and Ahpra queries, HR matters, general career advice and more.

For more information, or if you have enquiries on other topics or situations, contact our Optometry Advisor Help Desk at www.optometry.org.au/practice-professional-support/optometry-advisor-help-desk

The OA member-only help desk can be reached via: 1800 678 662 -

Monday to Friday (after hours by appointment)

OAhelpdesk@optometry.org.au

As Queensland State Lead at Optometry Australia, Prajna Vidaysagar finds she does a lot of listening.

Queensland is a state of scale and contrast, stretching from dense metropolitan corridors to some of the most remote communities in the country. Across that landscape, optometrists are often the most accessible eye health providers. Being entrusted to represent and advocate for this profession in Queensland is something I carry with both pride and a deep sense of responsibility.

What has grounded me most in these early months has been listening. Listening to regional practitioners managing complex presentations with limited local referral options. Listening to metropolitan optometrists navigating growing demand and increasingly intricate shared care arrangements. Listening to early career members who are eager to see their full scope recognised and supported. These conversations shape our advocacy priorities and ensure our work remains practical, relevant, and patient focused.

A major priority continues to be scope of practice reform, particularly the Optometry Board of Australia’s public consultation on oral prescribing, which closed in December. The level of engagement from Queensland members was remarkable, with many taking the time to prepare detailed submissions, sharing real-world examples where access to oral medicines would have changed the course of care for their patients. We are grateful for this strong engagement.

Throughout the consultation period, Optometry Australia actively engaged across state and territory governments, as well as federally, to ensure decision makers understood both the clinical and community impact of this reform. While we have received encouraging feedback, our advocacy hasn’t paused, and we continue to maintain strong government relationships, so Queensland optometry is well positioned.

LICENSING POLICY Closer to home, driver licensing policy has been another significant focus. Optometry Queensland Northern Territory (OQNT) advocated strongly on the basis that the eyesight section from the previous medical forms had not been properly carried across into the updated documentation. For our profession, this detail matters. Clear frameworks for recording visual acuity, visual

fields including confrontation and binocular Esterman, and relevant eye health findings protect both public safety and professional clarity. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has now committed to reinstating and improving the eyesight section in Form F319 – a meaningful advocacy outcome.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it reinforced that there is real opportunity when we step outside our usual professional silos”

We have also raised concerns regarding the medical certificate form used by general practitioners, which does not currently provide space to record basic visual acuity or confrontation fields. Our focus has been constructive: advocating either for reinstatement of visual acuity or for stronger prompts encouraging referral to an optometrist where vision or eye health is uncertain, particularly for older drivers. Importantly, OQNT has been formally invited to join the Medical Condition Reporting Working Group, ensuring optometry has a direct voice in future policy and form design. At a national level, Optometry Australia is preparing a submission to the forthcoming Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines review, including advocating for mandatory eye testing with an eye care practitioner for drivers over 75. Queensland has indicated its protocols will align with national changes, reinforcing the importance of this work.

HEALTHCARE COLLABORATION While policy advocacy is essential, relationships are equally powerful. One of the most encouraging developments this year was our first dedicated GP collaboration event in

at p.vidyasagar@optometry.org.au as we

Townsville.

It was intentionally designed as a listening exercise; we wanted to understand what GPs want and need from optometrists. The session was warm, open, and highly engaged. Many GPs found it educational to learn about the current scope of practice of optometrists, particularly our therapeutic authority and shared care capabilities. There was a clear appetite to strengthen collaboration and streamline referral pathways, with open and practical discussions about communication, referral clarity, and co-management. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it reinforced that there is real opportunity when we step outside our usual professional silos. Reflecting on the discussions, we are considering how best to support optometrists who want to build stronger local GP relationships, whether through clearer messaging, practical conversation guides, or shared information resources. The aim is simple: to equip our members with tools that make collaboration easier and more confident at a local level.

Looking ahead, I am genuinely excited about the 2026 Optometry Clinical Conference (OCC), which will be held in Brisbane on 9–10 August. OCC 2026 is an opportunity to reconnect, learn, and return to practice energised. Hosting it in Queensland feels especially meaningful. It allows us to showcase not only our clinical excellence, but also the strength and warmth of our professional community. I hope to see a strong Queensland presence across all career stages, demonstrating the leadership and momentum building in our state.

At its core, my role is about ensuring Queensland optometry has a clear, confident voice in policy and in practice. Every submission, every stakeholder meeting, and every member conversation comes back to one goal: improving access to high quality eye care for Queenslanders, wherever they live. The work is steady, strategic, and often incremental, but the momentum is real.

Queensland optometry’s voice is strongest when it is collective, so I encourage you to share your insights or priorities with me

continue shaping the road ahead together.

Prajna Vidyasagar is the Queensland State Lead at Optometry Australia.