24 June 2026
Optometrist and contact lens specialist, Brian Tompkins, has celebrated 50 years of working at his Northampton practice, Tompkins, Knight & Son.
Tompkins marked the milestone occasion with a special event for patients, peers, and industry colleagues on 12 June, attended by 200 people.
The event had a 1970’s theme, featuring a DJ set with music from the decade, as well as an AI-track produced by Hakim Group to pay tribute to the optometrist.
Food was provided by Tompkins’ son, Danny Tompkins, an award-winning chef.
Trunk shows from Tom Ford, icBerlin!, Wolf, Maui Jim, and Orgreen also formed part of the event.
Looking back on 50 years
Reflecting on his journey through optics, Tompkins said: “It doesn’t feel like 50 years. It’s been a blast. The fact I’ve genuinely enjoyed optometry for that long tells you all you need to know about my feelings for the profession.”
Across five decades in the profession, equipment and diagnostic tools have undoubtedly changed.
Tompkins emphasised: "I have always made it my mission to give the best possible care to our patients.”
"My mum died at a relatively young age and I always remember her words to me when I was a student. She said: ‘You seem to care a lot about people,’ and that has stayed with me ever since,” he explained.
Tompkins described it as a privilege that “people trust us to care for them,” outlining his belief that practice should evolve with the latest technologies in order to deliver the best possible care for patients.
Tompkins gained his degree at City University and completed his pre-reg year in London.
In 1976, Tompkins returned to his hometown, Northampton, where he worked with Monty Knight in his St Giles Street practice.
The combined specialism in contact lenses of Knight & Son, and Tompkin’s interest in lenses, saw the practice become a pioneer in the field.
Tompkins reflected: “I think we had an ophthalmoscope, a retinoscope, and a slit lamp bio-microscope with no camera. I can remember getting hold of an SLR camera and taking images on slides back in the 70s.”
“It was all about seeing what we could do with what we’d got. I found out that we could use the yellow bit from an old Quality Street toffee penny wrapper to see fluorescein better in eye examinations,” he shared, adding: “You have to think laterally at times.”
Decades later, and the consulting room now features profilometers capable of reading up to 24mm with detailed views of the sclera and cornea.
Technology has enabled a greater view into patients’ eyes, Tompkin said, suggesting: “It has also forced us to evolve our thinking and become better optometrists. We need to know what we’re looking at, what it means, and how best to treat it,”
“The jump in diagnostic capability is exciting and it allows us to change lives on a daily basis,” he emphasised.
We treat everyone as part of the family. That’s why I wanted to celebrate 50 years here by bringing everyone together and saying ‘thank you’
Tompkins is a former president of the British Contact Lens Association. He is known for his early adoption of myopia management, as an advocate of speciality lenses, and the adoption of techniques such as EyePrint Pro.
Describing his approach to contact lens fitting, he said: “I would only ever suggest a lens to a patient that I would fit to myself if I was in their shoes.”
“It might not be the one that makes me the most money, or the one that makes my life the easiest, but if it’s the one that works best for the patient then that is what I will suggest,” he said.
Tompkins said of his practice: “We treat everyone as part of the family. That’s why I wanted to celebrate 50 years here by bringing everyone together and saying ‘thank you.’”
With five decades worth of big moments to draw from, Tompkins admitted it was difficult to single out highlights.
“Putting together the team we have now, with Keyur Patel and Debra Grant such integral parts of everything we do, is something I’m particularly proud of,” he shared.
The complementary skills of the two optometrists ensure all aspects of eye health are covered, he pointed out. Tompkins continued: “It goes back to providing the best possible care for our patients, and between us, I’m proud we can offer that.”
Looking back at his career path, Tompkins said: “If I could go back to the start again and give myself one piece of advice it would be what I say to any student or pre-reg starting out today: The patient is the be-all and end-all. Never stop caring. But whatever you do, make damn sure you have fun doing it.”
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