Specialist contact lenses
His 2025 CV records long-standing work with keratoconic and post-refractive corneas, including rigid gas-permeable and scleral lenses.
Chris A Eksteen
Optometrist
Chris Eksteen is an optometrist who has worked in private practice since 1986. Alongside comprehensive optometric care, he has developed long-standing experience in contact-lens fitting for keratoconus, irregular and post-surgical corneas, orthokeratology, myopia management and paediatric cases.
Dip. Optom. (S.A.) · F.O.A. (S.A.) · M.B.C.O. (U.K.)
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Chris A Eksteen · Optometrist
Clinical focus
Complex needs, considered carefully.
Chris’s career brings together private practice, complex corneal lens work, children’s hospital experience, teaching, professional leadership and community eye-care delivery.
His work remains within optometric scope, with medical or surgical questions referred to the appropriate ophthalmologist. Specialist here describes a focused area of optometric experience rather than a medical-specialist title.
Children’s hospital work
His career history includes an 18-year period as optometric consultant at Red Cross Children’s Hospital and involvement in paediatric contact-lens research.
Teaching and lecturing
His professional work includes senior contact-lens lecturing and local and international teaching on orthokeratology and myopia management.
Community eye care
His career includes eye-care delivery for economically disadvantaged communities through several organisations.
Career timeline
Professional foundations.
Selected dated milestones recorded in Chris’s supplied 2025 CV.
- 1985
Qualified as an optometrist at the Technicon in Johannesburg.
- 1986
Began working in private optometric practice.
- 1987
Elected Chairman of the Western Cape branch of the South African Optometric Association.
- 1992
Passed the British College examinations and registered with the General Optical Council in the United Kingdom.
- 1994
Registered with the Opticians Board in New Zealand.
- 1999
Registered with the Board of Optometrical Registration in New South Wales.
- 2003–2004
Served as Public Health Director of the South African Optometric Association.
- 2004–2005
Served as Vice President of the South African Optometric Association.
- 2005–2006
Served as President of the South African Optometric Association.
- 2006–2008
Served as SAOA Ambassador and Financial Director.
Experience with complex corneal needs.
The supplied CV records an 18-year period as optometric consultant at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, together with research involvement and a particular interest in paediatric contact-lens fitting.
It also records a part-time role at Tygerberg Hospital fitting rigid gas-permeable and scleral lenses for people with keratoconus and irregular corneas. Because the CV does not date that appointment, it is presented as career history rather than a current hospital affiliation.
Chris’s professional focus includes the visual rehabilitation of irregular and post-refractive corneas. Individual suitability, lens choice and any need for ophthalmology care are determined case by case.
Dated international milestones.
- 1992
United Kingdom
Passed the British College examinations and registered with the General Optical Council.
- 1994
New Zealand
Registered with the Opticians Board in New Zealand.
- 1999
New South Wales
Registered with the Board of Optometrical Registration in New South Wales.
These are historical milestones recorded in the supplied CV; they are not statements of current overseas registration.
Teaching and knowledge sharing
From the consulting room to the lecture hall.
Chris was appointed a senior contact-lens lecturer in the Optometry Department in Bloemfontein and has delivered lectures, papers and workshops on orthokeratology and myopia management at local and international congresses.
His knowledge-sharing work has also included online teaching with Dr Arthur Tung during the COVID-19 period, co-authorship of practical orthokeratology learning material and completion of a course in Overnight Orthokeratology in the United States.
Community eye care
A wider eye-care contribution.
Chris’s career has included work with the Lions Sight Foundation, the Lions Club of Cape of Good Hope, Bonang Eye Care Centres and the Jonga Trust, supporting access to eye care in economically disadvantaged communities. The 2025 CV describes him as a trustee and chairman of the Jonga Trust.
Read about community eye careAwards and recognition
Recognition recorded over time.
- 2006
An award from the Western Cape MEC for Health for his contribution to eye-care services for indigent communities in the Western Cape.
- 2006
A South African Optometric Association Certificate of Tribute for his contribution to eye-care delivery in South Africa.
- 2009
Nominated with Dianne Powell for the António Champalimaud Award; this was a nomination, not an award win.
- Date not stated
The Louis Volk Humanitarian Award from the Bergvliet Lions Club for his contribution to eye care.
Recognition descriptions follow the supplied CV. Exact certificate wording and independent award records remain part of final publication approval.
Care philosophy
Complex visual needs rarely have a one-size-fits-all answer.
The practice’s approach is based on careful measurement, listening to the patient’s experience and developing a practical plan that can be reviewed and refined over time.
Ready to take the next step?
Send reception a non-urgent enquiry or call the practice. Appointments are arranged directly with the practice.