Bookham
Branch Information
We would be delighted to welcome you to our Bookham practice, formerly known as Donner Optometrists. The practice, originally with two sites, serving Bookham, Effingham, Fetcham, Leatherhead and Horsley, is well established and respected in the area with many patients coming to us for over 50 years!Upon visiting the practice, you will be greeted by our friendly and professional reception team, who will ensure that your visit is a smooth and comfortable one from start to finish. We are fortunate to have two excellent Optometrists on staff; Helen Roberts, our full-time optometrist who has a great deal of experience and Maria Dovey, who also works part-time in the glaucoma clinic at Cobham hospital and shares her wealth of knowledge in this field with us. She has recently completed a special certificate in glaucoma and, from April 2023, will be offering a more complex glaucoma screening appointment, inlcuding; gonioscopy, Goldmann pressures, detailed visual fields and OCT. Both of our Optometrists are dedicated to performing the most thorough and careful eye examination possible, utilising specialised instruments which allow us to examine your eyes in greater detail, specifically Optical Coherence Tomography.
After your examination you will meet one of our trained dispensing team; Katherine, our resident dispensing optician, Jade, a dispensing assistant with 6 years' experience in optics and Ant, our student dispensing optician. They will help you to find the best frame and lens combination, listening to your needs and preferences and by delving into their knowledge and understanding of spectacle lenses.
If you are interested in contact lenses we are more than happy to assist you, as both Optometrists are well equipped to find the correct lens fit and prescription for you. Katherine and Jade are fully trained to teach new wearers on how to correctly handle and care for their lenses.
At the beginning of March 2023 we welcomed Jessica Tovey, a fully qualified audiologist, to our practice team. She originally trained in South Africa and began her career in a hospital setting, before moving to private practice in the United Kingdom. Jessica offers wax removal for adults and children aged 5 and over, and free hearing tests. In April 2024 we added a bespoke hearing booth to our ground floor consulting room to ensure we are offering the highest level of care to our patients.
Please do call in to visit our small but friendly team and book your eye examination or hearing assessment today!
Telephone
Tel: 01372 458318There is an answering machine for non-urgent out of hours requests. Any message left after close of business Saturday will not be picked up until the following Monday.
Opening times
Monday to Friday: 09.00 - 17.30
Saturday: 09.00 - 16.00
Saturday: 09.00 - 16.00
Manager
Katherine Rickards FBDO I started in Optics at the age of sixteen as the Saturday girl in the local Vision Express. Although it wasn’t initially what I had thought to do as a career, the more I learned, the more I found I enjoyed dispensing. The branch I worked in also had a busy on-site spectacle laboratory, and I was therefore given the invaluable opportunity to learned how to make glasses as well as just dispense them. After finishing my A-Levels I started the day release Dispensing Optician degree course in London and, despite not being a big lover of mathematics, I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying and also being able to apply that knowledge into practice straight away. My particular interests are low vision and paediatric dispensing.
I began as Manager at Bookham in April 2022. Something that drew me to Rawlings in particular was the big emphasis on customer care and on delivering the best quality spectacles possible. Another, slightly more personal, reason for my choosing to work in the Surrey Hills was that this is a region that I have been a frequent visitor to taking in Dorking, Box Hill and the surrounding area to meet with family and enjoy walks in the gorgeous countryside.
Something that I am very proud of is that I worked for a time with the charity Vision Care for Homeless People in London. It was a deeply rewarding experience even though it could also be very challenging!
I have always been a lover of music and have played the bassoon since the age of 11. I can also play the organ and enjoyed singing in a polyphonic choir.
I began as Manager at Bookham in April 2022. Something that drew me to Rawlings in particular was the big emphasis on customer care and on delivering the best quality spectacles possible. Another, slightly more personal, reason for my choosing to work in the Surrey Hills was that this is a region that I have been a frequent visitor to taking in Dorking, Box Hill and the surrounding area to meet with family and enjoy walks in the gorgeous countryside.
Something that I am very proud of is that I worked for a time with the charity Vision Care for Homeless People in London. It was a deeply rewarding experience even though it could also be very challenging!
I have always been a lover of music and have played the bassoon since the age of 11. I can also play the organ and enjoyed singing in a polyphonic choir.
Optometrists / Contact Lens Opticians / Audiologists
Maria Dovey
BSc Hons MCOptom, Higher Cert. Glauc.
I arrived in the UK from Denmark to study Optometry in 1999, then qualified from City University in London with a 1st class Honours degree in Optometry in 2003.
Since qualifying, I have always enjoyed a varied working week and Optometry has taken me into different avenues from teaching at City University / The Institute of Optometry to hospital work, where I have been working in the Glaucoma clinic at Cobham Hospital since 2015. Combined with this, I have always favoured working in Independent Practice as you can offer that special touch and have been in a couple of different practices across Surrey. Read more...
I joined Rawlings in December 2020 in the middle of the Pandemic with all the challenges that entails and am settling in nicely. Bookham is a beautiful village, and the staff and patients are wonderful and welcoming. I enjoy seeing a great range of patients from children to the elderly and always make my best effort in getting to a visual solution that is perfect whether it means new spectacles, contact lenses, monitoring eye disease or referring for eye surgery. Having attended various courses and lectures over the years, I feel well equipped to do exactly that.
My spare time is spent with my family: Husband, two boys and two girl cats! I enjoy keeping fit doing running, spinning, walking, and going to the gym and I have been known to attempt various DIY and baking projects too; the latter usually appreciated by my colleagues! Prior to having children, I have been travelling with my husband all over the world and hope that one day this will again be possible...
