The Optician Show - Optical Business & Marketing Podcast

Who looks after the people looking after everyone else?

For World Mental Health Day, Garry Kousoulou speaks with Tammy about postnatal depression, neurodiversity, workplace overwhelm and the loneliness that can exist even in a busy optical practice.

Through honest personal experiences, they explore crying at work, bullying, asking for help and the small acts of kindness that can make someone feel heard.

A conversation for optometrists, dispensing opticians, practice managers—and anyone who has ever thought, “Is it just me?”

WHAT IF THE WORLD COULD SEE?

What if a life could change with a pair of glasses? What if the difference between dependence and independence could fit inside a box?

In this episode, Garry Kousoulou meets John, a dispensing optician whose ambition reaches far beyond the walls of his practice: to help people around the world access the glasses they need to see, work and live more independently.

His starting point is simple:

“They just need spectacles.”

For people whose sight loss is caused by an uncorrected prescription, glasses can make an extraordinary difference. Yet getting the right pair depends on where you live, what you can afford and whether someone with the skills and equipment to help is within reach.

John asked himself a question: could he rethink the whole system?

Not just the glasses. How they are assembled. How they fit. How a prescription is found. And how all of that could reach a community without a conventional optical practice.

The result is “Optician in a Box”: a modular spectacle system designed to be assembled locally using interchangeable components and pre-cut lenses. During the conversation, John demonstrates how the pieces fit together, how the system accommodates different facial measurements and how it can correct astigmatism.

Then comes the detail that makes Garry pause.

“They’re working out at about eleven pounds twenty-five pence.”

£11.25 a pair, according to John’s estimate in the interview. A modest figure beside the possibility of someone returning to work, reading more comfortably or regaining a part of their independence.

But the glasses are only part of the story.

John also demonstrates a prototype device designed to help people find their prescription without electricity. He explains the thinking behind it, the adjustable lenses and his ambition to make vision correction accessible in places where trained professionals and conventional equipment are scarce.

Garry’s reaction captures the excitement:

“The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.”

This is a conversation about invention, but its heart is human.

Behind every prescription is a person. A parent who wants to provide for their family. Someone who has travelled for days hoping to receive help. A community where clearer vision could open doors that poor sight has closed.

As Garry puts it:

“If we can get people’s sight back, we get their independence back.”

The episode explores how John’s idea might reach those communities through charities, NGOs, governments and optical practices. He shares a proposed donation model in which practices and their customers could contribute towards glasses for someone else.

“Buy one, donate one.”

A simple invitation to connect the everyday act of buying glasses with an opportunity to help another person see.

There is also a personal story behind this meeting. Garry and John share a history through the optical practice John now runs. Their conversation brings together friendship, professional experience and a shared belief that optics can change lives.

John describes the outlook that has driven him:

“Tomorrow’s the beginning of the rest of your life.”

That belief runs through the episode. After decades in the profession, he is still experimenting, questioning familiar processes and imagining how things could work differently.

This is not a claim that glasses can treat every cause of blindness. The discussion focuses on refractive sight loss and the potential of better access to appropriate vision correction. John’s wider ambition depends on turning an invention into a system that communities can use and sustain.

But the question is compelling.

“Could we change blindness globally?”

“I think so.”

Watch as Garry explores the invention, the person behind it and the possibilities ahead. Could a box of components become the beginning of something much bigger?

Colour vision deficiency is far more complex than simply being “colour blind”.

In this special episode, recorded around Colour Vision Deficiency Awareness Day, Garry Kousoulou is joined by Mark Hickson, Programme Leader for face-to-face teaching at Bradford College and lecturer in ophthalmic dispensing and visual optics.

Mark is a qualified dispensing optician with a specialist interest in visual perception, and this conversation explores what colour vision really is, how the brain interprets colour, why colour vision deficiency occurs, and why the optical profession may need to give the subject far more attention.

