ABERGAVENNY residents will be able to turn to a new experienced optometrist for check-ups and eye health advice after her appointment at a local opticians.

Rhiannon Noble, 34, brings 16 years of experience to Specsavers on Frogmore Street, where she will be the lead optometrist for customers.

Ms Noble began her career at Specsavers when she was just 18, joining the Ebbw Vale store as an optical assistant on a gap year. After completing an optometry degree at Aston University, she spent more than a decade at Specsavers stores in Hereford and Merthyr Tydfil, as well as an independent practice, before moving to Abergavenny.

She said: "I knew I needed to get some optical experience before I started my degree and Specsavers was the obvious choice – it’s a reputable name that people trust. I’m glad I did choose it as it opened doors to multiple career prospects after I completed my degree."

Since joining the store, Ms Noble has undertaken examinations to become a low-vision practitioner, which she will finish in the New Year. Once completed, she will be qualified to have appointments with customers suffering from low vision and able to discuss suitable aids, such as magnifiers and reading stands.

Ankit Shah, store director, said: "Rhiannon’s appointment is the next step in our ongoing goal to provide the very best care and treatment for our customers. This follows a six-figure investment into new testing rooms and equipment including an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine. This is hospital-grade equipment which creates a detailed scan of an eye to help identify early signs of sight-threatening conditions.

"She has already settled in well with our team and I have every confidence she will become a popular optometrist with our customers, old and new."