Dr. Euan McGinty was born to be an optometrist. His dad was one, and he grew up tinkering with frames and lenses in his lab. He followed in his father’s footsteps.  Studying optometry in Wales, he loved his time in Cardiff and graduated with flying colours in 1993.

He then moved to the scenic Highlands of Scotland and soon realized he wanted to be his own boss, and opened his first office with a partner in 1999. The business grew from one location to four, and Euan enjoyed being an independent and successful optometrist.
 

But Euan was not one to settle. He wanted a new challenge, and decided to move to Canada with his family in 2010, settling in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In 2013 he co-founded Ocean Optometry with his friend Dr. John Wilson, and together they created a vision of excellence for their patients.

Euan loves everything about optometry, from the eye exam to eyewear. In optometry, Euan has a particular interest in Dry Eye, Myopia Control and specialty contact lenses.

When not in practice, Euan loves to travel and enjoys his newest hobby, scuba diving and has a great selection of Star Wars t-shirts!

John's journey from an Electrical Engineering Apprentice to a respected Optometrist in Canada is marked by resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence.

Starting with British Coal, he honed technical skills before transitioning to law enforcement with Nottinghamshire Constabulary, earning commendations for bravery and performance. Despite a severe assault leading to retirement, he returned to education, completing high school before studying Optometry at Bradford University.

Working for various optometry chains provided insights into differing patient care approaches. Recognizing a misalignment with corporate values, John forged his own path.

Relocating to Canada, he completed the Optometry Bridging Program at the University of Waterloo, establishing himself as a self-employed optometrist in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia before founding Ocean Optometry with his friend and colleague, Dr. Euan McGinty.

His involvement in industry events, leadership, and dedication to patient care, particularly in managing chronic conditions like dry eye, reflect his commitment to professional development and community service.

John's journey underscores perseverance, learning, and integrity in crafting a meaningful career in Optometry.

Stuart, originally from South Wales, grew up in Northwest England where he spent as much time on the Rugby field as he did in the classroom. Following his high school diploma, Stuart moved to Surrey, working at an outdoor learning center serving children from challenging communities.

Stuart’s fortuitous venture into the world of Optometry began in 1999. Starting as a humble Lab Technician and Optometric Assistant, he quickly unlocked a geek-level passion for spectacle lenses, eyewear, and patient care.

Advancing into leadership roles, Stuart managed the flagship practice in Central London for 3 years before embarking on a 12-year journey with leading lens manufacturers, a Private Eye Hospital Group, and a contact lens manufacturer.

In 2019, Stuart brought his infectious passion and experience to Canada, continuing his dedication to Independent Optometry and becoming our Business Partner in 2022.

As Rugby is purely a spectator sport for him these days, outside of the office, you will find Stuart adventuring around the coast and wilderness of NS with his wife, two daughters, and faithful sidekick, Kipling. 

Meet Joana Maria Prohens Monserrat, born and raised in the tranquil embrace of Mallorca but with a heart yearning for excitement! At her university in Barcelona, she immersed herself in Asian Studies, where she became engrossed in the Oriental languages and cultures.

Joana Maria's journey to Nova Scotia was sparked by her insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge and to explore new fileds. Curious about the world of optometry and being interested in the Dry Eye world she became an ocular hygenist.

In her spare time she enjoys reading comic books as well as classic literature. While developing her linguistic prowess in five distinct languages, she also enjoys imersing herself in the virtual world of gaming! She is currently expanding her linguistic repertoire to include Korean as well.

With her contagious enthusiasm, Joana Maria Prohens-Monserrat is the embodiment of sunshine on a cloudy day, a beacon of joy wherever she goes.

Having started in the industry a little later in life, Jen has been working as an optician since 2017. She hails from our smallest province PEI and now happily calls Nova Scotia home.

Jen loves great conversations and her favourite part of spending time with our patients is really getting to know them. She loves to pull a story or two out of you, all the while getting you looking and feeling fabulous in your new spectacles.

By taking time to really find out about each patient, Jen knows that the eyewear selections put together for that individual are the best for style, for function and for how they will be used.

In her downtime, she enjoys exploring and hiking in our beautiful province, reading, volunteering and spending time with family and friends.

Alicia joined Ocean in 2015 and has been a key part to its evolution. 

Selecting our exclusive eyewear has always been a passion for Alicia. She’s enthusiastic about the brands we work with and takes great care in curating the collections.

In 2020, Alicia’s role expanded to Dry Eye Technician, which has evolved to Dry Eye Lead. Alicia is motivated by the results achieved through our in-office treatments. She loves sharing her knowledge and mentoring.

In her spare time, Alicia is a director of the board for the Nova Scotia College of Dispensing Opticians. She recently contributed to changes to the national licensing exams for opticians in Canada.

You’ll find Alicia with her nose in a book, listening to Country music and sipping on the same coffee she started the day with hours earlier.

Alicia welcomes you to stop by Ocean Optometry anytime and ask her why meibomian glands are like garden hoses.

Dr. Karley Brooking grew up in Enfield, Nova Scotia. She spent many years coaching children’s trampoline classes and loved being around people. In high school, she developed a love for science and problem-solving. Keeping in mind her extraverted side, she realized a career in optometry could blend both passions, to help people and pursue a science-based field. 

She studied at Mount Saint Vincent, graduating top of her class with a Biology degree. She then moved to the University of  Waterloo to receive her doctor of optometry degree. Wanting to expand her horizons, she did internships in rural Alberta and BC.

After 4 years away, she missed the East Coast fondly, and was very happy to return to practice Optometry in Halifax. Since then, she has been immersing herself in conferences to expand her knowledge of dry eye disease, myopia control, and eyewear. 

When not at work, you can often find Karley sampling craft beers from local breweries or  trying new restaurants, hanging with her cat Peanut, or spending time at the beach. A new hobby has been starting her Instagram page “eye.karley”, where she aims to educate the public about eye care in an easy, accessible way.