Cameron Optometry

01/06/2026

Meet the Team: Natalie Smith
Natalie is Cameron Optometry’s Tear Clinic Technician, specialising in dry eye care and treatment.

Over the past two years, Natalie has undertaken ongoing training with our Tear Clinic lead, Gillian Bruce, alongside extensive online learning, to deepen her understanding of dry eye disease and the treatments we offer. She plays a key role in the patient journey, from initial phone consultations where she discusses symptoms and concerns, through to delivering tailored treatments within the clinic.

Natalie has a particular interest in the hands-on side of the role, carrying out treatments such as Low Level Light Therapy and Zest, with IPL soon to be introduced. She finds it especially rewarding to see real, immediate improvements in patients’ comfort and eye health.

When it comes to eyewear, Natalie loves Anne et Valentin, especially the bold colours, although she always finds herself drawn back to classic tortoise shell frames.
Her advice to patients is to ask questions. With clinics constantly evolving and new technologies being introduced, the team is always happy to talk through options so you feel informed and confident in your eye care.

What Natalie enjoys most about her role is making a tangible difference. Seeing patients feel the benefit of treatment and improve day to day is what drives her.
She also focuses on making every appointment feel relaxed. No question is too small, and she is always happy to talk things through so patients feel comfortable and supported throughout their treatment journey.

29/05/2026

New scrubs AND new specs 🥳

Our lovely Mae in her new Kirk & Kirk glasses - model Hana in colour Earth. A layered brown with a blue underneath, a palette that shines in their incredible signature acrylic material. Model Hana is described as a ‘cheeky frame that beams charm’, we absolutely agree! Plus don’t they look especially stunning with new burgundy scrubs!

28/05/2026

We are delighted to support the Life Care Centre. They do such incredible work and we know many of our patients benefit from their services. If you aren't aware of their services and the invaluable support they provide, please visit their website https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk. They have a BBQ coming up in June, and activities to keep little ones entertained in July.

A big thank you to Cameron Optometry for a generous donation of £1,000!

Cameron Optometry are fantastic supporters of the local community, and we are so grateful they've chosen to donate to us. Their support will help us tackle isolation and provide uplifting, positive and practical support for older people and their carers in the local community.

Thank you 💚

25/05/2026

Next up in our Meet the Admin Team series of posts, is a voice you may well have heard a lot, but perhaps not a face you know.

Caroline Budge has been part of the team here for five years, starting at front of house before moving into the admin team upstairs, where she now plays a key role behind the scenes.

Day-to-day, Caroline is one of the voices you’ll hear on the phone or over email, helping with patient queries, appointments, and Vision+ memberships. She does an amazing job keeping things running smoothly and making sure patients feel supported at every stage of their experience.

When it comes to eyewear, Caroline is all about sunglasses. She loves Gigi Studios, Maui Jim and Anne et Valentin, particularly styles with a brown graduated tint, so she’s delighted there’s a new collection for the spring!

Her advice to patients is simple but important, when booking your appointment, let us know about any changes in your vision or anything specific you would like to discuss. It helps us make sure you get the most out of your time with the optometrist.
What Caroline enjoys most about her role is knowing that, even though she is not always patient-facing, her work plays an important part in the overall experience. By keeping everything organised behind the scenes, she helps ensure each visit runs as smoothly as possible.

22/05/2026

New from Cutler and Gross 🥳

Many of you may remember Cutler & Gross from back in the 70s and beyond - the brand was central in popularising fashionable eyewear. Today the brand are more popular than ever, their ability to stay on trend yet hark back to their roots and iconic collaborations mean they are one of the most important eyewear brands today.

A couple of times a year we view the collection as a whole, get to try everything on, and order in their latest styles. Recently we had one of those days and we are so excited to receive them! Expect to see some instant classics, new colours and as always, eyewear at the forefront of design. Here’s a sneak peek…

19/05/2026

Next up in our Meet the Admin Team series, is Angie Martin, our incredible bookkeeper.

Angie is a key part of our admin team, looking after accounts and helping to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes at Cameron Optometry.

She holds a BA in Accountancy and Finance from Heriot-Watt University and brings a wealth of experience across a range of sectors, including housing, building, tutoring and even teaching preschool music classes with Jo Jingles. Angie spent five years working in housing finance before taking a career break to raise her children, and has now been part of the Cameron Optometry team for 10 years.

When it comes to eyewear, Angie prefers a lightweight, minimalist style. Her current favourites are Lindberg frames, which she loves not only for their comfort but also because they have drawn more compliments than any pair she has worn in the past decade!

