A second-generation optometrist Nicola is now the sole director of Haig-Brown Optometry having taken on this role after Gill Haig-Brown’s retirement in 2017.

Nicola started her career in optics when she joined the family practice as a Saturday assistant in 1996. In 1998, she enrolled at City and Islington College to study Dispensing Optics; after qualifying, she immediately began her optometry degree at Cardiff University, graduating in 2003 with a BSc(Hons) in Optometry and Vision Science.

In 2004, Nicola began work as an optometrist at the practice. During these early years, she combined working in the practice with teaching clinical skills to the undergraduates at City University, and working in the eye casualty department at the Royal Eye Unit of Kingston Hospital.

Nicola then embarked on her postgraduate training gaining her Ophthalmology Diploma from Middlesex University in 2011 under the tutelage of Miss Anne Gilvarry, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Lead Clinician at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

In 2018, Nicola successfully completed her Diploma in Therapeutics and Independent Prescribing from The College of Optometrists. With this most recent professional development, Nicola has full prescribing rights and can provide an enhanced service and care for Haig-Brown Optometry patients.

One of Nicola’s areas of special interest is myopia control using either Orthokeratology contact lenses, daily disposable soft contact lenses, or the very newest technology spectacle lenses. 

Nicola has always been progressive in her thinking and embraces new technology, investing in the latest in OCT scanners and other equipment for the practice to give the best healthcare and diagnostic service to her patients. She enjoys providing a high level of expert and compassionate eyecare, ensuring that any patients visiting the practice are relaxed and comfortable with eye examinations, and can rely on her extensive knowledge and experience in both primary eye care and the hospital eye service.

Nicola derives a huge sense of satisfaction from her work and is rewarded by building long-term relationships with her patients, often treating many generations of the same family; most of her new patients are referred by word of mouth recommendation.

When Nicola has free time, she enjoys spending it with her husband, young son and dog, and likes skiing and exploring new capital cities!