Adele Jefferies – Optometrist & Founder
BOptom(Hons) MSc(Hons) TPA
With over 20 years of experience, many of them practicing in Ponsonby, Adele is a respected optometrist and clinical leader recognised across New Zealand and Australia. Known for her calm, thoughtful approach and dedication to finding the right solution for each patient, Adele brings deep expertise in contact lenses, dry eye disease, and myopia management.
A therapeutically qualified optometrist, Adele has held leadership roles across independent and corporate settings, helped develop national clinical programs, and continues to contribute to professional education and industry innovation. She is the immediate past President of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand (CCLSNZ), an active member of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO), and serves on Optometrists & Dispensing Opticians Board Committees. Adele is also a regular invited speaker at conferences and participates on several local and international clinical advisory boards.
Adele founded Illume Eye Care to deliver care that goes beyond the standard eye exam — combining advanced technology, personalised treatment, and genuine connection to support patients at every stage of life. Her work bridges clinical expertise, patient education, and innovation, ensuring each patient receives tailored, evidence-based care.
Her published and media work includes:
- Bright Eyes - Healthy eyes for a better future, Tots to Teens Magazine
- Nutrition and Dry Eye - Evidence based strategies, InSight Magazine
- Dry Eye & Cosmetics - A Clinical Experience, NZ Optics
- Why is my Eyelid Twitching - Live Interview on NZ Seven Sharp Television Show
- Little Eyes, Big World, Tots to Teens Magazine
Outside of work, Adele is a mum of two girls and is actively involved in her local community. She enjoys book club, cooking for friends, and fitting in time for exercise — valuing balance, connection, and wellbeing in both her personal and professional life.
Dr Dian Zhuang - Optometrist
PhD BOptom (Hons) TPA
On Maternity Leave until early 2027
Dian is a therapeutically qualified optometrist with advanced expertise in dry eye management, specialty contact lenses, and myopia control. Since graduating in 2018, she has gained extensive experience across both corporate and private practices, with a strong focus on dry eye, orthokeratology and paediatric myopia management.
Known for her compassionate, patient-centred care, Dian takes a calm and thoughtful approach, ensuring patients of all ages feel supported and understood — particularly children and those with complex eye conditions.
Dian recently completed her PhD in Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland, under the supervision of Professor Jennifer Craig and Associate Professor Stuti Misra. Her research investigated ocular surface inflammation in dry eye disease, resulting in multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.
Her research contributions include:
- Clinical trials exploring relief options for dry eye and contact lens discomfort
- NLRP3 inflammasome as a key marker for dry eye disease severity
- Dry Eye Research Review 2023
- NLRP3 Inflammasome as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Dry Eye Disease
Following the submission of her thesis in February 2025, Dian began a Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Fellowship with Professor Charles McGhee at the University of Auckland. Her current clinical and research focus lies in cornea and anterior segment diseases, and she contributes to both public and private ophthalmology services — including Greenlane Clinical Centre and The Eye Institute, where she is involved in acute and subspecialty corneal clinics.
Beyond her clinical work, Dian teaches in the Department of Ophthalmology, delivering tutorials to medical students on dry eye, ocular allergy, and autoimmune disease (e.g. Sjögren’s syndrome). She also serves on the Council of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand and holds memberships with the Oceania Society of Orthokeratology, World Council of Optometry, Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society, and New Zealand Association of Optometrists. Dian is currently pursuing International Academy Certification in Myopia Management and Orthokeratology (IACMM).
Fluent in English and Mandarin, with conversational Cantonese, Dian enjoys connecting with patients from diverse backgrounds. Outside of clinic and research, she is a social-media eye health educator, a Pilates enthusiast, and is currently learning Korean and tennis in her spare time.
Cass Payawal - Optometrist
BOptom(Hons) TPA
Cass is a therapeutically qualified optometrist with experience across general eye care, contact lenses, children’s vision, myopia management, orthokeratology, dry eye management and OcuTech BiOptics low-vision devices. She enjoys the variety of optometry and the fact that every day brings something new, from using advanced technology and finding the right prescription to improving eye comfort and detecting early signs of eye disease.
With a particular interest in children’s vision and myopia management, Cass has completed post graduate pediatric training through the Australian College of Optometry. She is experienced in providing evidence-based treatments designed to slow the progression of short-sightedness, including orthokeratology and other contemporary myopia-management options. As a therapeutically qualified optometrist, Cass can also prescribe medications for a range of eye conditions when required.
Cass loves being part of each patient’s journey towards healthier, more comfortable vision. She is known for her gentle, caring and patient-centred approach, taking the time to listen, answer questions and clearly explain her findings so patients and families feel confident in their understanding of their vision and eye health.
Having grown up in Auckland, Cass has prior clinical experience in Wellington at Sangster and Matthews and also currently cares for patients at Orewa Optic. Outside the clinic, Cass enjoys hiking, baking and discovering new places to eat around Auckland.
