‘An eye for business’ – revolutionary contact lenses give aspiring make-up artist the chance to fashion a new career in beauty world
For years, a debilitating eye condition meant mum-of-two Jordene Caleb was unable to pursue her dream of working as a make-up artist, but a revolutionary new contact lens – pioneered by a Northampton optometrist – is helping her to fashion a new career.
The 28-year-old from Far Cotton has become one of the first people in the UK to benefit from EyePrint Pro – a state-of-the-art technique which creates a completely bespoke contact lens engineered from a precision mould of the exact contours of the eye surface.
Tompkins Knight & Son Optometrists, based in Kingsley Road, Northampton is the only practice in the UK to offer the service and Jordene has taken advantage of the improved vision and increased comfort her lenses have given her to focus on growing her start-up beauty business.
She said: “I was diagnosed with a condition called keratoconus at the age of 18. I was struggling to see, it was awful. I had loads of different treatment, some of which did more harm than good and left me with a lot of scarring on my cornea.
“I was recommended to try TK&S by someone at the hospital and they managed to find me some scleral lenses which proved to be life-changing. They allowed me to see my son, Dante, properly for the first time. Before I could see a rough outline, but those lenses allowed me to see him in detail. It was amazing.
“Recently, EyePrint Pro has come on the scene and the TK&S team were trialling the new technology. It’s basically like getting a custom-made pair of shoes or a bespoke tailored suit, but for your eyes. I was happy to be a bit of a guinea pig and give it a go to see if it would make any difference.
“I had the mould made and off it went to Switzerland to be made. Two weeks later I had a pair of completely bespoke lenses which fit me perfectly. The improvement in comfort is amazing. I can wear them for longer, I don’t need to clean them as regularly, I can just get on with life as normal.
“Now that I can see in even greater detail and wear them all the time I’m starting to do what I’ve always wanted to do – run my own make-up and beauty business. I’m already working as a bridal consultant and I can’t wait to grow the business over the next few years.”
TK&S director Brian Tompkins said: “We’re very proud to be the only UK practice currently providing EyePrint Pro. Rather than relying on standard lenses and hoping they fit the shape of your eye, we can now create a 100 per cent bespoke lens which matches the exact contour of your eye.
“It’s effectively taking a fingerprint of your eye. It’s quick, painless and is having life-changing benefits – with people who have struggled for years to get a lens to fit due to their keratoconus or other debilitating corneal disease now enjoying the benefits of a fully customised lens unique to them.”
For more information on TK&S Optometrists, currently the UK’s Technology Practice of the Year, call 01604 714413 or visit www.tks-optometrists.co.uk.
Notes to editors
- Further interviews are available upon request. To arrange, please call Daniel Owens from Orange Juice Communications on 07909 916668 or email [email protected]
- For more information on Tompkins, Knight & Son Optometrists call 01604 714413 or visit tks-optometrists.co.uk
