Sushma Kotecha
Lead Optometrist
Established in 2009 and based in a quiet suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, our small and welcoming opticians clinic is open for all ages and budgets.
Have you had a bad experience at an independent or chain opticians in the past? Did you feel apprehensive? Rushed? Confused?
At Vision Clinic, we understand that you may be nervous about visiting an opticians – whether it be due to a negative experience or a fear of needing glasses. The good news is, at Vision Clinic we’re here to reassure you. Whatever question or concern you may have, our experienced optometrists are here to help. With a large and airy consulting room, our friendly team are committed to making you feel as comfortable and confident as possible.
Lead Optometrist
Trainee Dispensing Optician
Optometry Assistant
After qualifying with a BSc in Optometry in 1998 and an MBCO in contact lenses, Sushma began her career as a locum optician and has worked in multiple optical retail chains and independent opticians' practices across the region.
After gaining extensive experience, Sushma was determined to break away from the conveyor belt, ‘one size fits all’ approach, establishing her very own practice in 2009 with the goal of providing an attentive and personal eye care service for the local community.
Sushma is happy to conduct eye examinations in Swahili and Gujrathi.
Ashley joined us in September 2022 and has been an excellent addition to Vision Clinic. Although he studied English Literature at University and only started working in optics in early 2021, he has quickly developed a passion for it! He is studying to become a fully-qualified Dispensing Optician and one day dreams of owning his own practice.
Ashley is our resident Lens geek and he is constantly innovating and researching the latest technology in Optics, to make sure all of our clients get the absolute best solutions and advice available.
He is also making use of his degree and past work experience to manage all sorts of creative, marketing and administrative tasks.
Lesa moved to Newcastle from Birmingham over 20 years ago to study glass blowing, architectural glass, ceramics and photography, at the glass centre in Sunderland.
After completing her studies and gaining work experience, she found her passion in photography. For the past 13 years, she has been looking through a lens, capturing special memories of families, children and babies.
Lesa has an artistic look on life and is now our resident frame stylist. She loves helping patients choose their new eyewear, offering advice on the shape and colour that suits them and completing their styling consultation to look good and feel good. She runs a very tight ship at Vision Clinic and keeps us moving steadily down the path to success.
While attending boarding school in Kenya, Sushma was inspired and encouraged by her biology teacher and became engrossed in the study of anatomy – the spark that would bring Vision Clinic into fruition.
With the ongoing support of her father and a commitment to providing a quality service, Vision Clinic is now a well-established optometry practice cherished by the local community.
As a child, Sushma was not always as confident as she is now; a profound memory was the day that her family made the 7 hour journey from her village to Nairobi so that Sushma could have access to contact lenses. For that reason, she was determined to make her own optometry clinic as accessible as possible to local children.
Sushma felt immense relief after her contact lens fitting – she was finally able to say goodbye to the ‘Diedre Barlow’ spectacles that had caused her to have such low self-esteem in the past. With an awareness that we live in a world where first impressions are paramount, Sushma strives to give her own patients a confidence boost, ensuring that every child looks good and feels good when they step out of the practice.