Our Team

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:

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.

 

Ella Ewens - Optometrist

MPH (Hons), BOptom (Hons), PGDip Bus, PGDip HSC, TPA, Glaucoma Endorsed

With over 15 years of diverse international experience, Ella is a highly accomplished optometrist whose career spans clinical practice, hospital care, medical devices, research, not-for-profit work, education, and management across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Ella holds a Master of Public Health (First Class Honours), a Bachelor of Optometry (Honours with Ocular Therapeutics), and postgraduate qualifications in business and health sciences. She is glaucoma endorsed and has specialist expertise in therapeutics, low vision, advanced contact lens fitting (including RGP, keratoconus, and orthokeratology), and the management of complex ocular conditions.

Her clinical experience includes hospital-based optometry at Auckland DHB – Te Toka Tumai, Greenlane Clinical Centre, where she contributed to acute eye care, post-operative management, glaucoma, low vision, and anterior segment clinics. In both independent and corporate settings, she has led practice management initiatives, developed clinical protocols, and implemented strategies that improved patient outcomes.

Beyond clinical work, Ella has a strong background in research, education, and medical affairs. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national conferences, and collaborated with leading eye-care companies to develop professional training programs and educational resources for practitioners in New Zealand and abroad.

Ella is passionate about holistic eye health and the role of lifestyle medicine in supporting ocular wellness. Her interests include the relationship between nutrition, lifestyle, and eye disease prevention. She is an active member of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand, New Zealand Association of Optometrists, and the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. She has also volunteered as an outreach optometrist in Zambia and helped develop training programs for eye-care professionals in Cambodia.

Her published works include:

Outside of her professional life, Ella is a devoted mother of two who loves spending time with her family. She finds balance through hiking, yoga, and running, and enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen — embracing a healthy, active, and mindful lifestyle.

 

Dian Zhuang - Optometrist

PhD, BOptom (Hons), TPA

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:

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.

 

Our Optometrists hold professional memberships with The New Zealand Association of Optometrists, the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand and The Dry Eye Specialist Group.

Our Eye Care Services

At Illume Eye Care, we offer a full range of expert optometric services tailored to all ages and needs. From comprehensive eye exams and children’s vision care to advanced contact lens fittings and targeted dry eye diagnosis and management, our clinic is equipped to support your visual health—every step of the way.

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Child undergoing an eye examination with a healthcare professional using medical equipment.

Our Technology

Modern clinical optometry demands more than expertise—it needs to be combined with the perfect tools. At Illume Eye Care, we’ve invested in advanced diagnostic and treatment technology to deliver precise, personalised care. From detailed imaging to innovative dry eye therapies, our equipment helps us see deeper and deliver more comprehensive, personalised care.

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Frequently asked questions
Can I just book an appointment at Illume Eye Care or do I need to be referred?

We work with many optometrists, general practitioners, ophthalmologists, dermatologists and pediatricians. If you are under another provider’s care and they can refer you to us and we will always provide them with clear reports, so your care is comprehensive across the people involved in your health care. 

We welcome referrals to be involved in your care, but you are also able to individually book appointments with us for you or a family member. You may want specific opinions on diagnosis, specific therapies we offer, our team to manage the care of your child’s myopia, or your dry eye, you may want expert advice on contact lenses or to have the freedom to take your glasses prescription to have flexibility in the style of glasses you choose. We work with many optometry practices, dispensing opticians and eyewear retailers and can even give you recommendations on where to visit for particular styles, brands or price points of frames and eyewear.
Do you sell Frames and Eyewear?

We don’t! At Illume Eye Care, we don’t sell glasses or eyewear—but we absolutely understand how important they are to your vision, comfort, and confidence. We’re a little bit different in offering advanced optometry care and we support many optometrists with specific care and management of their patients. We refer back to the primary optometrist for eyewear and frames. 

Our comprehensive eye examinations also enable you to have the freedom to take your glasses prescription to have flexibility in the style of glasses you choose. We’re passionate about helping you get the most out of your prescription, and that includes making sure you’re aware of the many excellent eyewear options available—from designer styles to everyday essentials, and everything in between.

As part of your eye exam, if we determine that glasses would improve your vision, we will:

  • Clearly explain your prescription and what it means for you
  • Provide advice on lens types and coatings that best support your lifestyle (e.g. anti-fatigue, progressive, photochromic)
  • Offer guidance on where to find high-quality eyewear and expert fittings, including options that match your style or budget.
  • We work with other optometrists and optical retailers, especially when co-managing patients who require advanced care—so we’re happy to recommend someone trusted if you're not sure where to go next.

We work with many optometry practices, dispensing opticians and eyewear retailers and can even give you recommendations on where to visit for particular styles, brands or price points of frames and eyewear.

We’re here to support your eye health and vision—from diagnosis to clear, comfortable sight, even beyond our doors.
Can I use my glasses prescription to order contact lenses?

Not quite. A glasses (spectacle) prescription isn’t the same as a contact lens prescription. Contact lenses sit directly on the eye and require specific measurements for fit, comfort, and safety. If you don’t have a valid contact lens prescription, you’ll need a contact lens fitting.

Our optometrists can help with this — we’ll assess your eye health, measure your eyes, and find the best lens option for your vision and lifestyle.
What payment options do you offer?

Payment is expected on the day of your appointment for all services and products, unless prior arrangements have been made.

We accept EFTPOS, credit card, and online payment. AfterPay and Southern Cross EasyClaim are also available.

If your appointment includes additional procedures or specialised testing, these will be discussed with you beforehand.

If you are claiming through a third party (e.g. insurance or ACC), you remain responsible for any unpaid balance.

We can access ACC CoPayments, the Enable Subsidy and Contact Lens Subsidy for eligible Patients.

Where can I park when visiting Illume Eye Care?

We’re located in the One Jervois Building at 1 Jervois Road, Ponsonby. Parking options nearby include:

  • Paid on-street parking at the top of St Marys Bay Road (closest to our clinic)
  • Free 2-hour on-street parking a little further down St Marys Bay Road
  • 30-minute free parking in the paid carpark behind our building – perfect if you’re popping in for a quick visit or collecting a Click & Collect order

All parking is subject to availability, so we recommend allowing a few extra minutes before your appointment.
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