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Optometry is a health care profession that involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as the correction of refractive error with glasses or contact lenses and treatment of eye diseases.
The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, UK.
The British Optical Association (BOA) was founded in February 1895 as the first professional body for ophthalmic opticians (optometrists) in the world. The British Optical Association Museum and Library was founded in 1901; it retains the BOA name but is now part of the College of Optometrists, located in Craven Street, Charing Cross, central London.
An optician, or dispensing optician, is a technical practitioner who designs, fits and dispenses corrective lenses for the correction of a person's vision. Opticians determine the specifications of various ophthalmic appliances that will give the necessary correction to a person's eyesight. Some registered or licensed opticians also design and fit special appliances to correct cosmetic, traumatic or anatomical defects. These devices are called shells or artificial eyes. Other registered or licensed opticians manufacture lenses to their own specifications and design and manufacture spectacle frames and other devices.
Vision Express is a British company established in 1988 that sells spectacles and contact lenses.
Specsavers Optical Group Ltd is a British multinational optical retail chain, which operates mainly in the UK, Ireland, Australasia and the Nordic countries. The chain offers optician services for eyesight testing and sells glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. It also sells hearing aids. In the United Kingdom in 2012 it had the largest single market share of the four major opticians, with 42% of the market.
X-Ray Specs was a British comic strip illustrated by Mike Lacey that appeared in the first issue of the British comic Monster Fun on 14 June 1975. It features a young boy who acquired a set of X-Ray spectacles with whom he could see through everything.
The General Optical Council (GOC) is an organisation in the United Kingdom which maintains a register of opticians and regulates the services provided by dispensing opticians and optometrists. The stated function of the GOC is "to protect the public and promote high standards of professional conduct and education amongst opticians".
Essilor International S.A. is a French-based international ophthalmic optics company that designs, manufactures and markets lenses to correct or protect eyesight. Its headquarters is in Charenton-le-Pont, France.
Dollond & Aitchison was one of the oldest chains of retail opticians in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1750. The business was absorbed into Boots Opticians in 2009 and stores have gradually been rebranded under the Boots Opticians name, completed in 2015.
Pupillary distance (PD) or interpupillary distance (IPD) is the distance measured in millimeters between the centers of the pupils of the eyes. This measurement is different from person to person and also depends on whether they are looking at near objects or far away. Monocular PD refers to the distance between each eye and the bridge of the nose which may be slightly different for each eye due to anatomical variations. For people who need to wear prescription glasses consideration of monocular PD measurement by the optician helps to ensure that the lenses will be located in the optimum position. Purchasing glasses online can be a potential problem if the PD measurement isn't available. In both the UK and most of Canada, the PD measurement is classed as a dispensing tool rather than a part of the actual prescription of the person whose eyes were tested, thus there is no obligation for a PD to be provided on patient request. Whilst PD is an optometric term used to specify prescription eyewear, IPD is more critical for the design of binocular viewing systems, where both eye pupils need to be positioned within the exit pupils of the viewing system. These viewing systems include binocular microscopes, night vision devices or goggles (NVGs), and head-mounted displays (HMDs). IPD data are used in the design of such systems to specify the range of lateral adjustment of the exit optics or eyepieces. IPD is also used to describe the distance between the exit pupils or optical axes of a binocular optical system. The distinction with IPD is the importance of anthropometric databases and the design of binocular viewing devices with an IPD adjustment that will fit a targeted population of users. Because instruments such as binoculars and microscopes can be used by different people, the distance between the eye pieces is usually made adjustable to account for IPD. In some applications, when IPD is not correctly set, it can lead to an uncomfortable viewing experience and eye strain.
Boots Opticians Ltd. operates a chain of ophthalmic and dispensing optician stores in the United Kingdom. The company is a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance (58%) and De Rigo (42%).
Eyewear consists of items and accessories worn on or over the eyes, for fashion or adornment, protection against the environment, and to improve or enhance visual acuity.
Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) is a registered charity in the United Kingdom, which provides optical aid and services to developing countries in Africa.
Optical Express is a retail optical services brand and laser eye surgery specialist in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also provides refractive treatments such as lens surgery and cataract surgery.
Hassan's Optician Co. is a retail/wholesale company of eyewear, hearing aid and jewellery primarily based in Kuwait with branches in Oman, Lebanon, UK and Dubai.
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading professional organisation for optometrists in the United Kingdom.
Vision Direct Group Ltd is an online optical retailer that sells contact lenses, solutions and eye care products. The company is based in the United Kingdom.
Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care is a British chain of opticians, with 34 branches in London and south east England as of March 2016, employing 227 people.
Lenstore is an online optical retailer, specialising in contact lenses, solutions and other accessories and eye care products.