Debates have raged, judges have deliberated and the finalists for the 2019 Optician Awards can finally be revealed (see below).
In total, 18 categories are up for grabs including new trophies for the Frame Stylist of the Year of the year, sponsored by Transitions and a Low Vision Award. Also joining this year are new sponsors in the form of ASDA which is sponsoring the Dispensing Optician of the Year category.
The clock is now ticking down to the biggest night of the optical year, The Awards presentation, where the winners will be announced in a colourful night of 1980 nostalgia. This year the Awards take the earlier slot of March 30 at the Hilton Metropole Hotel Birmingham on the Saturday night of the Optrafair weekend.
Winning an Optician award is the pinnacle of many optical careers. The road to glory starts here and a full list of finalists (see opposite) have been selected following a thorough judging process and debate by our adjudicating panels.
Close on 300 entrants completed a 1,000 word entry and provided supporting material creating a hefty workload for our judging panels. Optician would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all of their hard work.
Optician would also like to congratulate all of those who made it through to a shortlist and remind them that they are cordially invited to a finalists party in the Jewel Bar on London Piccadilly Circus at the end of February.This is an opportunity for our shortlists to get to know one another over a canape and a drink without the feverish atmosphere of the Awards night itself.
The black tie presentation ceremony takes place in the Palace and Library Suites of the Hilton Hotel next to Optrafair on March 30. Our stunning Art Deco trophies will be presented at a glittering evening of entertainment amid some 1980s nostalgia, fun and surprises. The evening will start with a reception sponsored by Scope. The 500 plus guests will go on enjoy a sumptuous three course dinner and treated to a stunning AV show. The presentation of the trophies will be overseen by a special celebrity host who will add to the theme of the night. Once the trophies have been presented there will be dancing to some of the best 1980s tunes and the chance to enjoy other 1980s fun. The night will also feature fundraising such as a game of heads and tails sponsored by Vivid and all of the money raised throughout the evening will be donated to Optician’s chosen charity for the awards which is Blind Veterans UK.
Optician thanks everyone who entered the Awards, if you didn’t make it to a shortlist bad luck, competition was fierce - better luck next year.
The Optician Awards presentation night is a celebration of optics and you don’t need to be on a shortlist to attend. To secure your ticket at the event go to www.opticianawards.com
Technology Practice of the Year
Hammond and Dummer Opticians
Parley Optometrists
Radlett Opticians
Specsavers, Haverfordwest
Tompkins, Knight and Son Optometrists
Family Optician of the Year
Coleman Opticians Hearing and Vision Centre
Cooper & Barr Opticians
Heather Bailey Optometrists
Planit Opticians
Specsavers, Keighley
Valli Opticians
Multiple Practice of the Year
Boots Opticians, New Milton
Specsavers, Bicester
Specsavers, Chelmsley Wood
Specsavers, Haverfordwest
Specsavers, Sutton-in-Ashfield
Independent Practice of the Year sponsored by Hoya
Frost Borneo Opticians
Glass & Glass Optometrists
Hammond and Dummer Opticians
O’Brien’s Opticians
Kings Hill Opticians
Lynne Fernandes Optometrists
Mackie Eyecare
Fashion Practice of the Year
Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians
Mincher-Lockett & Co Opticians
Park Vision
Rachel Murray Eyecare
Spexbox
Contact Lens Practice of the Year Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Visioncare
Boots Opticians, Braehead
Cooper & Barr Opticians
Querido & Davidson
Specsavers, Derby
Specsavers, Keighley
Specsavers, Cannock
Practice Growth Award, sponsored by A+E+L Markhams
Allegro Optical
Benjamin Opticians
Flint and Partners
Hammond and Dummer Opticians
Parley Optometrists
Sask Optics
Station Road Opticians
Lens Product of the Year
UVProtect, Carl Zeiss Vision
Crizal Sapphire UV, Essilor
Autograph Intelligence, Shamir
Ultrathin, Waterside Laboratories
Frame of the Year
Blackcap, Bird Glasses
1305, Cutler and Gross
Topanga, L.A. Eyeworks
Camila, Xavier Garcia
Elena, Reykjavik Eyes Black Label
Rapunzel S05, Specsavers
Atum, You Mawo
Contact Lens Product of the Year
OptiExpert, CooperVision
Versa One Day Toric, Mark’ennovy
Personalized Care
Duette, SynergEyes UK
Optical Supplier of the Year
24/7 Uptime
Heidelberg Engineering
Mainline Optical Connections
Ocuco
Optos
Scope Ophthalmics
Waterside Laboratories
Low Vision Award
Judith Potts, Esme's Umbrella
Mellis Eyecare
Stephanie Cairns, Sight Service
The Seeing Beyond the Eyes Team,
Visualise Training & Consultancy
Enhanced Optical Service Award
Boots Opticians, Knightsbridge
Parley Optometrists
Rawlings Opticians, Croydon
Specsavers, Alton
Specsavers, Haverfordwest
Frame Stylist of the Year sponsored by Transitions
Amiee Wheeler, Eyeworks London
Sarah Neath, Lamertons Opticians
Janan Choudhury, Spectacle Emporium
Rachelle Garcia Russo, Station Road Opticians
Optical Assistant Team of the Year
Boots Opticians, St Helens
Bowen Opticians
Clark Family Eyecare
Cooper & Barr Opticians
Glass & Glass Optometrists
Specsavers, Bicester
Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year sponsored by Alcon
Christopher Nixon, Christopher Nixon Optometrists
Iain Johnson, Maloney Opticians
Marc Drake, Osmond Drake Opticians
Dipesh Chhatralia, Parker & Hammond Opticians
Lisa Pipe, Parley Optometrists
Dispensing Optician of the Year, sponsored by Asda Opticians
Sheryl Doe, Allegro Optical
John Singh, Leightons Insight
Fraser McLean, Rachel Murray Eyecare
Tanja White, Specsavers, Bicester
Optometrist of the Year sponsored by CooperVision
Cathy Dallimore, Edmonds & Slatter Opticians
Keyur Patel, K3 Healthcare
Catherine McNamara, Liverton Opticians
Rebecca Rietdyke, Maloney Opticians
David Barker, Rawlings Opticians