One of the most fascinating ideas discussed is that colour itself is not a physical property in the way most of us imagine. Light has different wavelengths, but the colours we experience are constructed by the brain. Mark explains how cone cells, rod cells and higher visual processing all contribute to the way we perceive the world around us.

The episode also looks closely at colour vision deficiency and the genetics behind it. Mark explains why congenital colour vision deficiency is far more common in men, how the X chromosome is involved and why a child with colour vision deficiency may have absolutely no idea that they see the world differently from everybody else.

That creates an important challenge for parents, teachers, opticians and schools.

A child may not complain that something is wrong because, to them, their vision has always been normal. Instead, clues may appear through behaviour at school, difficulties with colour-coded learning materials or problems distinguishing certain colours.

Garry and Mark also discuss the Ishihara colour vision test, one of the most recognisable tests used in eye care. They look at the different types of Ishihara plates, how the test should be used, why lighting and presentation matter and why old or faded testing books may not give reliable results.

This leads to a bigger question for the optical profession: are we testing colour vision often enough?

The conversation explores whether dispensing opticians and optical assistants could play a greater role in colour vision screening and whether practices should routinely have access to recognised colour vision tests.

The discussion then moves into careers.

For some occupations, accurate colour discrimination can be important for safety or professional requirements. The episode considers careers such as train driving, aviation, the military, electrical work and even highly specialised jobs such as producing prosthetic eyes.

However, colour vision deficiency should not simply be viewed as a limitation.

Mark shares the remarkable historical example of people with colour vision deficiency sometimes being able to detect camouflage more effectively because they are less distracted by certain colour patterns.

The episode also touches on one of the most famous examples of visual perception: the blue-and-black or white-and-gold dress illusion. Different people can look at exactly the same image and genuinely perceive different colours, demonstrating just how much colour perception depends on the brain rather than simply the eye.

This is a fascinating conversation for dispensing opticians, optometrists, optical assistants, students, parents, teachers and anyone interested in how human vision works.

If you work in optometry, ophthalmic dispensing or eye care, this episode may encourage you to think differently about how often colour vision is discussed and tested in practice.

And if you are a parent, teacher or someone living with colour vision deficiency, it is a reminder that seeing colour differently does not necessarily mean seeing the world less clearly. It simply means the brain may be interpreting that world in a different way.

Featuring:

Garry Kousoulou – Dispensing Optician and host of The Optician Show

Mark Hickson – Programme Leader and Lecturer in Ophthalmic Dispensing and Visual Optics at Bradford College

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Colour Blindness: What Parents, Teachers & Opticians Need to Know

In this episode of The Optician Show, Garry Kousoulou explores one of the most overlooked areas of eye care:colour vision deficiency, also commonly searched for as color vision deficiency or colour blindness.

Joined by colour vision experts, this episode looks at why colour vision deficiency can still go undetected in children,what parents should look out for, and why optometrists and opticians need to think beyond simply completing an Ishihara colour vision test.

We discuss how colour vision deficiency can affect education, confidence, everyday life and even safety.The conversation also explores the science behind how we see colour, the difference between screening and diagnosis,and why people with colour vision deficiency can become extremely skilled at recognising colours through learning and experience.

• Why colour vision deficiency is still frequently missed
• What the Ishihara test can and cannot tell us
• Why an Ishihara test is a screening tool rather than a full diagnosis
• How colour blindness can affect children in the classroom
• What parents should do if they suspect their child has colour vision deficiency
• How teachers can make learning more accessible
• Why you should never use colour alone to communicate important information
• The difference between rods, cones and colour perception
• How people with colour vision deficiency learn to recognise colours
• Why colour accessibility can also be a workplace and safety issue
• The role opticians and optometrists can play in improving awareness

One of the strongest messages from this conversation is simple:never use colour alone to convey information.Small changes in schools, workplaces and healthcare can make information far more accessible for people with colour vision deficiency.

