History of Kilgour Optometrists
The practice was founded in Beresford Terrace Ayr by Bill Kilgour in 1961. His skills as an optometrist and in particular as an early contact lens pioneer quickly earned him a strong following. He was instrumental in establishing a close working relationship with the local Hospital Eye Service, providing a specialist contact lens service where his innovative contact lens skills were shown to be on a par with the best.
The flow of hospital referrals to Kilgour Optometrists continues to this day with the practice recognised in South West Scotland as having the expertise to undertake the most complex of contact lens cases.
Bill was subsequently joined by Hamish Reid as a partner in 1973. Hamish was already established as a lecturer on the ophthalmic optics course and as a staff member at the Tennant Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow. His experience of medical contact lens fitting, low visual aids and visual field research was a significant addition to the practice. His complete commitment was illustrated by his work with the General Optical Council and as an examiner for students completing their pre- registration training.
With their combined abilities and hard work, the practice developed an enviable reputation and expanded rapidly.
John Watt joined the practice in 1979 having also completed his training at the Tennant Institute of Ophthalmology. The varied workload gave him the opportunity to develop his enthusiasm for contact lenses and in time he also became an examiner for the British College of Optometrists. He currently serves as a committee member on the Scottish Council of Optometrists.
With the growth of the Ayr practice and limitations on space at Beresford Terrace a second practice was opened in Troon in 1995
An opportunity then arose for the Ayr practice to become part of a new medical centre being built in Ayr. As a result, in 2003, the Ayr practice moved to a purpose built unit on 2 floors in Dalblair Road, Ayr. This spacious practice now houses 3 well equipped consulting rooms, 2 instrument rooms, a large attractive frame area, workshop and office.
The steady growth of both practices through recommendation brought the need for additional professional help and in time optometrists Alistair Simpson, Carol Semple, Douglas Orr and Sarah Muir have joined to form a team with a significant amount of collective enthusiasm and experience. In view of the varied workload undertaken in the practice it is not a coincidence that all our optometrists completed their professional training in Hospital Eye Departments and all therefore could play a full part in the range of services provided.
Alistair Simpson and Douglas Orr have recently undertaken further training in the new field of Sports Vision. This exciting new area investigates the role that vision plays in all sports and it is equally relevant to the enthusiastic amateur as well as to the elite participant.
To recognise the importance of professional expertise with regard to spectacle dispensing, Douglas Hart and Fiona Kelly joined the business as qualified dispensing opticians in Ayr and Alison Bargh as practice manager in Troon. Spectacle lens technology is advancing rapidly and their role is vital in ensuring that experienced help and advice is given with every pair of spectacles which are dispensed.
All of our professional staff update their knowledge on a regular basis with "continuing education" programmes.
Since the Ayr practice first opened its doors 47 years ago the role of optometry in the community has changed out of all recognition with the speed of change ever increasing.
Our close working relationship with the Hospital Eye Service has resulted in our practices being involved from the outset in the development and implementation of innovative new shared care community eye projects such as the one stop direct cataract referral service, diabetic retinopathy screening and most recently direct urgent referrals for wet age related macular degeneration.
Our accumulated experience combined with continuing investment in new technology gives us the ability to meet both the challenges of providing community eyecare for the 21st century and also a professional spectacle and lens dispensing service for all age groups and budgets.
