Ms Puja Shah BSc(Hons) MCOptom DipTp (IP) MBCLA
Clinical Optometrist and Contact Lens Specialist
My story
My parents came to the UK from Lucknow via Delhi in India in the 1960s. They settled in Dollis Hill, North West London, in the London Borough of Brent.
My Mother taught at the local primary school, Gladstone Park and my Father worked at the Indian High Commission. I was raised to put education and teachers first and respect all other professions. I was brought up with a strong work ethic and to always do the right thing by everyone.
My first foray into contact lenses happened age 16 in 1997. I had been becoming increasingly shortsighted and had been wearing the pink plastic NHS glasses that were popular at the time. I had them in blue too. I couldn’t believe how comfortable my first pair of contact lenses were and what they did to my vision. For the first time in years, I could see everything and everyone clearly. I couldn’t believe what I had been missing in those small but heavy spectacles I had been wearing since I was 12. My first pair of soft contact lenses lasted me two years by cleaning them meticulously every night.
I joined and helped open a new large flagship Opticians on Oxford Street, London, when I was 19, fresh from a gap year Pilgrimage across Northern India. I started by welcoming patients into the practice, answering the phone and making appointments, working part time whilst at City University full time. After Graduation, I started working in the NHS, St Thomas’s Hospital Westminster, as part of our post graduate training and stayed on afterwards.
Since then, I have tried to work in absolutely every place an Optometrist is useful. I still do this on occasion to ensure I know what else is out there and how to make sure I do it as best that I can. I write this after 24 years in Optometry in the West End of London, my most favourite place. I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by incredible colleagues all trying to do the utmost best by our patients and by keeping standards at the highest possible. I meet new patients every day from all over the World and look forward to meeting more. I always treasure those that I’ve seen before returning and with their family too. That’s easily the highest compliment I can be paid and I appreciate it every single time.
Experience and Qualifications
Therapeutics Common Final Assessment of Specialist Qualifications in Independent Prescribing – 2024
Burnett Hodd & Tam Optometry for Dr Caroline Burnett Hodd & Mr Connan Tam-Current
Optometry Tomorrow Incorporating BCLA Focus, Telford Sunday 28th April-Monday 29th April 2024
Contact Lens Workshop by Specialist Club, 8th April 2024
Independent Prescribers by Inspire, Millennium Gloucester Hotel London Kensington, Saturday 3rd February 2024
Arnott Eye Associates with Mr Sher Aslam and Mr Sameer Trikha, London 2020-2022
Independent Prescribing for Optometrists at Aston University 2021-2022
Appointment at Royal Free London NHS Trust, Lead Specialist Contact Lens Optometrist and Diagnostic Keratoconic Clinic 2021-2024
Private Patients for Ms Melanie Corbett at the Western Eye Hospital 2020-2021
Successful Niche Contact Lens Practice by Specialist Club 30th September 2019
Inaugural Award of the BCLA Certificate in Management of Dry Eye and Contact Lens Retention at Aston University, Birmingham 18th July 2018
Specialist Contact Lens and Sclerals Meeting with Mr Ken Pullum at Hertford Optometry and Contact Lens Practice, Herfordshire Friday 24th February 2017
Arnott Eye Associates for Mr Richard Packard 22a Harley Street, London 2010-2020
Cornea, Cataract, Keratoconic Laser refractive update with Mr Sheraz Daya at Centre for Sight, East Grinstead 16th June 2010
The London Clinic for Mr Alistair Laidlaw London 2009
Sportvision Diploma Course at Cardiff University, Cardiff 16-18th October 2008
UV and Eye Health Conference , Royal College of Physicians, Regents Park, London October 2008
Moorfields Eye Hospital Advanced Contact Lens Course with Dan Ehrlich at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London 15th and 16th October 2006
Professional Qualifying Examinations x 10 by College of Optometrists July 2005
Bachelors Degree with Honours in Optometry at City University July 2004
