We don't maintain a list of opticians on this site because the main NHS website already holds a central list of opticians by area.  You can see opticians in the area by searching NHS Choices and from there you can click on the surgery that you are interested in to obtain opening times, contact details and directions.

Regular eye examinations are essential for clear, comfortable vision. They are an important health check too - the optometrist who checks the health of your eyes can also find indications of other medical conditions.

The following are examples of common eye problems

Short-sightedness (myopia)
Short sight occurs when light is focused in front of the retina causing distance vision to become blurred. Near vision, however, is usually clear. Short sight normally develops in childhood or adolescence and is often first noticed at school. Glasses may need to be worn all the time or just for driving, watching TV or sports.
 
Long-sightedness (hypermetropia)
Long sight occurs when light is focused behind the retina rather than on it, and the eye has to make a compensating effort to re-focus. This can cause discomfort, headaches or problems with near vision. Glasses may need to be worn all the time or just for close work, such as reading, writing or computer use. In older people, as re-focusing becomes more difficult, distance vision may also become blurred.
 
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the curvature of the cornea or lens is not perfectly round. It is sometimes described as the eye being shaped like a rugby ball rather than a football. Most people have a small amount of astigmatism, which may not need correcting. If vision is blurred or headaches occur, your optometrist may recommend glasses are worn all the time or just for specific tasks. 

Presbyopia
Presbyopia is the loss of focusing ability that occurs naturally with age. In younger people, the lens is very flexible and the eye has a wide range of focus from far distance to close up. As you get older, the lens slowly loses its flexibility leading to a gradual decline in ability to focus on near objects. Presbyopia is not a disease but a normal and expected change which sooner or later affects everyone, whether you already wear glasses or contact lenses or not. Around the age of 40-45, you will begin to notice that you are holding the newspaper further away or need more light to read small print. There is no advantage in delaying using reading glasses, or changing to bifocals or varifocals. They will not make the eyes lazy. Your optometrist will advise you on the best form of vision correction to suit your individual lifestyle and occupation.

Regular examinations are important throughout life, whether or not you are experiencing problems with your eyesight. Your optometrist will not only test your vision and, if necessary, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, but will also check closely for any early signs of eye disease or other medical condition.

The eye examination is a vital health check and should be part of everyone's normal health regime.

Here are 10 important reasons to have a regular examination:

1. You only have one pair of eyes. Once lost, your eyesight may never be replaced.

2. Unlike your teeth, your eyes do not usually hurt when there is something wrong.

3. The eye examination can pick up early signs of potentially blinding eye conditions, such as glaucoma.

4. The earlier a problem is detected the greater the chance of successful treatment. This is particularly true for young children and the elderly.

5. The eye examination can also detect a number of other underlying health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

6. An examination checks whether your eyesight needs correcting with spectacles and determines the best form of correction for your vision.

7. Good vision means working and playing better and safer - in fact it means a better quality of life.

8. For young people, good eyesight is vital for learning. An eye examination will detect any problems in sight which may be affecting school performance.

9. Failing eyesight is often taken for granted as people get older. However, by having an eye examination and remedying problems in eyesight, older people can improve their quality of life significantly.

10. Poor eyesight is dangerous. Make sure that you meet the legal requirement for driving.

Unless otherwise advised you should have an eye examination every two years. It may be necessary to have examinations more frequently depending on your age and medical history.

Protect your eyes from the sun

Buy good quality, dark sunglasses - Sunlight can damage the retina and the lens of the eye, and we risk causing long-term damage to our eyesight. Good sunglasses don't need to be expensive: you can purchase perfectly adequate protective sunglasses from high street stores.  Look out for glasses carrying the "CE" Mark and British Standard BS EN 1836:1997, which ensures that the sunglasses offer a safe level of UV protection.