Since qualifying, I have always enjoyed a varied working week and Optometry has taken me into different avenues from teaching at City University / The Institute of Optometry to hospital work, where I have been working in the Glaucoma clinic at Cobham Hospital since 2015. Combined with this, I have always favoured working in Independent Practice as you can offer that special touch and have been in a couple of different practices across Surrey. Read more...
I joined Rawlings in December 2020 in the middle of the Pandemic with all the challenges that entails and am settling in nicely. Bookham is a beautiful village, and the staff and patients are wonderful and welcoming. I enjoy seeing a great range of patients from children to the elderly and always make my best effort in getting to a visual solution that is perfect whether it means new spectacles, contact lenses, monitoring eye disease or referring for eye surgery. Having attended various courses and lectures over the years, I feel well equipped to do exactly that.
My spare time is spent with my family: Husband, two boys and two girl cats! I enjoy keeping fit doing running, spinning, walking, and going to the gym and I have been known to attempt various DIY and baking projects too; the latter usually appreciated by my colleagues! Prior to having children, I have been travelling with my husband all over the world and hope that one day this will again be possible...
Helen Roberts
BSc MCOptom
I qualified with BSC honours degree in Optometry in 1998. Since then, I have worked in larger multiple Opticians. My latter post was with a large multiple, working part time in a very busy practice. I then decided to take on role as Optometrist Store Manager on a full-time basis which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am proud that I trained and developed a workforce to share and exemplify my passion of delivering exemplary customer service.
Read more...
I was approached about a role at Rawlings Opticians, a few miles from where I live. This suited family life much better because, I was travelling further afield in my previous role. I joined Rawlings in August 2022 and I really love working here. We have an amazing team who care about our customers, and I really like being able to offer a more personalized service and spend the time with every customer to make sure their needs are met. Having access to the most up to date products and equipment means I know I am giving every customer a high level of eye care.
Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and friends. I live with my husband and our eight-year-old son. A lot of my time is taken up watching my son play rugby, swimming and golf.
We enjoy days out together, holidays, walking and trips to the seaside.
I was approached about a role at Rawlings Opticians, a few miles from where I live. This suited family life much better because, I was travelling further afield in my previous role. I joined Rawlings in August 2022 and I really love working here. We have an amazing team who care about our customers, and I really like being able to offer a more personalized service and spend the time with every customer to make sure their needs are met. Having access to the most up to date products and equipment means I know I am giving every customer a high level of eye care.
Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and friends. I live with my husband and our eight-year-old son. A lot of my time is taken up watching my son play rugby, swimming and golf.
We enjoy days out together, holidays, walking and trips to the seaside.
Jessica Tovey
(RHAD) BA Sp&A (Hons)
I qualified as a speech therapist and audiologist in 2015 in South Africa and having a deeper insight into the mutual influences of both the hearing system and speech system and how this influences the brain functioning enables me to treat my patients from a holistic point of view.
Read more...
I have always had a deep passion for helping people and will always go above and beyond for my patients. I love really getting to know my patients and giving them back the gift of hearing so they can reconnect with their loved ones.
Initially I practiced full time at a government hospital (NHS equivalent) in South Africa which developed my passion for working with patients from all walks of life. Here I gained experience working with TB, noise exposure, age related hearing loss, middle ear pathologies and syndromes to name a few. I then moved to the UK in 2020 where I worked in an independent practice which strengthened my skills in hearing technology and tinnitus. I have experience working with both adults and pediatrics in Audiology and my special interests are microsuction, age related hearing loss, tinnitus and noise exposure.
I maintain current knowledge by engaging in various courses and CPD activities and I strive to continually grow as an Individual. I enjoy developing and pioneering innovative ideas for practice and clinical growth and I'm looking forward to bringing this into Rawlings hearing care and working together to provide patient centered care.
I have always had a deep passion for helping people and will always go above and beyond for my patients. I love really getting to know my patients and giving them back the gift of hearing so they can reconnect with their loved ones.
Initially I practiced full time at a government hospital (NHS equivalent) in South Africa which developed my passion for working with patients from all walks of life. Here I gained experience working with TB, noise exposure, age related hearing loss, middle ear pathologies and syndromes to name a few. I then moved to the UK in 2020 where I worked in an independent practice which strengthened my skills in hearing technology and tinnitus. I have experience working with both adults and pediatrics in Audiology and my special interests are microsuction, age related hearing loss, tinnitus and noise exposure.
I maintain current knowledge by engaging in various courses and CPD activities and I strive to continually grow as an Individual. I enjoy developing and pioneering innovative ideas for practice and clinical growth and I'm looking forward to bringing this into Rawlings hearing care and working together to provide patient centered care.
Nearest car park
Lower Road pay and display car park (behind the Co-Op) More information and directionsNearest bus stops & routes
Church Road (The Old Crown), served by the 479 busHigh Street (Rayleigh House), served by the 478 bus
Nearest train stations
BookhamNearest AED/Defibrillator
Post Office, 42 Church Road, KT23 3PFDisabled access
Ramp at the rear of the practice. All appointments can be conducted on the ground floor upon request.Map
Out of hours eyecare for customers of the Bookham practice
There are occasions when emergency treatment is needed for the eyes. For ocular emergencies patients can present themselves Moorfields Eye Hospital in City Road, London, The Royal Surrey in Guildford or East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.Alternatively you may contact the NHS Emergency and urgent care line by dialling 111.
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