About Hope Island Optical
Hope Island Optical is an independent optometry practice in the heart of beautiful Hope Island on the Gold Coast. Our priority is to offer you the best vision possible. Our desire is to capture the look that best represents your style, personality and lifestyle. Our expert optometrists care about your vision and overall health, and are dedicated to providing an exceptional eyewear selection, service and experience tailored to the individual.
In order to provide the best optical services possible, our practice is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology. Our optometrists use only the latest developments in eye care, prescription eyewear and contact lenses for the ultimate vision, advice and fit.
We invite you to peruse our website to learn more about our practice and range, and to become a part of our Hope Island Optical family by scheduling an appointment for an eye exam.
Let’s look beyond current expectations to achieve your vision for the future.
Rodd Armitstead
Meet Rodd, Practice Manager at Hope Island Optical. Rodd has a background as a Clinical Nurse Specialist with expertise in acute care and Ophthalmic Nursing. With Advanced Optics training, he and his wife Annelisa established Hope Island Optical to provide outstanding eye care. Known for his friendly chats, Rodd ensures every patient feels comfortable and appreciated.
Practice Manager.
Optical Dispenser.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Annelisa Armitstead
Meet Lisa, our resident optometrist, who’s been practicing for more than 15 years. Annelisa takes pride in listening to you and providing a service that could very well change your life. She understands that an eye examination can, at times, be a daunting experience—endeavouring to make it as relaxed as possible. She has a special interest in clinical optometry, glaucoma co-management, dry eye and myopia.
Annelisa always offers her honest and professional advice when it comes to your optical health—be it your need for glasses, an update to your existing prescription, or further treatment for an eye problem. Outside of the practice, she loves spending time with her family, going to the beach and playing tennis.
Bachelor of Applied Science; Optometry
Graduate certificate in Ocular therapeutics
CASA Credentialled Optometrist
Certificate in Advanced Glaucoma Care
Myopia Management
Alice Forsyth
Since graduating from the University of New South Wales in 1985, Alice has honed her expertise in optometry across rural and suburban practices, settling with her family on the Gold Coast in 1995. Her passion for visual development and behavioural optometry was sparked while helping her son overcome reading difficulties, leading her to specialise in this field. Alice focuses on paediatric optometry, myopia (short-sightedness), and acquired brain injury, with a knack for clearly explaining the visual system’s role in movement and learning.
Outside the practice, Alice cherishes time with her family, cultivating and preserving vegetables from her garden, enjoying music, and rugby.
Bachelor of Optometry, UNSW 1985
Diagnostic Ophthalmic Drugs Certificate 1986
Master of Optometry: Behavioural Optometry Unit 1999
Current study: Fellowship in Behavioural Optometry
Member Optometry Australia
Member Australasian College of Behavioural Optometry
Member Orthokeratology Society of Oceania
Craig Shaw
Craig has been in optics for over 35 years. As an optical dispenser and mechanic, His passion is being able to find the perfect frame to fit and function for his patients as well as looking great, then, to match the best suited lenses to match their visual needs.
Optical Dispenser and Mechanic / Frame Stylist
Paola Duarte
Paola Duarte obtained her Doctor of Optometry degree from SUNY college of Optometry in NYC, USA. She has extensive experience in ocular pathology, neuro-optometry, pediatrics, contact lenses, binocular vision and low vision. She has worked in multiple settings ranging from family private practices, outpatient emergency clinics, ophthalmology clinics, vision therapy clinics, nursing homes, and school programs in NYC, Sydney and the Gold Coast.
She is fully qualified and endorse to prescribe ocular therapeutic medications and has taken extra training in Glaucoma, Binocular vision disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury.
On her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, going to the beach, and traveling getting to know new countries and cultures.
Doctor of Optometry, SUNY College of Optometry NYC USA
Competency in Ocular Therapeutics and Optometry examination by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand
Vision therapy in Binocular Disorders, vision related learning difficulties, Strabismus, and Traumatic Brain Injury.