Perspective Opticians has been named Optician of the Year at the local business awards. Established in February 2005, the independent practice has spent more than two decades providing professional eye examinations, distinctive designer eyewear and premium lenses, with a friendly and highly qualified team behind it. Today it pairs comprehensive 60-minute eye examinations and advanced OCT scanning with carefully chosen independent eyewear collections and personal advice, and it takes as much care over how customers feel as over what their eyes need. After 21 years in Solihull town centre, the business has recently moved to Knowle. For the founder, the award is special because it reflects the support of clients who have trusted Perspective with their eye care for many years, and because it arrives during a period of real change for the team.
A family experience that led to optometry
The story behind Perspective began long before the practice opened. When the founder's mother was just 18, she developed cancer in her left eye. A surgeon was able to save the eye, but she went on to have complex eye health problems, and he and his sister regularly went with her to appointments at their local optician. Those visits showed him early on how much eye health matters and what an optician can do for someone going through a difficult time. He came to see an eye examination as something that could affect a person's quality of life, not just a step towards a pair of glasses.
At 14 he spent two weeks on work experience at Specsavers in Cannock, and it settled his future career. He went on to study at Cardiff University, then worked for both large high street optical chains and independent practices. Seeing the different ways those businesses delivered eye care taught him how important it is to balance clinical expertise with customer service, and over time he began forming his own ideas about how an opticians could run. He wanted a practice that held the highest professional standards but felt modern and welcoming, where expert eye care did not feel intimidating or impersonal and customers could have a thorough examination, understand the advice they were given and enjoy choosing eyewear that suited them. That idea became Perspective Opticians in February 2005, and more than twenty years later the experiences that first drew him to the profession still shape how the business looks after its clients.
An opticians that feels different from the high street
For many people, an eye test feels like a routine medical appointment rather than something to look forward to. Clinical surroundings can seem intimidating, and a busy appointment book can leave customers feeling rushed or unsure about what they have been told. Perspective was designed to be different: a welcoming space where people feel comfortable, get knowledgeable advice and can take their time choosing eyewear. Customers are encouraged to ask questions, talk through their concerns and make decisions at their own pace, and the team has no interest in rushing anyone through an appointment or pressuring them into a purchase.
Small touches count too. A friendly welcome, a relaxed atmosphere and a good cup of coffee all make a visit more enjoyable. Behind them sits a philosophy the founder has followed since the practice opened, and it is a simple one: “Be nice” and “look after people how you want to be looked after.” Those two principles guide everything from the way appointments are run to the relationships the team builds with customers over the years. At Perspective, good eye care and treating people well are two parts of the same service.
Time for a proper eye examination
One of the clearest ways Perspective stands apart is the length of its appointments. Its 60-minute eye examinations give the optometrists time to assess eye health and vision and to talk through each person's concerns. Eyesight affects work, reading, driving, hobbies and everyday comfort, and knowing how someone uses their vision helps the practitioner give advice that fits their life, so the team treats each examination as a personal appointment rather than a routine to get through.
The practice also uses advanced OCT scanning, which gives optometrists detailed images of the structures inside the eye. That extra information helps when assessing eye health and deciding whether further investigation is needed, and for the founder the investment reflects the standard of care he expects. Equipment is only part of it, though. Perspective's team includes experienced optometrists and several dispensing opticians, and they aim to explain things clearly and answer questions in a way that makes sense to each person. The practice wants people to leave understanding their eye care needs and feeling confident in the advice they have had, because that is how trust is built.
Eyewear people enjoy wearing
Eye health comes first, but Perspective also believes choosing glasses should be enjoyable. Most people wear their glasses every day, so how they look and feel matters, and they can affect how confidently someone presents themselves. The practice offers a carefully selected collection of distinctive frames from independent designers, handpicked for their craftsmanship and character rather than drawn only from familiar mainstream styles, which gives customers who want something a little different the chance to find designs they will not see everywhere. The frames are paired with premium lenses and professional fitting advice.
The team starts by finding out how someone wants their glasses to look and what they need them to do. Some customers want something subtle and comfortable for everyday wear, while others want frames that make a statement, and the team enjoys helping people explore the options without any pressure. For the founder, one of the best moments is seeing someone collect their new glasses and love how they look, especially a customer who has never enjoyed wearing glasses before. Helping people see clearly and feel good in their eyewear is, to him, all part of the same job.
