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Walk into a busy independent optician and you’ll feel it right away: the pace, the care, the quiet choreography that makes a complex clinic look effortless. Helena Stengel, a dispensing optician and director of a 90-year-old UK practice, takes us behind the counter to show how authentic communication and advanced technology can coexist without losing the human touch. We explore what it takes to keep patients seen and heard while running double clinics, mentoring trainees, and staying present for a team that depends on calm leadership.
We dig into the new shape of eye care on the high street: patients arrive curious about OCT scans, biometric lens measurements, and dry eye treatments; GPs and hospitals increasingly point people to opticians for triage; and chains and online providers compete on speed and price. Helena makes the case for a different value proposition—one built on specialist services, precise measurements, and time to listen. When online glasses don’t fit or a symptom needs quick assessment, that extra attention can be the difference between weeks of frustration and a clear path forward.
Helena also opens up about the emotional pressure beneath the smiles: how to filter constant demands, when to step back, and why nature, wild swimming, and simple walks anchor her week. COVID’s hard lessons linger as better hygiene habits and a stronger, busier clinic. Looking ahead, she’s expanding capacity by hiring another optometrist and supporting a final-year trainee toward qualification, aiming to cut waits without cutting corners. If you care about community health, craft, and the reality of leading with heart, this conversation offers practical ideas and rare honesty.
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👤 Guest Biography

Helena Stengel is a Dispensing Optician and Director at Anstee + Proctor Opticians, a longstanding independent eye care provider in the UK. With over a decade of experience running the practice, Helena blends deep clinical expertise with a refreshingly human, community-centered approach to leadership. Her ethos—grounded in authenticity, communication, and care—shines through both in-clinic and online. A mentor, educator, and advocate for thoughtful, bespoke service, Helena exemplifies what it means to lead with heart in today’s healthcare landscape.

• Website: https://ansteeandproctor.co.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anste

About Dr Andrew Greenland

Dr Andrew Greenland is a UK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Drawing on dual training in conventional and root-cause medicine, he helps individuals optimise their health, performance, and longevity — with a particular interest in cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.
Voices in Health and Wellness explores meaningful conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential — featuring clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of healthcare.
🔗 Connect with Dr Greenland:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-andrew-greenland-977b2624/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenland_medical_clinics/
• Website: https://www.greenlandmedical.com

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