Centre for Eyecare Excellence (CEE): our clinics

Find out more about the clinics offered at the Centre for Eyecare Excellence
Optometry with Â鶹Æƽâ°æ

Centre for Eyecare Excellence (CEE): our clinics

Find out more about the clinics offered at the Centre for Eyecare Excellence
You can call or email us to make an appointment:
Telephone: +44 1752 583100
Centre for Eyecare Excellence, 41 Gibbon Street, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, PL4 8BZ
We're open from Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00.
Centre for Eyecare Excellence, 41 Gibbon Street, Â鶹Æƽâ°æ, PL4 8BZ
Find us on . 
The clinic has disabled access. Disabled drivers using our facility may park in the pay and display bays or resident parking bays in the immediate area free of charge as long as a valid blue badge and clock is displayed.
There are several car parks within walking distance of the clinic, namely Regent Street car park, Mayflower House Court, Mayflower Street East and Mayflower Street West. A full list of car parks and their locations can be found on the .
The clinic is also accessible via numerous public transport routes, please refer to the for details. 
Appointment checklist
To provide you with the best possible care, it is helpful if you bring the following with you to all appointments at the CEE:
  • your latest spectacle prescription
  • all spectacles and contact lenses you currently use
  • a list of your current medication
  • your GP's details.

Eye examinations
The Centre for Eyecare Excellence offers eye examinations with our third year student optometrists under the direct supervision of qualified optometry staff. These comprehensive tests provide a detailed assessment of the health of your eyes and a full vision check.
Our thorough eye examinations are double-checked by the qualified supervisors, therefore appointments can last approximately two hours. These are completely free of charge and as a goodwill gesture we offer 20% discount on full priced spectacles purchased through us. 
Throughout the year we provide paediatric appointments. It is important for all children to have regular eye examinations as it is vital in a child’s development. Our clinic is a child friendly environment with all appointments supervised by experienced staff. We also offer a wide range of spectacles and contact lenses for children with also a selected stock of frames designed to fit children with special needs.
We also offer private eye examinations with a qualified member of staff. These are £35 for members of the public and £25 for Â鶹Æƽâ°æ staff, NHS workers, armed forces, emergency services and carers. If you are eligible for NHS funded sight tests then this appointment if also free of charge. 
Before your appointment, make sure you have had a look at our appointment checklist so that our students may provide you with the best possible care.
Please see below for full details of other clinics and services that we provide.

Spectacle dispensing
The CEE clinic has a well-stocked spectacle dispensary with a range of frames from economy frames to designer brands. We have our own in-house glazing lab and where applicable, may be able to glaze your spectacles within the week. 
We offer a wide variety of spectacles, lenses and coating, including:
  • Single vision lenses
  • Various types of Bifocals and Varifocals
  • Glass/plastic/polycarbonate and toughened lenses
  • Lightweight/thinned lenses
  • Photochromatic lenses
  • Scratch resistant/hydrophobic/anti-reflection coatings
  • Ultra-Violet (U.V) protection and a wide range of tints
  • Specialist lenses such as Vistamesh (for migraine sufferers)
  • Prescription sunglasses, safety glasses, sports spectacles, swimming goggles and specialist ski goggles.
  • Specialist children’s spectacles, including sports frames as well as Tomato brand frames – suitable from 6 months old
We will discuss your exact requirements including fit and comfort. In addition to this we will give expert and objective advice on the best style of frame as well as the optimum lens type and material best suited for your needs. Our frame prices now include complete pricing which offers frame and single vision hard coated lens for as little at £50. We stock brand such as: William Morris, Ted Baker, Penguin, Joules and Radley.
Don't forget, we provide you with a 20% discount on full price frames if you sit as a patient for one of our students.

Contact Lens Clinic
The CEE clinic can supply a wide range of lens types in our contact lens fittings as well as aftercare appointments for regular wearers. We will assess your suitability for contact lenses and also fit you with the best lens type for you. In addition for comfort and fit, we factor in lifestyle, hobbies and working environments. Once we have enough relevant data, including prescription and measurements, we can offer you the chance to trial different types of contact lens so that we can determine the optimum lens for you.
Just like our other clinics, this is supervised by a qualified professional. If you are being newly fitted with lenses we make sure you are satisfied with them by providing trial lenses until you are getting the best lens suited for you. During the time we would see you for an aftercare appointment, this would be an appointment where you would come in wearing the lenses for a minimum of two hours. Here we can examine the fit of the lens, the prescription is the best it can be and that your eyes have not been adversely affected by wearing them. We strive to give the best quality of lens catered for you and will gather as much information from yourself to ensure this. 
The cost of contact lenses widely varies depending on the type of lens you have been prescribed. Again, appointments do last approximately two hours, however we do offer a 10% discount on lenses, provided you sat for our students.
In addition to the items on the appointment checklist, we do advise bringing, if applicable, the following with you to your appointment:
  • if you are a monthly or extended wear user do bring your current contact lens storage case and lens care solutions
  • any eye care solutions you may have been recommended/prescribed (e.g. dry eye drops)
  • always bring your spectacles as you may leave the appointment without lenses
  • for an aftercare appointment wear your lenses for a minimum of two hours beforehand; if you already wear contact lenses we recommend that you wear them in a routine manner on the day of your appointment.

