Our Practice in Sydney

Dr. Shaun MacInnis was born in Sydney and grew up in Prime Brook. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University College of Cape Breton before finishing a Doctor of Optometry (Honours) at the University of Waterloo in 2007. He took over Island Eyecare in 2015.

In 2006, Dr. MacInnis completed a four-month externship at an eye clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he treated multiple ocular diseases, concentrating on glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

He was also chosen to attend a continuing education course on therapeutic pharmaceuticals at Alcon Laboratories in Fort Worth, Texas. He has also participated in a specialty contact lens course at the Johnson & Johnson facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. 

In his current practice, he continues to pursue an interest in contact lenses, dry eye disease, children’s vision, and macular degeneration.

He is certified in fitting Paragon Vision Sciences lenses for Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) and MiSight contact lenses. Both of these lenses can be used for myopia control in children.

In 2018, he attended the Alcon Experience Center to receive advanced training in multifocal contact lenses. In 2013, he was involved in the Macular Assessment Program, a national study that identified patients at risk of macular degeneration.

Dr. MacInnis is one of the first optometrists east of Ottawa to join MyDryEye, a network that connects patients suffering from dry eye disease with practitioners who can help. 

Dr. MacInnis participated as one of Atlantic Canada’s representatives at Allergan’s Optimize round table group, a national collection of optometrists discussing new treatment options and dry eye disease protocols.

In 2019, he was part of the Alcon national advisory board for the iLux dry eye system. He was one of only 9 optometrists chosen nationally to become an Alcon Professional Dry Eye Consultant.

In 2020, he became one of only two optometrists in the country to be named a consultant for E-Eye IRPL technology with I-MED Pharma. Dr. MacInnis was president of the Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists (NSAO) from 2012-2014. He has previously been a chair or committee member for the NSAO’s Children’s Vision, Practice Innovation, Occupational Vision, and Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund committees. Currently, Dr. MacInnis serves on the board of the Nova Scotia College of Optometrists (NSCO).

He was a part of the Clinical Advisory Group for the province’s Drug Information System. Dr. MacInnis is a faculty member of the Academy of Ophthalmic Education. In addition, he serves as a clerkship supervisor for the University of Waterloo, training future optometrists by hosting fourth-year optometry students during their clinical rotations.

He has participated in Sydney and Halifax Connects multiple times, providing free eye exams and glasses to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Optometry Giving Sight is also a charity Dr. MacInnis has supported on numerous occasions during World Sight Day. He continues to give locally to many charities.

When he is away from the office, Dr. MacInnis is most likely found outside. Whether he is hiking, running, mountain biking, golfing, or kayaking, he usually has his dog or family in tow.

Dr. Jessica Prendergast was born and raised in Sydney. In 2013, she completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology at Cape Breton University before entering the Optometry program at the University of Waterloo, graduating in 2018. Upon returning to Cape Breton, she began practising at Island Eyecare. 

Dr. Prendergast completed her 4-month Ocular Disease and Therapeutics externship at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where she treated patients with macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. 

In 2013, she was part of the Global Medical Brigades volunteer group’s founding chapter, which travelled to Ghana to offer free healthcare and education to those in need. In 2016, she was part of the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity group at the University of Waterloo, travelling to Peru to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses. 

During her training, Dr. Prendergast has earned certification to fit various types of contact lenses, including those used for myopia control. In 2019, she attended the Alcon Experience Center in Fort Worth, Texas, for advanced training in multifocal contact lenses. 

She feels lucky to be part of Island Eyecare with its particular interest in dry eye diagnosis and treatment, a growing patient issue. Starting with us as a new graduate, Dr. Prendergast looks forward to continuing to learn more and discovering new eyecare interests. Outside of optometry, dancing–tap, jazz, and ballet–has long been a part of Dr. Prendergast’s life. Lately, she has been learning how to Cape Breton step dance and can be found participating in local productions like The Nutcracker, camping in Inverness, and playing with her dog.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dr. Brandt Burdeniuk is passionate about helping patients see and feel their best through personalized, technology-driven eye care.