Twenty years of trust
Reaching its twentieth anniversary was a milestone for Perspective. Since February 2005 the practice has built its reputation on the care its team provides and the relationships it has formed with customers, and the founder is proud that it reflects two decades of high professional standards. Running an independent opticians means keeping clinical knowledge up to date, investing in staff development and making sure customers keep getting the care they expect. The practice has put real weight on building a well-qualified team, and it is proud of its experienced optometrists and the number of qualified dispensing opticians working in the business. Having knowledgeable colleagues who share his commitment to patient care is, for the founder, one of the company's greatest strengths.
That reputation has led local ophthalmology professionals to refer patients to the practice, and it has earned the confidence of sports professionals who value its expertise. Customers have been just as encouraging: Perspective takes pride in its five-star Google reviews and the loyalty of clients who keep coming back. For the founder, a recommendation is one of the best measures of success, because when someone suggests Perspective to a friend, colleague or family member, they are showing confidence in the care they have received. The team's focus is on earning that trust again at every appointment.
When a routine appointment found something serious
One customer's story shows why the team takes such care over every examination. David, a longstanding client, came in for what began as a routine eye appointment. During the examination, optometrist Dan noticed subtle changes affecting David's optic nerves, along with some loss of peripheral vision. The signs were small, but they were enough to warrant further investigation, and the tests that followed found a large pituitary tumour pressing on David's optic nerves and affecting his vision. David had surgery to remove the tumour and made an excellent recovery, and his eyesight improved considerably afterwards.
For the team, David's case is a reminder of the wider role an optometrist can play. An eye examination is not only about whether someone needs new glasses; it can reveal changes that point to underlying conditions needing medical assessment. Dan's attention to detail started the process that led to the diagnosis, and the outcome confirmed the value of taking time over examinations and of combining clinical experience with the right technology. Not every appointment will uncover something serious, but the team believes each one deserves the same careful attention. Knowing the practice played a part in an outcome like David's is, for the founder, one of the most meaningful parts of running the business.
An unexpected move after 21 years in Solihull
One of the biggest challenges in Perspective's history came when redevelopment plans affected the area around its premises in Solihull town centre. After 21 years there, the practice needed a new home, and the team had just six months to find suitable premises and prepare for the move, all while making sure customers kept receiving the standard of care they expected. For an established independent practice with a loyal customer base, it was a significant change. The founder approached it positively, though, and describes the experience as challenging, exciting and at times even enjoyable. Rather than dwelling on the disruption, the team treated it as the start of a new chapter.
The search led Perspective to Knowle, where it relocated in February. Leaving a location tied to more than two decades of the business's history was a big decision, but the founder sees the move as a way to put the practice in a stronger position for the future. It also drew on the resilience the business built through earlier difficulties, including hard economic conditions and the disruption of the Covid pandemic, when the team kept its focus on customers, colleagues and the quality of its care. That same approach guided the move to Knowle.
A new home in Knowle
Since the move, the team has been delighted by the welcome from local residents and independent businesses. Many existing clients live in Knowle or nearby, so the move has been a natural way to carry on those relationships, while the new location also introduces Perspective to people who have not visited before. The founder believes community relationships are central to what makes an independent business different. Where a larger organisation may offer a more standardised service, Perspective puts a lot of effort into getting to know the people who visit, and remembering their preferences makes each appointment more personal.
Being part of Knowle also means building relationships with other independent businesses. Perspective recognises the part local shops and service providers play in a welcoming high street, and the founder is keen to contribute to it, through supporting the local economy and taking part in community activities. The move was a major undertaking, but the response from the community has made it especially rewarding, and Knowle is where the next stage of the practice's history will be built on the same values it has followed since 2005.
Supporting local fundraisers and celebrations
Perspective has always looked for ways to support local people, businesses and charities beyond the appointments it provides. It donates raffle prizes and gift vouchers to local fundraising activities, helping organisations and events raise money for different causes, and the team enjoys taking part in community celebrations and meeting people outside the practice. A recent example was the Knowle 750 Celebrations, where Perspective hosted a stall with prizes, gift bags and mini games. For a business that has only just moved into the village, events like this are a chance for the team to introduce themselves and become part of local life.
The founder believes shopping locally keeps high streets individual and lively, and that Knowle's independent shops and services are a big part of the village's character. Perspective is proud to be among them and sees local support as working both ways: customers help independent businesses thrive, and those businesses give back through charitable support, community involvement and the services they provide. Having already had a warm welcome, the team intends to keep supporting local events and initiatives.
