The top UK optical chains 2017

Specsavers

When Doug and Dame Mary Perkins, pictured below, opened the first Specsavers store back in Bristol in 1984, no one quite predicted just how much of an impact the business would have on the profession. Today, Specsavers is the world’s largest privately owned optical group with more than 1,800 stores operating in 10 countries. Each store is part-owned and managed by its own directors, who are then provided with support services including marketing, accounting, IT and wholesaling.

This year Specsavers furthered its enhanced optical services, opening up its first specialist eye treatment centre in Newport in January, which provides initial screening and referrals for people with symptoms of wet age-related macular degeneration. It has also announced this week the addition of OCTs to each of its UK stores.