08 January 2026
Zacks London Eye Clinic has announced the acquisition of Andrew Gasson Contact Lenses, and the relocation of the merged practices to new premises in Warren Mews, London.
Jonathan Cohen, clinical director at Zacks London Eye Clinic, shared that the merger “represents the perfect synergy of tradition and innovation.”
Andrew Gasson, described as a pioneer in specialist contact lens fitting, author of The Contact Lens Manual and former president of the British Contact Lens Association, has retired. His patients continue to be served through Zacks Eye Clinic.
Cohen said: “We are honoured to continue Andrew’s legacy while offering cutting-edge solutions for our patients. Our beautiful new premises in Warren Mews gives us the space to grow, introduce more specialist services, and deepen our involvement in education and research.
The journey towards partnership
Cohen told OT that he began working with Andrew Gasson in 2002: “I qualified in 1997, so at that time I was still quite young and had only been qualified for about five years. I was hoping to take over from him one day, but the timing wasn’t quite right.”
By 2006, Cohen struck out to open King’s Cross Eye Clinic, and was later introduced to Maurice Zack and took over Zacks Eye Clinic, then in Warren Street.
In 2010, King’s Cross Eye Clinic was flooded and closed. Cohen said: “We had to move everything over to Warren Street and it just grew.”
“We outgrew our space and we had been looking to move for at least five years, trying to find somewhere that was the right space and not too far away. At the back of my mind there was always Andrew, who was saying he wanted to retire,” he said.
When the building in Warren Mews became available, it was determined to be the perfect fit for the patients of both practices.
“I had kept in touch with Andrew. We stayed friends and he has always been a mentor,” Cohen said, adding: “It’s a very nice opportunity and a privilege to take over his practice and carry on.”
Style for attribution is to use attribution when piece has more than one voice It’s a very nice opportunity and a privilege to take over his practice and carry on
New space, big plans
The previous site of Zacks Eye Clinic was quite small, Cohen said, and as a grade two listed building there were additional restrictions to consider.
“We used every inch of that space; we were at capacity,” he said. “The new building is more than twice the size of the old one.”
The practice has use of the whole building. The ground floor features a large dispensing area, testing room, and purpose-built disabled toilet. The first floor has a second waiting area, three consulting rooms, and a staff room, while the third floor is dedicated to office space.
The separate waiting areas and dispensing areas help the spaces to feel private, and spread out those waiting for clinics.
“It is a completely different environment and gives us space to have up to three clinics running at once,” Cohen said, adding that the new space will enable the team to expand their specialisms.
With the bigger space, the practice can now run its own continuing professional development events – something the team plan to extend to other optometrists.
Celebrating heritage
The acquisition was celebrated with an event on 11 December, to which more than 100 people were invited, including dispensing opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists.
“It was partly about celebrating how we have got here, with all the people I’ve worked with over the years, as well as the people we’d like to work with in the future,” Cohen said.
It has also been an opportunity to recognise the long heritage of the practices – something Cohen said: “I had to tease out of my predecessors.”
Zack Contact Lenses was founded in 1968 by Maurice Zack and has been described as a “pioneering force” in contact lens research and development.
The practice incorporates W. Johnson and Sons, established in 1801, which served as optician to the University Hospital. The practice earned an award for spectacle making at the International Exhibition in 1862, and was recognised with a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria.
Meanwhile, Andrew Gasson Contact Lenses was established in 1973 and is known for complex contact lens fitting. The practice expanded over time, taking on the patient bases of Anne Silk Contact Lenses in 1992 and C. Davis Keeler in 1985.
Zacks London Eye Clinic
Looking ahead
“We’ve got this amazing legacy,” Cohen emphasised, but added that the practice is also looking forward to the future of the profession.
Cohen said: “Optometry is changing so rapidly. In the hospital, optometrists are now managing so many clinics. There is co-management with ophthalmology. We should have much better ties with ophthalmology in the private sector, and should be promoting our specialisms more in the private sector – not undervaluing them.”
Growing the practice team and expanding into different specialisms could also be on the cards as Cohen looks ahead.
“I have my specialisms, and I need other optometrists to help me in others. Hopefully I can sell shares in the business so that the legacy continues,” he said, adding that he is looking towards the next generation: “How can we help, inspire, and grow. That’s what I’m looking for now.”
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