Eyecare Plus Optometrists Southport Park

Jonathan McCorriston joined Visions in 2007 on graduating from QUT in 2006.

After a previous working life including retail and manufacturing managerial roles and 7 years as the proprietor of his own business, Jonathan made the decision to return to University with the aim of becoming an optometrist.

Jonathan has a passion for quality eye care. He loves helping his patients understand their vision and look after their eye health. This passion was recognised in August 2010 when he received the Eyecare Plus Professional Recognition Award “for achieving the highest standards of practice”. This included further training at the Essilor University in Paris in multifocal spectacle lens designs and application. We were justly proud of this recognition of Jonathan’s dedication.

Whilst studying optometry Jonathan developed an interest in specialty contact lenses. This includes orthokeratology, the practice of providing a custom designed retainer lens that the patient only wears while they sleep each night. Jonathan pursues excellence in this specialty and has many happy patients enjoying clear vision all day with no glasses on contact lenses in. Jonathan says “I love the look of sheer joy when a patient finds they can see after removing their contact lenses.”

Jonathan has completed further training to register as a CASA Designated Optometrist. Jonathan also provides care for low vision patients and vision training when required for children with eye teaming difficulties.

Away from optometry, Jonathan has been the Bass Trombonist and Band Master for the Salvation Army Band at Southport for many years and recently joined the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra. Jonathan and Julie, his wife of 21 years, have three children.

Memberships:
Optometry Australia
Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia
Orthokeratology Society of Oceania

Certifications:
Civil Aviation Safety Authority Credentialed Optometrist (CASA)

The Hare family name has a long association with Southport. Grandfather (Bert) Hare was a local identity in the 50’s and 60’s. He conducted a small  electrical business in Nind Street until the late 60’s. Michael’s father RC (Bob) owned holiday accommodation in Labrador until the 90’s.

Michael completed his schooling on the Gold Coast and graduated from university in 1975.

Queensland Optometrist of the year 2002, Michael commenced practice at the 17 Nerang Street Southport location of Brian Job Optical in 1977. In 2010 he became sole owner of both this site and the Benowa Gardens practice.

A councillor for the Queensland Division of Optometry Australia for 20 years, Michael served as Gold Coast representative for many of these. He served as State President from 1992-1994 and National Vice President from 1994-1999.

Michael has travelled widely both in Australia and abroad in numerous activities aimed at raising the profile of Optometry. He has lectured, been a clinical supervisor at the School of Optometry, QUT and has published widely in optometric literature. He continues to offer external training placement opportunities for University undergraduate Optometry students.

He became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 1997 and has completed the 1993 Pennsylvania College of Optometry Ocular Therapeutics course and received a Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics from QUT in 2006.

Michael is a member of the Contact Lens Society of Australia, The National Vision Research Institute, The Australian College of Optometry and Optometry Australia. Member of the Australian Optometric Panel sees him called upon by both the optometry profession and optical industry to provide professional advice and guidance in many optometry related matters. Michael has special interests in low vision care, contact lenses, ocular pathology and clinical photography. He is a previous international ocular photography competition winner. International humanitarian aid missions have seen Michael provide his optometry skills to the people of Western Samoa, Yap in the Federated state of Micronesia, Truk, Pohpei and Kosrae.

A keen runner much of Michael’s little spare time is spent trekking remote Gold Coast hinterland trails. He is the manager and sponsor of the Misfits touch football team now past its 50th season in Gold Coast competition. He’s been married to Maree for over 25 years and has three adult children.

Raj graduated from The University of Auckland in 2013 with Honours. He is a qualified ophthalmic medicine prescriber. During his five years at university, Raj was a recipient of the Excellence Beyond Optometry Award and many research projects.

Raj volunteered with the Red Cross Disaster Management team for 10 years in pre-hospital emergency care, ground based rescue and welfare support, and eventually became part of the leadership team. He was deployed to the Christchurch Earthquakes in 2010 as part of the Auckland response team.

Raj’s interest in serving the community led him to his first job in rural Invercargill, New Zealand in 2013. The following year, Raj received the Snowvision Scholarship to visit State University of New York (SUNY) In 2014, and spent two months in New York City.

In 2015, he started working at Eye Institute in Auckland to enhance his clinical skills. Here, he was fortunate to work with an experienced corneal and refractive surgeon, Dr Adam Watson. Raj also played a significant role in running a dedicated dry eye clinic during his four years at Eye Institute.

In 2019, Raj completed his Certificate in Advanced Contact Lens (CACL) and also moved to the Gold Coast with his wife and son. Outside work, Raj enjoys swimming with his son and exploring the national parks with his family.

Kat has worked in optics for many years and first joined the team back in the Brian Job Optical days. She returned to VISION Michael Hare in 2024, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge, exceptional dispensing skills, and the warmest smile in the business.

She’s known for making patients feel instantly at ease and has a talent for matching the perfect frame to both face and personality. Whether it’s complex lenses or a quick repair, Kat’s care and professionalism shine through.

Outside the clinic, she loves spending time with family and keeping up with the latest eyewear trends.