This episode is particularly relevant for opticians, optometrists, dispensing opticians, ophthalmic professionals,teachers, parents and anyone interested in colour vision, colour blindness and accessible design.

If you are searching for a color vision deficiency podcast,colour vision deficiency podcast,optometry podcast oroptician podcast,this episode provides a practical and thought-provoking discussion about an area of vision that deserves far more attention.

The Optician Show brings together people, ideas and conversations from across optics, optometry and eye care.

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The Colour Vision Revolution: How Hungarian Tomatoes Transformed Eye Care

Welcome to a revolutionary episode of the podcast that will change how optical professionals approach colour vision deficiency. Joined by Balazs Komolka and Mate Sabo from ColorOn, Garry Kousoulou explores a scientific breakthrough that turns a failed Ishihara test from a clinical dead end into a life-changing opportunity.

Colour deficiency affects approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 400 women. Despite its prevalence, it remains heavily shrouded in stigma. For decades, the optical industry has lacked an accessible, real-time solution to enhance a patient's colour perception in the testing room. That narrative changes today.

The genesis of ColorOn did not start in an optical laboratory, but in the agricultural export market of 1980s Eastern Europe. When East Germany rejected shipments of Hungarian tomato puree for "not being red enough," the Technical University in Budapest was commissioned to create an objective "tomato purimeter" to measure redness. Having successfully mastered red light filtering for agriculture, the research team asked a bold question.

"The people and this researcher at Budapest Technical University asked, 'Okay, what do we do next? Because we have this knowledge about red light and red filtering... What can we use this for?' And there was a wild idea. Maybe let's check the human eye." (Mate Sabo)

Early human research was flawed because the medical literature incorrectly assumed colour blindness was caused by missing or weak photoreceptors. The Hungarian researchers discovered that in over 99 percent of cases (specifically red-green deficiency), the cones are not missing. Instead, their sensitivity has shifted. Red shifts towards green, and green shifts towards red. This overlap creates a muddy "confusion zone."

ColorOn lenses do not cure colour blindness. Because it is impossible to alter the biological sensors without gene therapy, the lenses manipulate the external stimuli before it reaches the eye. They act as highly sophisticated filters that cut out the specific wavelengths causing the confusion zone.

When a patient first tries the ColorOn lenses, a crucial biological process must occur. Initially, their entire field of vision will appear tinted. However, within one to two minutes, the brain undergoes chromatic adaptation to achieve "white balance." Once the brain recalibrates and white balance is reached, the Ishihara test is presented again, frequently resulting in highly emotional reactions.

"Then the brain starts the adaptation... the white balance comes back again and this is when we can go for a second time Ishihara check... you see the happiness of a child on their faces because it is truly the first experience they see colour differentiation." (Balazs Komolka)

Extensive patient surveys revealed that 83 percent of colour-deficient individuals do not want to wear tinted lenses all day. They view colour enhancement as a functional, task-specific tool. ColorOn offers a tiered portfolio (Strong, Mild, Experience, and Sunglasses) with a heavy focus on clip-ons. This allows patients to overlay the technology onto their existing prescription exactly when needed.

In practice, the diagnostic procedure takes just 10 to 12 minutes using a patented digital tablet tester. The software maps the patient's specific deficiency and instantly recommends the correct lens, removing all guesswork for the dispensing optician.

With European Medical Device Regulation certification secured, ColorOn is preparing for a massive UK launch, spearheaded by appearances at the upcoming 100% Optical event at ExCeL London. We are currently looking for 50 pioneer optical practices in the UK to be the first to introduce this technology.

"We are going to find 50 practices once everything is good... to test this, and this is so exciting for those first 50. If you're watching this and you think, 'Well, this is something I want to

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The Secret History of Optics: Inside the World’s Oldest Optical Museum

In this special on-the-move episode of The Optician Show, Garry Kousoulou visits the British Optical Association Museum at the College of Optometrists and speaks with museum curator Dr Neil Handley.

