Middlesbrough is a large industrial town situated near the River Tees in North Yorkshire. It has a reputation for being a stronghold for engineering-based manufacturing businesses, which has remained since the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. The town’s optical services are particularly strong too.
Selina Pye, practice manager at Eye Deal Optical, has worked at the practice since it opened its doors to patients 10 years ago. ‘I am very lucky to be able to say that I absolutely love my job and working in Middlesbrough where I was born and bred is great. Middlesbrough is a large town and our premises overlook a lovely green area,’ she says.
Most of the practice’s customers discover it through word of mouth. Pye says: ‘Our customers are very loyal, so we have built up a great relationship with most of them, which both ourselves and our customers appreciate.’
Eye Deal Optical currently offers patients fundus photography and it also has an OCT scanner. ‘I believe we are currently the only opticians in Middlesbrough to have the OCT machine,’ Pye says. ‘It’s definitely a unique selling point for us as a practice and encouraging more patients to join us.’ The practice also offers domiciliary visits to a patient’s home or to care homes.
Designer brands that the practice staff usually find are the most popular with patients include Emporio Armani and Ray-Ban among others. Pye adds: ‘We also do very well with Murano frames, especially with ladies that like some sparkle.’
Martin Dillon (pictured) is one of the ophthalmic directors of the Middlesbrough Specsavers practice. ‘Middlesbrough has excellent rail and road links to cities such as Newcastle, Leeds and Bradford. Every day is enjoyable thanks to the good humour and friendly nature of the people. We have a diverse and vibrant team who have many years’ experience, coming from all walks of life,’ he says.
During the past two years, the practice has undergone a refit and new technology is now available to patients. The practice is recognised in the town as dementia friendly.
Dillon says: ‘We are seeing an increasing number of EOS patients every day with our new Specsavers eye health clinics. We offer a same day service to anyone who has concerns about their eyes. We also take part in local NHS shared care schemes including low vision, cataract referral and a new WOPEC-accredited glaucoma refinement scheme.’ The large practice team featuring three ophthalmic directors and eight optometrists are also involved in charities such as Guide Dogs, Dementia Friends and RNIB.
Who’s in town
Total: 7
Independents: 3
Multiples: 4
Average costs
The price of an eye exam in Middlesbrough ranges from £0 to £29, at an average cost of £16.80.
Population - see pie chart
Population: 140,398
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Tees Local Optical Committee has a contract with South Tees CCG in Cataract Referral, Glaucoma Repeat Readings and Low Vision.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Middlesbrough is £143,931 (Zoopla), compared with a UK average of £225,621 (Land Registry, 2018)
- The average salary in Middlesbrough is £22,773, compared with a UK average of £27,271 (Payscale, 2018)
- In Middlesbrough, it is estimated that 5,270 people live with early stage age-related macular degeneration. (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool).
- By 2030, it is predicted that 4,940 people in Middlesbrough will be living with sight loss – an increase of 25.4%.
Fact file
Middlesbrough was the first major British town and industrial target to be bombed during the Second World War, due to its steel-making capacity. The town was bombed on May 25, 1940§.
Ironstone was discovered in the Eston Hills near the River Tees in 1850. The importance of the area to the developing iron and steel trade at the time resulted in it receiving the nickname Ironopolis.
Middlesbrough is home to the Championship football team, Middlesbrough FC, which is based at the Riverside Stadium, pictured. It made history in 1905 with Britain’s first £1,000 transfer when they signed Alf Common from Sunderland.
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