Neil qualified as a dispensing optician in 1985 and started working with contact lenses in his pre-registration year, beginning the ABDO contact lens course. He has managed independent and multiple opticians at both practice and regional levels. Neil worked in sales with Bausch & Lomb in the late 1980s and in professional affairs with Ciba Vision and then Alcon from 2011 to 2021. Most recently, Neil received the BCLA certificates in dry eye management and contact lens retention, and in the principles of myopia management, and holds BCLA fellowship status. He works as professional affairs consultant at CooperVision.