Why the relationships matter most
Looking back on more than twenty years, the founder says the achievements that matter most to him are not awards or commercial milestones but the people and relationships that have made Perspective what it is. The practice has looked after customers with very different eye care needs, eyewear tastes and circumstances, and the team sees each relationship as a chance to give professional care while making someone feel valued. He is especially proud of the loyalty of clients who keep returning. When someone recommends the practice to friends or family, they are trusting the people who look after their eyesight, and he counts those recommendations among the greatest compliments Perspective can receive.
Smaller moments bring satisfaction too. Seeing someone try on new glasses and love how they look is rewarding, and for customers who have never enjoyed wearing glasses, finding frames they feel confident in can change their whole attitude to eyewear. The team wants choosing glasses to feel enjoyable rather than a chore. For the founder, these moments are a reminder of why he set out to create a different kind of opticians: professional expertise is essential, but making people feel comfortable, understood and confident matters just as much.
Optician of the Year
Being named Optician of the Year has made everyone at Perspective proud. For the founder the result was a pleasant surprise, and knowing that customers had taken the time to vote for the business made it especially meaningful. The team sees the award less as recognition of its clinical services or eyewear collections and more as a reflection of the relationships it has built, which are what earned the practice its reputation in the first place. Coming in such a busy year, after a major relocation that took considerable effort from everyone, the award has been a welcome boost.
It also recognises the qualified professionals and support staff who make the practice what it is. From comprehensive eye examinations to helping customers find the right eyewear, every member of the team plays a part, and the founder is particularly proud to work with colleagues who share his commitment to looking after people. The business sees the award as a shared success, and with Perspective now settling into Knowle, it is an encouraging start to the next chapter.
What the award means
Choosing an opticians means trusting someone with an important part of your health. Customers want to know their eyesight will be checked carefully and that the advice they get is based on their own needs, and Perspective has spent more than twenty years building that confidence through experienced optometrists, qualified dispensing opticians, thorough examinations and advanced OCT scanning. The founder believes the way customers are treated matters just as much: people should feel comfortable asking questions, raising concerns and taking their time over decisions about their eyewear.
For existing clients, the award recognises the care they have supported over many years. For people thinking of visiting Perspective for the first time, it is reassurance that the community has recognised the practice. The founder hopes customers will see it as a reflection of the team's expertise, professionalism and wish to look after people, and as an achievement for the staff whose hard work every examination, eyewear consultation and conversation depends on. As the practice develops in Knowle, the team intends to keep earning customers' trust with the same care that has guided Perspective since 2005.
Looking ahead
With the move to Knowle and the award behind it, Perspective is looking to the future with real enthusiasm. The founder sees the relocation as a chance to build on more than twenty years of experience while continuing to challenge conventional ideas about how an opticians should run. Having established a strong reputation in Solihull, the business is keen to introduce its approach to more people in Knowle and the surrounding area. That means more of the comprehensive eye examinations, professional advice and distinctive eyewear it is known for, along with developing the team and improving the experience customers receive.
Growth, for Perspective, is not simply about more appointments. It is about eye care that combines clinical excellence with a friendly, personal approach, in a practice people enjoy visiting. Optometry keeps changing, and keeping professional standards high means continued learning and development for the team. The move also gives the practice a chance to build stronger relationships with other independent businesses and local organisations, and becoming part of a new community has been one of the most enjoyable parts of the relocation. For the founder, the question now is how much more Perspective can achieve in independent optometry. After more than twenty years, his enthusiasm for good eye care and for helping people find glasses they love is as strong as ever.
Thank you
The founder is keen to thank the people who made the award possible, starting with the customers who have trusted the practice with their eye care, from those who have been visiting since the early days in Solihull to the people now discovering Perspective in Knowle. That loyalty means an enormous amount to him, and he is particularly grateful to everyone who took the time to vote. He also wants to recognise the staff, whose professionalism, knowledge and friendly approach have built Perspective's reputation, and who kept standards up through a demanding year of moving from Solihull town centre to Knowle. His thanks extend to the wider community and the independent businesses in Knowle that have welcomed the practice to its new home.
Above all, he wants customers to know their trust and recommendations will never be taken for granted. For more than twenty years the business has followed the simple principle of treating people the way it would want to be treated, and that has not changed. His message to customers:
“Thank you for choosing us, trusting us, recommending us to friends, family and colleagues and helping make Perspective what it is today.”
“We feel incredibly lucky to do what we love, have such wonderful clients and an amazing team. We'll never take your support for granted, and we promise to keep doing our very best to look after you.”