Dr. Burdeniuk completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Manitoba in 2021, followed by his Doctor of Optometry (Honours) from the University of Waterloo in 2025. During his studies, he took part in outreach events through the University of Waterloo, providing eye care for underprivileged and newcomer communities. This experience reinforced his commitment to accessible, compassionate care.

His training includes a 4-month externship at Island Eyecare in 2024, during which he became familiar with the local community and gained hands-on experience in primary eye care. He also completed a 4-month externship in Smithers, BC, where he managed ocular conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy.

Dr. Burdeniuk is certified in fitting a wide range of contact lenses, including multifocal designs, and in children’s myopia management using specialty glasses, contact lenses, and therapeutic drops. His professional interests include ocular disease management, contact lenses, dry eye care, and exploring new technologies and treatments that enhance patient outcomes.

Patients often describe Dr. Burdeniuk as thorough, friendly, and easy-going, and they appreciate his calm, reassuring approach to care. For him, the most rewarding part of being an optometrist is improving his patients’ quality of life, whether by helping them see more clearly or feel more comfortable than they thought possible.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Burdeniuk enjoys mountain biking, volleyball, golfing, graphic design, and video games, as well as attending folk festivals and rock concerts.

Dr. Katie Boult graduated from Western University in 2013 (Honours Specialization in Pharmacology), and then from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 2017 (Honours Doctor of Optometry).

During her degree she travelled to Dallas, TX for a 4 month externship; gaining experience with diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and uveitis, while working alongside ophthalmology.

Katie also completed one rotation in Halifax, and then travelled around Nova Scotia. This inspired a dream to one day call this beautiful province home.

Returning to London Ontario after graduating, Katie helped provide mobile eye examinations to patients living in retirement and long term care homes. She also worked in an optometric practice providing primary eye care services; including myopia management, contact lens fittings, and dry eye treatment.

In 2024, she began working at a surgical clinic performing pre- and post-operative assessments for patients interested in LASIK, RLE, ICL, and cataract procedures. Additionally, she helped to inform patients with keratoconus about their surgical and non-surgical options.

Katie is thrilled to now be a part of the team at Island EyeCare. When not in the office you can find her reading at the beach, kayaking, or working on her cross-stitching.

All the way from “Friendly Manitoba”, Dr. Nicole Taylor (she/her) is excited to provide compassionate, patient-centered eye care to the folks of Cape Breton.

Dr. Taylor was born and raised in Winnipeg where she attended the University of Manitoba to complete a Bachelor of Science in Genetics in 2022. She continued her studies at the University of Waterloo to complete her Doctor of Optometry (Honours) from which she graduated in 2026. 

In 2024, Dr. Taylor travelled to Senegal with the UW Chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) to provide eyecare and glasses to rural Indigenous peoples, reflecting her passion to providing equitable eye care for all. 

During her studies, Dr. Taylor completed a 4-month externship in Saskatoon, SK, and three surrounding rural communities, providing primary eyecare to patients of all ages. This experience taught Dr. Taylor the power of accessible, interdisciplinary healthcare, while treating patients in rural optometry clinics, multi-disciplinary health centres, a regional correctional centre, and a federal prison. Her clinical education continued in Dauphin, MB, where she learned to treat acute ocular emergencies, and manage chronic ocular diseases including dry eye, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. 

Using visual aids and cutting-edge technology, Dr. Taylor wants her patients to feel well-informed about their ocular health and empowered to make decisions to see their best. She has a particular interest in pediatric optometry, myopia management, and managing ocular disease. She is also certified to fit a full range of contact lenses, including spherical, toric, multifocal and hard specialty contact lenses. 

In her spare time, you may find Dr. Taylor reading, crafting, playing the violin, travelling, and exploring new restaurants and cafes around Nova Scotia (if you have recommendations, let her know!).