Neil describes it as the oldest optical museum in the world, now celebrating its 125th anniversary.

“We are the oldest optical museum in the world, and this year is our 125th anniversary.”

This is a fascinating walk through the history of optics, eyewear, sight testing and the inventions that helped shape modern eye care.

Along the way, Garry and Neil uncover remarkable stories involving:

• Benjamin Franklin and bifocals
• Gandhi’s spectacles
• Marilyn Monroe’s final glasses
• Greta Garbo and monovision
• early Ray-Ban eyewear
• historic colour vision testing
• Victorian eye-disease models
• Sir Harold Ridley and the intraocular lens

One of the museum’s most striking ideas is summed up by Neil:

“There are so many eyes around the building that it’s the only museum where the exhibits look at you rather than the other way around.”

The episode also reveals one of the oldest printed illustrations of spectacles, dating back to 1475, and explores how optical history continues to influence eye care today.

A particularly powerful story concerns a Board of Trade colour vision test from 1912, introduced after concerns that ship navigators could struggle to distinguish red and green navigation lights. Neil explains how improved testing was followed by a significant reduction in shipping accidents.

The conversation then moves to Sir Harold Ridley and the development of the intraocular lens. Observations made during the Second World War about Perspex fragments in pilots’ eyes helped inspire an invention that transformed cataract surgery.

For anyone who has worked in optics for years, this episode will also unlock memories.

“They see something from 40 years ago, and it’s a lightbulb moment. They go, ‘I remember that.’”

Garry describes the museum as:

“An Aladdin’s cave.”

And that really captures it.

This is not simply a podcast about old spectacles. It is about innovation, healthcare, fashion, science, public safety and the extraordinary people who helped shape the optical profession.

The episode also looks ahead to the College of Optometrists’ Open House on Sunday 13 September 2026, from 12pm–5pm, when visitors can explore the museum and meet experts from the College.

Garry and Neil also discuss plans to curate a collection of Snellen sight charts in different languages, potentially creating something truly unique.

If you are an optometrist, dispensing optician, optical assistant, student, eyewear enthusiast or simply fascinated by eye care history, this is an episode worth watching or listening to.

As Neil says at the end:

“I hope it’s been eye-opening.”

It certainly was.

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Episode: The Optometrist Yoga Teacher — Treating Dry Eye From the Inside Out

In this episode, Garry sits down with Sal, an optometrist and yoga teacher based in Bristol who's about to open her own practice built around a radical idea: that eye health and mental wellbeing are inseparable.

Sal has spent 11 years as an optometrist and nine as a yoga teacher, running both careers side by side — and she's now merging them into one holistic model of care. As she puts it, she's "obsessed by eyes" and "obsessed by yoga," and believes the two disciplines "go really well together."

Her core philosophy challenges how the profession typically treats dry eye. Rather than only addressing symptoms, she wants to look at root causes: "think about what is the underlying cause," she says, drawing a parallel to her own experience with weight loss, where she learned to treat "the ultimate cause, not the proximate cause."

She walks through the biochemistry behind her approach — how stress keeps the nervous system "in fight or flight constantly," spiking cortisol and reducing tear production, which in turn "creates inflammation" at the front of the eye. Her list of who's most affected is blunt and wide-ranging: "menopausal women," people newly diagnosed with glaucoma, anyone "working for 15 hours in front of a screen." Her conclusion: "every patient that has dry eye has an element of stress in their life for some reason or another."

The conversation also covers her forthcoming Bristol practice on White Ladies Road, Clifton — three months from launch, complete with a dedicated space for yoga and breathwork sessions for patients. She's candid about the pressure of starting from scratch rather than acquiring an existing practice: "I have a dream, I have a vision. The location is right, I have everything I need."

The episode closes with something you won't hear on most business podcasts: a live guided breathing exercise, which Sal leads Garry and listeners through in real time — heart hand, belly hand, and all.