What Angie enjoys most about her role is the people and the environment. The admin team works hard, but it is also a genuinely friendly and supportive place to be. She values being part of a practice where the focus is firmly on patient care, with everyone striving to do their very best. For Angie, that makes all the difference, she would not want to work in a finance role where it is only about the numbers.

She also particularly enjoys being involved in the charitable side of the business, in her role on the charity committee, helping to organise donations. It is, as she puts it, a fun and meaningful part of spending money.

15/05/2026

The Frame Room has reopened! 🎉

Following renovations we are delighted to welcome you back to our new and improved Frame Room. We have added new desks including a a 5th desk for our lovely Trainee Dispensing Optician Sophie, along with a new wall colour (plus new feature wall!) and new carpet.

We also have some fabulous new frames in to go with our refreshed room! Give us a call on 0131 225 2235 to book in for an appointment to view our latest eyewear collections.

12/05/2026

Next up in our Meet the Admin team posts, is the wonderful Heather Muir (with her very enviable eyewear collection!).

Heather Muir brings over 20 years of experience in optics to the Cameron Optometry team, with a particular passion for contact lenses and patient support.

She holds a range of additional qualifications, including in child anxiety, introduction to play therapy, work-based first aid, and dementia awareness. This breadth of training reflects her calm, thoughtful approach and her ability to support patients of all ages and needs.

Alongside her role in practice, Heather also works in the film and television industry, where she ensures the safe handling of contact lenses on set. Most recently, she has worked within the hair and make-up team on Frankenstein, which went on to win an Oscar, as well as on Netflix’s Department Q.

Within Cameron Optometry, she plays a key role in supporting patients throughout their contact lens journey, from initial teaching and handling sessions through to ordering and ongoing care. She also works closely with parents of babies with congenital cataracts, helping them learn how to safely insert and manage contact lenses at home.

Her advice for patients is simple and reassuring. If you are feeling nervous about your appointment, you are very welcome to pop in beforehand. Seeing the practice and meeting the team in advance can make the experience feel much more comfortable.
What Heather enjoys most about her role is helping patients build confidence, especially when learning to wear contact lenses. Being part of that journey, and seeing the difference it can make to someone’s day-to-day life, is what she finds most rewarding.

She also values the variety her role brings, working with everyone from very young babies through to adults, and tailoring her approach to suit each individual.

05/05/2026

Thank you for your patience while we refresh the practice.

Our downstairs consulting room is now complete, featuring updated equipment, including enhanced technology for our Tear Clinic. Check out the during and after photos here!

Our main dispensing area has also been refreshed and will be unveiled next week. We’re especially grateful to those who visited during the work and hope you haven't experienced any problematic disruption.

We look forward to welcoming you soon to see the updated practice.

05/05/2026

Our admin team is the engine behind Cameron Optometry, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. So following on from our meet the dispensers, optometrists and front-of-house teams, we move to the admin team, often tucked away upstairs, so you may not be familiar with their smiling faces. First up, Lorna Cameron.

Lorna has quite literally grown up with Cameron Optometry. From folding copies of the newsletter, Sightlines, around the kitchen table as a child, to covering reception during school holidays and even helping her mum to build the original glasses display units, she has been part of the practice story for many decades.

Today, Lorna co-owns the business alongside her brother Ian, with overall responsibility for operations. She holds a degree in Business Studies, has completed advanced first aid training and undertaken extensive human resources and staff management training. Alongside her operational role, she also sits on both the Eco Committee and the Charity Committee, reflecting her commitment to doing business responsibly and giving back to the community.

Day-to-day, Lorna works within the admin department, the team you speak to on the phone or email. Behind the scenes, they coordinate contact lens orders and deliveries, prepare patient reports, manage diaries and clinics, oversee financial processes, order stationery, and keep everything running smoothly. Much of what they do is unseen, but it is essential to ensuring Cameron Optometry works as efficiently and seamlessly as possible.

When it comes to eyewear, Lorna loves Theo, a brand known for its bold shapes and vibrant colours that still manage to feel elegantly understated on the face. She is also a big fan of Cutler and Gross for a classic, confident frame, especially their sunglasses.

Her advice to patients is simple. “We always want your experience here to be exceptional, from your first phone call or email to your appointment, your coffee, your glasses and your ongoing eye care. If anything ever concerns you or does not quite meet expectations, please let us know straight away. It would genuinely be our pleasure to resolve it. Equally, if you have had a brilliant experience, we would love to hear that too. Please tell your friends, leave a review, and help us continue to improve.”