Paediatric Clinic
It is important for all children to have regular eye examinations as good vision is vital for children's social and educational development.
The clinic is held in a room designed to be child friendly and our staff are very experienced in providing care for children. We offer a comprehensive eye examination and can provide a range of spectacles and contact lenses for children.
We also stock frames formatted to fit children with special needs. 

Children's Reading Clinic
Does your child struggle with reading or complain about experiencing any of the following?
  • Blurred vision when reading
  • Words that appear to wobble, move or jump on the page
  • Headaches during or after reading
  • Words or letters appearing doubled
  • Difficulty keeping their place or tracking across a page
  • Sensitivity to bright lights, glare from paper or computer screens
  • Finding coloured paper or coloured overlays easier to read
These symptoms can sometimes be associated with visual stress or difficulties with eye movements (tracking). If your child experiences any of these symptoms, or is finding reading particularly challenging, they may benefit from a specialist assessment with our team.
Before attending the Reading Clinic, we recommend that your child has a comprehensive eye examination with one of our optometrists. This is the best first step to ensure their eyes are healthy and that any prescription for glasses is up to date before assessing for visual stress or eye movement difficulties.
What happens during the appointment?
Our Children's Reading Clinic provides a relaxed, child-friendly environment and includes:
  • A reading assessment
  • An assessment of eye movements and tracking
  • An assessment for visual stress, including coloured overlays where appropriate
Appointment options
Standard Reading Clinic
Appointments are available throughout the year, with additional clinics during the school holidays.
Cost: £50
This includes:
  • A full specialist assessment
  • Any coloured overlays recommended during the appointment
  • A written report with findings and recommendations if required

Student Reading Clinic
As a student training practice, we are proud to support the education of future optometrists. From September to May each year, we offer Reading Clinic appointments carried out by student optometrists under the supervision of our experienced clinical team.
The assessment is free of charge. If required:
  • Coloured overlays are £5
  • A written report is £20
If the assessment indicates that a full colorimetry assessment may be beneficial, we will discuss this with you and arrange a referral into our specialist Colorimetry Clinic.
Adult assessments are also available.

Colorimetry assessments
A colorimetry assessment is a specialist appointment designed to determine whether precision coloured filters or coloured overlays may help individuals experiencing visual stress.
Visual stress can make reading uncomfortable and may cause symptoms such as words appearing to move or blur, headaches while reading, light sensitivity, or difficulty maintaining focus on the page. For some people, carefully selected coloured filters can improve reading comfort and visual performance.
Before your appointment
A current eye examination with an up-to-date spectacle prescription is required before a colorimetry assessment. Where appropriate, a binocular vision assessment may also be recommended to ensure any eye movement or focusing problems have been identified and managed before proceeding with colorimetry.
What happens during the assessment?
The assessment begins by evaluating whether coloured overlays provide any benefit when reading.
If coloured overlays are shown to improve reading comfort or performance, a full colorimetry assessment is carried out using a specialist colorimeter. This advanced instrument allows us to identify a precise colour by assessing the ideal hue, saturation and brightness while measuring reading performance.
If a suitable colour is identified, it can be incorporated into precision tinted spectacle lenses. These lenses may provide ongoing support in environments such as school, college, university or the workplace.
Appointment information
Your appointment will take place in a private specialist clinic carried out by a clinician certified to perform colorimetry assessments.
Assessment fee: £50
If required:
  • Coloured overlays (A5): £5
  • Coloured overlays (A4): £10
Should precision tinted lenses be recommended, we will discuss the available options and costs with you following your assessment.
Children experiencing reading difficulties should normally attend our Children's Reading Clinic first. If a full Colorimetry Assessment is appropriate, we will arrange this following the initial assessment.

Special Assessment Clinic
The Special Assessment Clinic provides eye care for children and adults who may require additional support during an eye examination.
We welcome individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, communication difficulties, sensory needs, anxiety, or other conditions that may make a standard eye examination challenging.
Our aim is to provide high-quality, person-centred eye care in a calm, welcoming, and accessible environment. We take the time to understand each patient’s individual needs and adapt our approach to ensure they feel comfortable and supported throughout their visit.
We recognise that every patient is different and that some people may need more time, flexibility, or support during an eye examination.
Appointments are tailored to the individual and can be adapted in a variety of ways. Where appropriate, assessments can be spread across multiple appointments, allowing patients to become familiar with the clinic environment and complete examinations at a pace that is comfortable for them.
We work closely with patients, families, carers, support workers, educators, and healthcare professionals to ensure that each patient receives the most appropriate care and support.

Student involvement

As a university-based clinic, optometry students may occasionally observe or take part in appointments under close supervision. This helps train the next generation of eye care professionals.
Your comfort and care are our priority, and you will always be asked for your consent before students are involved in your appointment.
The clinics at CEE are student training clinics, so registered optometrist supervisors may be accompanied by trainee students.