A genuinely different kind of Optician Show conversation — equal parts clinical, spiritual, and practical for anyone thinking about opening a practice of their own

With Garry Kousoulou and Tom from Tom’s Got Glasses

In this inspiring and energetic episode of The Optician Show, Garry Kousoulou sits down with Tom from Tom’s Got Glasses—an American optician whose love for eyewear, people and independent opticianry shines through in everything he does.

Tom’s journey into optics was not planned. Originally from New Jersey, he previously worked in coffee shops, education and an adult day programme supporting people with disabilities. After moving to Michigan and finding an opportunity in optics, he quickly realised that he had discovered something special. What began as a job became a genuine passion for frames, styling, patient care and the craft of opticianry.

Throughout this honest and entertaining conversation, Tom and Garry explore what separates an exceptional optician from someone who simply sells glasses. For both of them, the answer starts with people. It means introducing yourself properly, learning how to pronounce a patient’s name, understanding their lifestyle and building trust before talking about products or prices.

As Tom explains:

“I don’t even talk about glasses for the first three to five minutes. I get to know the person.”

Tom explains why he starts with the patient’s prescription and visual needs before choosing frames. The right frame must work with the lenses, prescription, face, personality and everyday life of the person wearing it. It is not about pushing a particular brand or following a fixed formula—it is about finding a solution that feels made for that individual.

“There is no template in opticianry. Every prescription, every face and every person is different.”

The conversation also explores colour, frame shape, proportion and personal expression. Should glasses quietly blend in, or should they make a statement? Do traditional rules about face shape still matter? Can contrasting colours create more personality? Tom shares how he encourages people to move beyond safe choices and discover frames they may never have imagined wearing.

“Do you want something understated, or do you want to make a statement?”

Garry and Tom discuss the excitement and theatre that can be created during an eyewear styling consultation. Presenting a carefully selected frame, explaining the story behind an independent designer and helping a patient see themselves differently can transform an ordinary appointment into a memorable experience.

“The theatre is important. You want the patient to feel that the frame was chosen especially for them.” — Garry

They also examine the differences between independent eyewear and large corporate brands. Tom speaks openly about his preference for distinctive, well-made frames and the value of developing strong relationships with designers and representatives.

The conversation covers handmade eyewear, one-of-a-kind pieces, vintage frames, rimless designs, frame repairs, smart glasses and the future of technology within optics—but this episode is about much more than glasses.

Tom shares how Tom’s Got Glasses began during a difficult period in his personal life. While going through a divorce, he started dancing in his living room, wearing glasses and creating social-media content as a way of rediscovering joy. That personal outlet developed into a growing platform through which he celebrates eyewear, supports independent designers and inspires other optical professionals.

“This whole Tom’s Got Glasses journey is my way of finding joy—and I get to share that joy with other people.”

Garry reflects on his own experience as one of the earliest opticians to recognise the potential of Facebook and social media. Together, they discuss why authentic content creates a much stronger connection than polished but impersonal graphics.

Social media works best when it captures genuine enthusiasm, real patient transformations and the personalities behind a practice.

“Social media is about capturing those moments when you have genuinely changed somebody’s life.” — Garry

The optical industry has evolved dramatically over the years, but one area that continues to demand greater understanding is the support of neurodivergent patients and the importance of mental wellbeing within the practice. In this insightful conversation, Garry Kousoulou speaks with experienced optical professional and disability advocate Tammie Loughlinabout the need for more inclusive, patient-centred care.

With more than 25 years’ experience in optics, Tammy brings a unique perspective, having worked across independent practices, multiples and hospitals while also drawing on her own experiences of neurodiversity. Together, Garry and Tammy discuss how conditions such as autism, ADHD and anxiety can affect a patient’s journey—from booking an appointment and sitting in the waiting room to undergoing an eye examination and choosing new glasses.

