Kevin Thomas

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT KEVIN THOMAS

I began my career in the fast-paced and demanding city of Johannesburg—an environment that quickly sharpened my instincts and resilience. During my time in South Africa, I gained valuable skills in lens surfacing through Zeiss and EagleVision, one of the pioneering one-hour surfacing labs in the country. While the experience was formative, the challenges of high insurance costs and safety concerns prompted me to make a bold move. With a British passport in hand and fresh ambition, I relocated to the UK to further develop my career.In the UK, I expanded my dispensing expertise and soon transitioned into practice management. In 2008, I embraced a new challenge by moving into optical sales—a decision that has defined the last 16+ years of my professional journey. Known for my deep product knowledge and the ability to translate complex optical solutions into meaningful benefits for both practitioners and patients, I’ve built a reputation as a trusted advisor in the optical industry.In 2017, I took another leap by entering the medical device field, focusing on ultra-widefield retinal imaging across North Wales and Northern England. I often describe my role as giving eye care professionals “the power to see more,” enabling them to provide the highest standard of care and potentially save sight and lives. This role has not only broadened my technical knowledge but also sharpened my skills in navigating NHS Trust requirements and engaging with multiple healthcare stakeholders.Since 2019, I’ve grown into a specialist in selling complex imaging technologies such as OCT to NHS Trusts. While challenging, this work has been immensely rewarding. More recently, in 2025, I transitioned from sales into a dedicated support role—using my experience to train customers and help them get the most from the technology they’ve invested in. My approach remains the same: put the customer first. Their success is my success.My ambition has always been to make a meaningful impact in the optical industry, and I am now ready to take the next step as a Regional Product Specialist covering the UK and Ireland. I bring not only a wealth of sales and clinical support experience, but also an unwavering commitment to elevating eye care through education, collaboration, and innovation.