Categories > Healthcare
5 Clinics with the Best Opticians in Edinburgh
How we picked
Qualifications
We did a little background check on each optician to ensure that they’ve acquired all the necessary requirements to practise and whether they hold any significant awards, memberships, and recognitions.
Clinic
We visited each clinic to see whether they were using the latest technologies and if they adhered to health guidelines.
Corrective options
To accommodate each person’s preferences, we opted for opticians that offered an array of corrective options, from eyeglasses to surgery.
Additional services
We checked if they offered value-adding services, paid or not, to make each client’s experience more worthwhile. These include complimentary or virtual consultations, free delivery, aftercare, and more.
1. Gibson & Syme
Services: Eyewear and eye examinations
Website: https://www.gibsonsyme.co.uk/
Address: 163a Bonnington Rd, Edinburgh EH6 5BQ, United Kingdom
Contact Information:
- +44 131 553 9000
- [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday: By appointment
Google Reviews | 5/5 |
Nice Local | 4.9/5 |
4.7/5 | |
Total reviews | 4.8/5 |
Score consistency | 4.8/5 |
Qualifications | 4.8/5 |
Clinic | 5/5 |
Corrective options | 3.5/5 |
Additional services | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Independent optician
- Provides complete eye examinations
- Has an in-store laboratory
- Delivery available
- Accepts prescriptions from other opticians
- Has a spacious and well-lit showroom
- Online appointment setting available
- Free on-site parking available
- Open on Saturdays by appointment
Cons
- Doesn’t accept walk-ins
- Doesn’t have an online store
- Only carries eyeglasses
- Doesn’t offer remote consultations
What we love about Gibson & Syme is that they’re independent opticians offering comprehensive eye care services.
Specifically, their Edinburgh store is fully-equipped with modern technologies and facilities to provide comprehensive full sight testing.
They offer non-contact tonometer, retinal photography, slit lamp, visual fields/screening, and optical coherence tomography testing.
Apart from that, they also have an in-store laboratory to make their lenses. Hence, you won’t have to wait too long before your spectacles are ready for collection.
Alternatively, you can also opt to have them delivered to your home, which is an added convenience. To boot, a few clients mentioned that their delivery time was quite quick, too.
Did we mention that they also accept prescriptions from other opticians? We appreciate how this makes getting prescription lenses easier because you won’t have to undergo another eye examination.
It’s also worth noting that they have a well-lit and spacious showroom. Thanks to this, clients can effortlessly test out several kinds of eyewear.
Unfortunately, they only carry eyeglasses, which we found a tad limiting as far as corrective options are concerned. So, if you want contact lenses, you may consider the other options on this list instead.
Also, they don’t accept walk-ins. So, be sure to book an appointment online via their website.
Their store has free on-site parking, so they get a few points for accessibility. They’re also open Mondays through Fridays, with Saturdays only by appointment.
Though, it’s quite a bummer that they don’t offer remote consultations. In our opinion, this could save clients the hassle of having to travel to the store.
Having said that, it’s also a tad disappointing that they don’t have an online store. Nevertheless, you can browse through their collection on their website in preparation for your visit.
2. Optical Studio
Services: Eyewear, contact lenses, and eye examinations
Website: https://www.opticalstudio.net/
Address: 20 Great Jct St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 5LA, United Kingdom
Contact Information:
- +44 131 554 1689
- [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Thursday: 10 AM – 5 PM (7 PM late)
- Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM – 1 PM
Google Reviews | 5/5 |
Nice Local | 4.9/5 |
5/5 | |
Total reviews | 4.8/5 |
Score consistency | 4.9/5 |
Qualifications | 4.8/5 |
Clinic | 4.9/5 |
Corrective options | 4.9/5 |
Additional services | 4.9/5 |
Pros
- Independent optician
- 50 years of industry experience
- Open from Mondays through Saturdays
- Offers evening appointments on Thursdays
- Online booking available
- Offers home eye examinations
- Offers remote consultations
- Accepts prescriptions from other opticians
Cons
- By appointment only
- No online store
Optical Studio is an independent optician serving Edinburgh locals for the last 50 years.
The best thing about Optical Studio is that they go the extra mile to accommodate their customers. In particular, they’re open Mondays through Saturdays and even offer evening appointments on Thursdays.
For out-of-hours care, we were impressed that they also offer remote consultations. This way, clients can look after their eyes and speak with a healthcare provider from the comfort of their homes.
Though, keep in mind that they operate on an appointment-only basis, which may be a tad inconvenient for some.
Even so, we like that their booking process is quite straightforward. Their website has all their testing information available, so all you need to do is fill it out as needed.
What’s great is that if you can’t pop by their store, they offer home testing, too. We appreciate how this service makes eye examinations easily accessible for those undergoing treatment, have mobility issues, and the like.
As for their corrective options, they offer eyeglasses and contact lenses from several brands. However, their selection isn’t available online, so you can only purchase their products in-store.
Though, we don’t think that’s too much of an inconvenience given how accommodating their staff is. It’s also a great convenience that they accept prescriptions from other opticians.
Their in-house optician, Usman Aslam, is also known for his professionalism and top-notch care. Hence, we were completely relaxed during our visit.
3. Specsavers Opticians
Services: Eyewear, contact lenses, accessories, and eye examinations
Website: https://www.specsavers.co.uk/
Address: 40 Newkirkgate Shopping Centre, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AA, United Kingdom
Contact Information:
- +44 131 555 9580
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Google Reviews | 4.6/5 |
Nice Local | 4.6/5 |
Total reviews | 4.7/5 |
Score consistency | 4.7/5 |
Qualifications | 4.8/5 |
Clinic | 5/5 |
Corrective options | 3.5/5 |
Additional services | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Large inventory
- Home visits available depending on eligibility
- Provides complete eye examinations
- Online booking available
- Financing options available
- Online store available
- Open 6 days a week
Cons
- No remote consultations
- Store can get quite packed
Specsavers Opticians is a family-run business that offers comprehensive eye care services. For the last 35 years, it has since expanded to having 79 locations across Scotland; 8 of which are in Edinburgh.