The discussion highlights the challenges that many neurodivergent people face in environments that can be overwhelming, noisy and unfamiliar. Tammy explains that small changes, such as providing quieter spaces, recognising signs of anxiety and adapting communication styles, can have a profound impact on a patient’s experience.

The pair also explore how the profession has changed over the decades. Optics is no longer simply about dispensing spectacles; it is about understanding people, showing empathy and recognising that every patient has different needs. As the industry becomes increasingly focused on clinical care and patient wellbeing, these conversations are more important than ever.

Whether you are an optometrist, dispensing optician or practice owner, this interview offers valuable insights into creating a more welcoming and accessible environment for all patients. By embracing diversity and putting people first, optical practices can build stronger relationships, improve patient outcomes and ensure that everyone feels seen, heard and understood.

The Optician Podcast: The Ultimate Masterclass for Forward-Thinking Eye Care Professionals

Welcome to the definitive companion guide and masterclass overview for The Optician Podcast, the premier audio experience designed exclusively for dispensing opticians (DOs), optometrists, independent practice owners, and industry innovators.

This podcast is not just about frames and lenses. It is a masterclass in professional growth, cutting-edge technology, and global industry leadership. Guided by the philosophy of interviewing only exceptional human beings who have achieved remarkable things in the optical sector, the show provides listeners with the blueprint to elevate their careers, modernise their independent practices, and step completely out of their professional silos.

In this landmark episode, we dive deep into the extraordinary, trailblazing career of Elaine, an academic, dispensing optician, global corporate powerhouse, and scientific director. From her humble beginnings as an 18-year-old trainee in Manchester to her executive roles at Essilor head office in Paris, international missions in South Africa, and her ongoing work with SILMO and the International Opticians Association (IOA), Elaine’s journey serves as the ultimate case study for what is possible when you refuse to stay inside your comfort zone.

The foundation of a truly great podcast relies on a strict curation of content and guests. The host sets a foundational standard: only interview exceptional individuals who have shaped, innovated, and redefined the optical industry. This episode embodies that standard. For months in the planning, this interview brings forward an elite figure in global optics. Whether you are a newly qualified dispensing optician or a seasoned independent practice owner, the insights shared in this 43-minute conversation offer raw inspiration and highly strategic takeaways that cannot be taught in a standard classroom or textbook.

Elaine’s curriculum vitae is nothing short of legendary. She is the ultimate embodiment of how far a qualification in ophthalmic dispensing can take you.

• Professional Identity: Dispensing Optician, Distinguished Academic, Global Marketing Executive, and Scientific Director.

• Core Achievements: Transformed European and international lens distribution strategies, managed global professional relations for the world’s leading lens manufacturer, authored critical educational resources for emerging optical markets, and currently directs high-level scientific and educational panels on an international stage.

• Current Framework: Operating globally as a freelance consultant, Scientific Director for SILMO (managing research bursaries and international education), and board member for ECO (European Council of Optometry and Optics).

Every world-class career begins with a singular spark. For Elaine, that spark was born out of a practical frustration common to many myopic individuals: the inability to play competitive sports with traditional eyewear.

As a teenager passionate about playing hockey, Elaine faced a significant obstacle: she could not safely or effectively play the game whilst wearing glasses fitted with traditional glass lenses. Determined to find a solution, she convinced her father to allow her to be fitted with contact lenses.

This decision brought her into the care of Ross Maskell, a legendary optical practitioner in Manchester. Maskell was a renowned clinical educator of his era, regularly delivering lectures for major pioneering contact lens manufacturers such as Bausch & Lomb and CooperVision.

Maskell did not just fit a lens; he shared his passion. He took the time to show Elaine the intricacies of the technology, explaining

The Visionary Behind the Mic: Interviewing Exceptional Human Beings Meet Elaine: The Profile of an Industry Trailblazer: From Hockey Pitches to Humble Beginnings: How It All Started The Catalyst: An Obsession with Innovation The Pivot: Transforming Failure into a Lifelong Calling