A Bucks optometrist has won a top national award.

Denise Voon has won the optometrist of the year category at this year’s Macular Society Awards for Excellence.

Denise has worked in the optometry sector for 15 years and is principal optometrist for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

She also works with the Amersham based research team in the hospital’s Macular suite, arranging learning opportunities for her colleagues to build on their understanding of macular disease, which is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK.

The prize recognises the work she’s done and continues to do, as Denise is currently organising a national education day for optometrists which will be held on December 9 in Aylesbury.

Denise said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever been nominated for anything like this, so to be chosen as one of the winners is really humbling.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in – I had to keep looking at the email from the Macular Society confirming that I’d won to make sure it was true!”

The Macular Society’s national annual conference takes place at the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge Hotel, on September 21, and is where Denise will receive her award.

Cathy Yelf, chief executive of the Macular Society, said: “The commitment and dedication Denise has shown in caring for people with macular disease is clear from the tremendous feedback we’ve received about her work.

“She thoroughly deserves this award and I’d like to congratulate her on this excellent achievement.”

Denise continues to show her dedication to the cause and is focusing on a project she plans to launch shortly. She said: “We are working on a number of exciting projects relating to macular disease at present.

“One of the key things we’re going to be launching soon, in partnership with our psychology department, is a study surrounding low mood and depression in patients with macular disease.

“Its aim is to give us a much better understanding of the emotional impact of macular disease and what formal support is needed, which will help enormously with patient rehabilitation.”