Inarrabri

14 | iNarrabri Magazine

Feature

Interview by Craig Jollow

Your family has been part of the Narrabri

community for many years. How did you

come to be here?

As a young man born and bred in Sydney

and fresh out of University, I felt drawn to

living in a country town.

So, in 1979 I pursued a few opportunities

and Narrabri came out as the winner.

My wife Kaye was happy to transfer to

Narrabri West Primary school and teach

here so off we trundled to a new country

life including having our four children and

raising them in a great country town over

the next 35 years.

What made you initially interested in op-

tometry and thus make this your career?

The mix of science, visual science, business

and direct contact with people was what

drew me to Optometry.

As an optometrist for many years, how

have you seen your occupation change?

The rise of digital communication, technol-

ogy and equipment undoubtedly has led to

many changes.

Greater emphasis on eye health condi-

tions as well as optical issues has changed

the landscape. The fundamentals however

are the same, people need to be carefully

diagnosed and have their needs met and

understood.

Optical aids are many and varied and our

role is to guide patients with solutions that

meet their demanding lifestyle needs.

What do you believe have been the big-

gest developments in glasses?

Apart from frame fashion and design

which is constantly cycling it would be lens

designs, materials and coatings.

All the options means that the market is

much better served than in the 1980’s.

Also, Contact lens materials and designs

are much more varied and applicable these

days.

Of course the digital age means small im-

ages are everywhere now so people need

to be able to focus quickly and sustain-

ably to keep up with their jobs and leisure

activities.

Do more people wear glasses for a fash-

ion statement these days?

Sunglasses certainly have both fashion and

function aspects and prescription glasses

should look good and make a statement as

well as fulfilling their optical needs.

I’m not aware of people in our community

wearing them just to make a statement

without having a functional need first.

I was once told that there are many peo-

ple wearing glasses that shouldn’t – they

just need to exercise their eye muscles

more?

Eye muscles are 1000 times stronger than

they need to be to turn and align the eyes.

Most eye exercises involve training co-

ordination and quick accurate movements

rather than muscle strength.

When we recommend exercises it is very

specific as it is when glasses or contact

lenses are recommended.

Most refraction takes into account the

corneal shape and the age and stage of

the crystalline lens. These are not muscular

issues of the eye.

People perform better for concentration

and comfort in the middle of their ability

range rather than stressed out at the end

of their range so in general that proposal

doesn’t make sense in reality.

What effect have computers had on

people’s eyes?

As I mentioned earlier, digital processing,

both for amount of print and speed and

also time spent with fixed posture in front

of devices has a big effect on concentration

and fatigue.

You do need to be adequately and opti-

mally corrected for those tasks or you may

suffer headaches, blur and poor concen-

tration and can be shaping your eyes for

adaptation that can be harmful to particu-

larly long distance vision.

You have sold your business so what are

you doing these days?

I have retired from my involvement in small

business after 35 years of serving a genera-

tion of the Narrabri community.

This has been the biggest part of my life

and I have thoroughly enjoyed the inter-

face I have had with my loyal customers

and staff.

I haven’t retired from Optometry.

I now work fly in fly out all around Australia

for OPSM in a permanent relief role.

Every month there is a new community,

office, consulting room and home to live

in for two weeks. Then I come home to be

part of the community and family life for

two weeks.

Life has taken an interesting turn that I am

enjoying at this stage.

You have a rich background in music not

only playing in a band but also tutoring

students. What can you tell us about this

part of your life?

Music is my other language. I love jazz in

particular and can’t really get enough of it.

I have been able to get to some good

concerts and festivals and have had the

opportunity to play with Harmony Inc. this

year which has kept my interest up.

I’m also fortunate to be able to play most

weeks in church which is also live music

with real people worshipping.

After that there is YouTube and iTunes

which does fill in the gaps of what is hap-

pening all around the world in Jazz.

richard orr

After 35 years of serving a generation of the

Narrabri community, Optometrist and Jazz

fanatic, Richard Orr, casts his eye on the future

photo: john burgess