Hence, you may have already unknowingly walked past a Specsavers store at your nearest shopping centre.
We were happy to see that they provide comprehensive services, from supplying eyeglasses to administering eye examinations.
Admittedly, their selection is quite vast and a tad overwhelming. To combat this, we suggest taking advantage of their website’s filters to easily navigate their products based on your preferences.
They also have several kinds of accessories such as contact lens solutions, lens cleaners, lens cloths, and glasses chains. In our opinion, this makes them a handy one-stop shop.
As for their eye examinations, they offer several kinds to easily identify developing problems. These include retinoscopy, visual field check, Snellen test, and OCT scan among others.
While it’s great that they offer home eye tests, you’ll have to check if you’re eligible first. Nevertheless, this is a convenient service for those with physical or mental concerns.
Though, we think it would be even better if they offer remote consultations, too. Especially since their store can get quite packed, especially during peak hours.
On the brighter side, we like that you can open an account on their website to make re-ordering products a breeze.
On top of having a variety of items at different price points, it’s also worth highlighting that they offer several financing options. In our opinion, this makes their products even more affordable.
4. Vision Express Opticians
Services: Eyewear, contact lenses, accessories, and eye examinations
Website: https://www.specsavers.co.uk/
Address: Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Ocean Dr, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, United Kingdom
Contact Information:
- +44 131 555 3833
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Google Reviews | 4.6/5 |
Trust Pilot | 4.7/5 |
Nice Local | 4.4/5 |
Yably | 4.5/5 |
Total reviews | 4.7/5 |
Score consistency | 4.6/5 |
Qualifications | 4.8/5 |
Clinic | 4.9/5 |
Corrective options | 4.5/5 |
Additional services | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- 30 years in the industry
- Open 6 days a week
- Online booking available
- Offers free contact lens trial
- Multiple payment methods accepted
- Free 100-day returns
- Free lifetime servicing
- Free undercover parking
Cons
- No home visits
- No remote consultations
Since opening its doors 30 years ago, Vision Express Opticians has over 550 stores in Ireland and the UK. So, we don’t think accessibility would be a concern as they’re located in several shopping centres.
They offer a wide array of eye care services, such as providing corrective eyewear and conducting eye examinations.
They boast a grand collection of eyeglasses and sunglasses from various brands. It’s also worth noting that they’re authorised sellers of several of these, so you won’t have to worry about the quality or authenticity.
Did we mention that each purchase comes with a free 100-day return? We appreciate the extra protection this gives if customers take home a faulty pair.
On top of that, customers can also enjoy their lifetime servicing. We think this added perk is a great aftercare service to ensure their eyewear is well-cared for years after the initial purchase.
As for their contact lenses, we were impressed that they offer a free trial. In our opinion, that’ll definitely come in handy, especially for beginners.
In matters of payment, we like that they accept multiple payment methods. This includes Mastercard, Maestro, Visa, PayPal, and AMEX.
If you’re ready to set an appointment, you can easily do so via their website. You also won’t have to worry about availability since they’re open 6 days a week.
However, we were disappointed that they don’t offer home visits or remote consultations. This would have made their services a tad more accessible.
On the brighter side, they’re conveniently located at the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre. So, you can expect free undercover parking for easy access.
5. Downes Opticians
Services: Eyewear, contact lenses, and eye examinations
Website: https://www.downesopticians.com/
Address: 2 N Jct St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6HN, United Kingdom
Contact Information:
- +44 131 553 5358
- [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 9 AM – 6 PM
- Friday & Saturday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Google Reviews | 4.7/5 |
4.9/5 | |
Nice Local | 4.7/5 |
Total reviews | 4.7/5 |
Score consistency | 4.8/5 |
Qualifications | 4.8/5 |
Clinic | 5/5 |
Corrective options | 4.5/5 |
Additional services | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Independent optician
- Open Mondays through Saturdays
- Has a specialised clinic
- Optometrists are IP qualified
- Provides contact lenses for children as young as 5 years old
- Nearby parking available
Cons
- Eyewear is quite pricey
- No home visits
- No remote consultations
- No online store
What makes Downes Opticians stand out from the other entries on this list is that it’s a specialised clinic.
This means it’s equipped with the necessary healthcare providers, facilities, and equipment to manage myopia and visual stress, among others.
Having said that, it’s also worth noting that their optometrists are qualified to perform independent prescribing (IP).
We think this is an added convenience as you won’t have to get referred to the hospital. This also means that they can diagnose, treat, and monitor your conditions.
As for their eyewear, they carry several brands to give you many options. Though, it may be difficult to find a budget-friendly pair shown that their items start from £70.
On the bright side, we’ve heard many great things about their customer service. Many commended their staff’s helpfulness and professionalism, which made them feel cared for.
We think it’s worth mentioning that they have a reputation for being stellar children’s optometrists. They’ve also adapted their eye examinations to make check-ups a more enjoyable experience for young ones.
We were also impressed that they can make contact lenses for children as young as 5. We think this is a great alternative for children with trouble wearing eyeglasses.
It’s great that they’re open Mondays through Saturdays, so you can pop by at your most convenient time. They also have nearby parking within the area for easier accessibility.
Though, we were disappointed that they don’t offer home visits, remote consultations, or an online store. This would have been greatly appreciated by those that have trouble leaving their homes.