Richard Johnson graduated from the School of Optometry at the University of Auckland in 1993. He then worked in the UK, Australia and Austria for a number of years as both an optometrist and contact lens fitter and since 2003 has been the principal optometrist at the Ophthalmology Department at Greenlane Hospital, where he works in the Acute Eye Service as well as paediatric, glaucoma and medical retinal clinics.  

He is a previous lecturer and examiner in Ocular Therapeutics at the University of Auckland Optometry School.

Richard is a past president of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society of NZ and was also a trustee of the Eye Bank of NZ for a number of years.  He was been the chairman of VOSO, the NZ based charitable trust comprised of optometrists and ophthalmologists providing eye care throughout the Pacific from 2006 to 2016 and is still a trustee and active volunteer with them.  He has been on over 30 aid trips to regions within the Pacific.

Richard is the first optometrist in Australasia to have the extended optometry Scope of Practice to include laser surgical procedures.

He is an advisor for the Ophthalmology division of Pharmac,  a New Zealand Crown entity that decides, on behalf of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, which medicines and pharmaceutical products are made available and subsidised for use in the community and public hospitals.

Richard recently completed a first-class Honours Masters degree in Maritime vision requirements and regulations through the University of Auckland.

Outside of work, he is an active operational wet crew volunteer in the Howick Unit of the NZ Coastguard.  He spends the remainder of his time raising his two (almost) teenage girls.