22 December 2025
Much can change for a practice within the space of one year.
New team members might be onboarded and settle in, while others might celebrate achievements on the path towards their professional goals.
Tools and technology might be trialled, introduced, and embedded, and make an all-important difference to operations and the patient journey.
The business might reach key milestones, tackle fresh challenges, and grow.
To wrap up 2025 and recognise a fresh new year ahead, OT asked practice owners and managers to share the tools they have introduced, their defining moments, what they are proud of, and what they are excited for.
Investing in the professionals of the future
Gareth Williams, director and senior optometrist at Williams and Parry
“We are a family-run independent practice based in the South Wales valleys, one in Abertillery and the other in Brynmawr.
“One defining moment for our practice this year was when we were awarded a certificate by Health Education and Improvement Wales that recognised us as an advanced training practice (ATP), as a result of our role in providing training to optometrists who are currently studying for their independent prescribing qualifications. Our practice has not only trained optometrists who are employed by us, but also optometrists from other practices.
“This year, we purchased additional digital slit lamps with built-in cameras. This has been an invaluable diagnostic tool to inform and educate patients, as well as a teaching tool. The ease of use and set up allows us to monitor closely anterior eye pathologies. We have also purchased a portable LED slit lamp in order to give the best care to our domiciliary patients.
“The biggest challenges the practice has faced this year include business pressures, maintaining high standards throughout the workforce, and adapting to the ever–changing patient demands and retail behaviour. We constantly try to provide high quality eyewear, and also offer new technology such as artificial intelligence integrated eyewear.
“I am very proud of my team as they continue to improve on their skills through further education and training. This year we have supported optical assistants through level one and two of the ABDO optical assistant course. We have also helped support two of our optometrists in the independent prescribing course, one of whom, Katy Birch, is now in the second year and currently on her placement at our practice. The second, Nia Williams, completed the one-year programme and is now a qualified independent prescriber.
“As a family business, we are most excited about moving into a new custom-built practice in Brynmawr, in order to facilitate the growing needs of our client base.”
The one defining moment for our practice this year was when we were awarded a certificate by Health Education and Improvement Wales that recognised us as an advanced training practice
Investing in the practice
Garrey Haase, owner and senior optometrist at Yorkshire Eyewear
“2025 has been a great year for Yorkshire Eyewear. We have built a second consulting room in the Howden practice and secured a new lease on new premises for Knaresborough. We invested in new VR800 phoropters from Essilor and they have elevated us to the next level and given the patients huge satisfaction with the additional quality of vision they get from the 0.01D accuracy.
“Like all practices, the biggest challenge has been to overcome the lack of confidence in the economy and assure the staff and patients alike to continue as normal. The team have embraced this, and we continue to go from strength to strength and have achieved a tremendous growth of over 10% this year. The team have also embraced the health plan in the practice and have signed up more than 200 patients in 2025.
“With the changes we have made, 2026 is looking bright and encouraging. Double testing in Howden and new premises in Knaresborough means we are excited for an exceptional year.”
With the changes we have made, 2026 is looking bright and encouraging
Introducing an essential tool
Kabir Khan, hub manager at Boots Opticians Whetstone, and David Arthur, dispensing optician assistant hub manager at Boots Opticians Whetstone
“The most defining moment for our practice was winning Store of the Year at the Boots Opticians Best of the Best Awards. It validated our hard work, strengthened our team spirit, and highlighted the exceptional care we provide every day. That recognition continues to inspire us to keep improving and aiming higher.
“I am incredibly proud of the team for being awarded Store of the Year, after narrowly missing out last year. Their resilience, dedication, and determination to improve, truly paid off. This achievement reflects their hard work and commitment, and it’s inspiring to see how far they’ve come together.
“In 2025, optomap has made the biggest difference in our store. Its advanced imaging has helped us detect retinal changes early, even in young children, leading to quicker interventions and better patient outcomes. It’s become an essential tool, improving both our clinical confidence and the care we provide every day.
“The biggest challenge this year was a move to digital records. Managing this new change in an already fast-paced practice required quick adaptation and patience from everyone. It was a learning curve for the team, but ultimately by working together and communicating effectively, we've seen positive impacts and smoother running of our practice.
“We are most excited about continuing to care for our patients and providing even better care through the new and existing services available, such as our dry eye service, ZEST, and the enhanced services schemes. We also look forward to seeing additional services being introduced to provide the best care possible for our patients.”
This achievement reflects their hard work and commitment, and it’s inspiring to see how far they’ve come together
Community culture
Chris Tannorella, senior optometrist and director at Julian Davies Opticians, a group of Hakim Group independent opticians
“Our defining moment was seeing our team recognised at the Hakim Group Annual Retreat, being awarded the best practice group. It felt like validation that the culture we’ve built over the past decade has really led to commercial success, a happy team and most importantly, changes patients’ lives in our local communities.
“Rolling out enhanced eye examinations with optical coherence tomography imaging and DNEye-powered lens technology across more of our practices has been transformative – giving us clearer clinical insight, more personalised recommendations and, importantly, a far better way to explain eye health to patients. Offering Exact Biometric Intelligent Glasses (BIG) with the aid of the DNEye is a real differentiator which gives us confidence that our patients are experiencing the best vision possible.
“Our biggest challenge has been balancing rising cost pressures with providing a great service to our patients. To overcome this, we have really focussed this year on making sure that our clinics are run as efficiently as possible, and achieving the right mix of enhanced clinical services and routine eye examinations.
“I’m most proud of the way the team has looked beyond the test room this year – from launching new projects through the Julian Davies Community & Care Fund to practice-wide wellbeing and culture days that have kept everyone energised, connected and patient-focused. The absolute highlight on this front was the first Julian Davies Opticians family sports day where we invited all of our teams and their families to join us for a bit of friendly competition. It was a huge success.
“In 2026 we’re most excited about deepening our clinical role in Welsh community eye care while continuing to invest in people, technology and spaces that feel genuinely special for patients. As well as bringing back the Julian Davies Opticians sports day for year two – hopefully my team can take the spoils this time after losing out in the final event (tug of war) in 2025!”
I’m most proud of the way the team has looked beyond the test room this year – from launching new projects through the Julian Davies Community & Care Fund to practice-wide wellbeing and culture days
A springboard of growth
Paul Banks, owner and principle dispensing optician, Banks Opticians
“There have been two defining moments this year. The first was opening our brand-new practice on Knowle high street in April. The second was acquiring the well-established independent opticians in Knowle, Bannister Eyecare, a few months later. This gave us an unexpected springboard that our new practice embraced.
“The Oculera Visual Field Analyser with Pico 4 VR headset has been a great addition to our testing room – our clients love it and it’s space-saving too. That, and having a few new hand-selected eyewear collections, has helped too.
“Our biggest challenge initially was getting our new practice up and running on time. Most of the design work and construction we did ourselves, and we put our success down to meticulous planning. Second to that though, was managing a seamless transition for Bannisters’ long-standing clients. We overcame it through clear communication, strengthened processes, and a commitment to making every client feel valued and understood.
“I’m most proud of how the team embraced our growth with positivity and professionalism. Their ability to deliver and maintain five-star standards has been remarkable.
“In 2026, I’m most excited about deepening our presence in Knowle and further elevating our reputation for unique eyewear and exceptional personal eye care.”
Would you like to be part of the conversation? Comment below with what your practice is proud of from 2025, or email the OT team to share what you are excited about for the practice in 2026.
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