A Tasmanian independent optometry practice operated by Mr Martin Robinson that was nominated in several categories in the Telstra 2022 Best of Business Awards has been named state finalist in two categories and crowned state winner in one.
Martin’s Eyecare, established by Robinson in 2009 in Glenorchy, near Hobart, was the only optometry practice to feature as a state finalist, state winner and national finalist in the awards.
“I was advised by a patient that they nominated us, so I went to the [Telstra Business Awards] website and accepted. We were nominated in four categories and accepted and responded to three – Championing Health, Building Communities, and Embracing Innovation and Technology. Of these, we were state finalists in two and state winners in one,” Robinson said.
He attended the awards presentation in Sydney in April, where Martin’s Eyecare was announced as the Tasmania state winner of the Championing Health Award and named as a national finalist in the same category. The practice was also a state finalist in Building Communities.
Robinson said the awards process took nearly 12 months, from the initial nomination to the time winners were announced, and involved recorded video statements, a written essay and a video interview with a panel – for each category he was nominated in.
Although responding to the awards criteria was a time-consuming task for Robinson, who has an interest in contact lenses and dry eye, he was praised by the Telstra judges for his ability to adapt to the ever-changing optical landscape and his philosophy of taking the time to offer tailored care to every customer.
“The 2020 shutdown due to the initial COVID outbreak led to ceasing all my dry eye consultations and treatments. Blephasteam and Mastrota obviously involve extended periods face-to-face. It led me to search for educational material online with regard to dry eyes,” he said.
Robinson, who was appointed a member of the Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) in late 2021, has been the Tasmanian state president of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia (CCLSA) since 2017, and national vice president since 2018.
“As vice president of the CCLSA I was also able to have lengthy discussions with Dr Art Epstein, a dry eye practitioner in Phoenix, while we planned and co-presented the CCLSA Masterclass. All dry eye practitioners worldwide were facing the same problems. I attended so many lectures and conferences from my computer, read so many publications and articles,” he said.
“The practitioner advice combined with the weight of evidence published led me to purchase a Lumenis M22 IPL machine. This allowed a return to delivering COVID safe treatment. My decisions are almost always made this way; professional advice, articles in trade magazines, scientific papers. I ensure the advantages of a device will match my patient demographic. As well as considering the likely impact of any noted disadvantages.”
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