TEGAN MATHESON’S early experiences sparked a deep passion in eyecare that has set the stage for her remarkable career dedicated to advancing eyecare excellence.
My name is Tegan Matheson, and I am proud to serve as the senior professional services manager for NSW/ACT with OPSM. Over the past 10.5 years, I’ve had the privilege of working in various roles and regions across OPSM, embracing countless opportunities to grow, learn, and challenge myself.
I am very fortunate to be born one of a triplet, alongside my two brothers. We were born prematurely, and as a result, I developed infantile esotropia, which led to years of wearing glasses, undergoing patching, atropine treatment, and eventually two surgeries – one at age two and another at 10. Those early experiences sparked my fascination with eyes and ignited my passion for eyecare. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of visiting the eye hospital with my mum, making what could have been daunting into something I looked forward to.
My journey with OPSM started indirectly at the local café, where I worked as a barista and got to know the team at the OPSM store next door. One day, during my eye exam, the optometrist asked about my studies. When I shared that I was studying optometry, the optometrist referred me to the store manager, and I was hired as a retail optical dispenser.
Working as a dispenser was such a rewarding experience. I immersed myself in the team, learned the ins and outs of store operations, and built a strong understanding of what makes a great optometrist. During my final year of university, I completed placements in Adelaide and at OPSM Eyehub in Victoria, where I honed my skills in IPL, orthokeratology, and patient care. After graduating, I was fortunate to secure a position at the same store where I worked as a dispenser.
While I loved specialty optometry, I also had a desire to travel and explore regional relief work. Supporting stores across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania allowed me to gain new experiences, challenge myself with emergency eyecare, and bring back new ideas and skills to metropolitan practices. My passion for mentorship and learning led me to pursue additional qualifications, including courses in pediatric and advanced contact lens fitting, as well as a public health and leadership program.
These experiences paved the way for leadership roles, including area eyecare manager for VIC/TAS and later, country eyecare manager for New Zealand. Leading the New Zealand team was an incredible challenge, but it taught me the importance of building strong relationships and fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
One of the most meaningful parts of my career has been volunteering with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. I’ve been fortunate to provide eyecare in places like Palm Island, Samoa, and refugee centre, as well as contributing to long-term projects establishing a sustainable vision centre in Papua New Guinea (PNG), bringing care and access to over 1 million people.
This work reminds me why I became an optometrist – seeing the profound impact vision care can have on someone’s life is incredibly humbling.
Below is a photo of a patient I tested from the blind school in PNG, she was a young 7-year-old shy girl, who had been in the blind school for a few years, she had no visual aids and could not attend mainstream school or integrate well within her rural community.
She noticed “white smoke” (cataracts) which gradually developed and then resulted in being completely blind. She underwent surgery and post-surgery; she was given a pair of spectacles. When interviewed about her story in partnership with CBM, she said she was so happy and now able to see her mother’s face again and was now able to help with the chores and go back to school.
Now, as the senior professional services Manager for NSW/ACT, I’m excited to support our eyecare teams and contribute to the ANZ eyecare strategy.
I’m passionate about advancing technology, training, and delivering exceptional care, and I’m grateful for the endless opportunities EssilorLuxottica provides. If I had one piece of advice for my optometry colleagues, it is to make sure you say yes to every opportunity and challenge yourself to keep learning and pushing outside of your comfort zone.
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