I’m Asma, the lead clinician for the Special Assessment Clinic. I am passionate about providing accessible, person-centred eye care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and others who may need additional support during an eye examination.

My goal is to make every visit as comfortable and positive as possible by adapting the examination to each person’s needs and working closely with families, carers, and support teams.
Alongside my clinical role, I am a Lecturer in Optometry at the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ and conduct research aimed at improving access to eye care for underserved communities.

Asma ZahidiDr Asma Zahidi
Lead Clinician, Special Assessment Clinic

Myopia Control Clinic
The Myopia Control Clinic provides comprehensive assessment and personalised management for children and young people with progressive myopia. Using advanced ocular biometry alongside the latest evidence-based spectacle and contact lens interventions, the clinic monitors eye growth and delivers tailored management strategies to help slow myopia progression. 
The clinic is led by Dr Hetal Buckhurst, Chair of the UK Myopia Consortium, with clinics delivered by Dr Buckhurst and Annabelle Mawhinney. Both clinicians are actively involved in myopia research and have a specialist interest in evidence-based myopia management, ensuring patients receive research-informed care within a university teaching environment that also supports the education of future optometrists.
The clinics at CEE are student training clinics, so registered optometrist supervisors may be accompanied by trainee students.
More information for patients
If you or your child are myopic and you are interested in myopia control you can make a self-referral to our clinics. 
More information for practitioners
If you are a practitioner, you can refer your patients to us by completing a referral form and sending it to us with the relevant information.
"It all started with an appointment after Alicja said she was struggling to see what was written on a board at school. I was at CEE with my son and know the high standard of care, but when they mentioned the myopia clinic, it was a great opportunity to get Alicja the help she needed."
Read Alicja's story 

Binocular vision assessments
Our Binocular Vision clinic investigates the control and co-ordination of the eyes, including how the muscles of the eye work together. This can help patients who have difficulty keeping both eyes aligned and further investigate how to manage the problem.
Misalignment of the eyes can cause eye strain, headaches and problems with focus over different distances and in more severe cases can lead to a squint, double vision and in childhood a ‘lazy eye’. Most of these symptoms respond well to eye exercises or by updating the prescription of any spectacles or contact lenses. However, if the symptom is a potential sign of a more serious eye condition, a referral for further investigation will be submitted. 
Patients are normally referred to the binocular vision clinic by their eye care practitioner as a result of symptoms or signs of an anomaly being picked up during an eye examination. Appointments are free of charge when in the student clinic and are similar to the Visual Impairment where a small group of students will lead the examination under the close supervision of a qualified orthoptist. We also provide private appointments and these cost £25 for under 16’s, £50 for adults and £70 if you have been specifically referred to us by another healthcare professional.

Visual impairment assessments
This clinic is usually for patients who are already registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired but we also welcome patients who have not been diagnosed with sight impairment but who find that their sight cannot be improved to their satisfaction by wearing conventional spectacles or contact lenses to contact us for an appointment (please note that although we will do our best to find a solution to any specific sight problem, it is not always possible to help every individual).
The provision of low vision aids may involve a number of appointments until the most suitable visual aids have been identified. We allow sufficient time for discussion to ensure that the most appropriate advice is given.
This clinic is run by our students working under the close supervision of experienced clinicians with a special interest in low vision. The visual impairment assessments run by our students are free of charge and we can offer a wide variety of low vision aids.
As well as the items listed in the appointment checklist, it is helpful if you could bring the following with you to your appointment:
  • any low vision aids you are currently using
  • any low vision aids you have been supplied with previously and that you are no longer able to use.

Dry eye assessments
Dry eyes are a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. Symptoms usually affect both eyes and can include feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness, red eyes and temporarily blurred vision. Some common causes include hot or windy climates, contact lens use, underlying medical conditions and many other causes.
This clinic will examine your eyes and can advise on the best course of treatment depending on the cause of the dryness.
Patients are normally referred to the dry eye clinic by their GP or eye care practitioner as a result of symptoms or signs of an anomaly being picked up during an examination. Our assessments and follow-ups are run in a private clinic and cost £40 per appointment.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tips for healthy eyes

  • xRegular eye tests – these will allow your optometrist to monitor your eye health and spot any developing problems early on

  • xEat more fruit and vegetables – eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day helps keep your eyes healthy

  • xQuit smoking – smokers are more likely to experience problems with their eyes than non-smokers

  • xMonitor alcohol intake – heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of early age-related macular degeneration

  • xExercise regularly – regular exercise helps keep your eyes as well as your body healthy

  • xProtect your eyes from the sun – wear sunglasses when the sun is bright and wear a sun hat

  • xLook after your glasses – old, scratched or dirty glasses can cause eyestrain and give you headaches

  • xTalk to your doctor or chemist about eye problems – it is important to protect your eyes from hayfever and allergies; ask for help if your eyes are red, itchy or sore

  • xAvoid touching or rubbing your eyes – your eyes need to be kept clean, so wash your hands and face often