In-sight
For people who care how they look and feel in glasses, we offer regular news and views about products, styles and new technology in eyewear, as well as clinical information on eye conditions such as Visual Stress (Meares-Irlen syndrome).
If you have any specific concerns about your vision or your choice of eyewear, please book an appointment and we will be very happy to answer all your questions in person.
Spread the cost of your new glasses!
After possibly overdoing the Christmas festivities, perhaps your glasses haven’t quite made it through the season of goodwill in one piece? We’ve all been there, a replacement is needed, and needed quickly! Perhaps you’ve had your eye on a new pair of frames for a while, or are simply looking [...]
The Adventurer
“I don’t want to be on my death bed looking back thinking I could have done more with my life.” Catherine, on very first impressions, may not be someone you would pick out of a crowd as an intrepid adventurer but believe me when I say that despite being retired, [...]
An eye test from a child’s perspective
We all know the importance of regular eye tests but at this time of year, when the new school year is just beginning, it’s especially important to ensure you get your children’s eyes tested too. As parents, we are used to taking our children to the dentist every six months [...]
The importance of choosing the right sunglasses
So the sunshine is making a long-awaited appearance and now we're really starting to enjoy summer. But, picture the scene. You’re lying in the sunshine and reading a really fantastic book. You have your reading glasses on but it’s so bright, you need your sunnies firmly in place to avoid [...]
9 ways to look after your eyes in the summer
Summer is, at last here and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give you some helpful hints and tips to keep your eyes healthy this summer. With the school holidays here and days out or holidays planned by many, you might just find a few helpful tips here! [...]
Helping your hay fever this summer!
We’re currently in the midst of an incredibly high pollen count here in the UK and many of us are suffering with hay fever symptoms, which can really put a dampener on the warm weather. So where does it all come from? Well, hay fever comes from a pollen allergy, [...]
Malcolm Gray Optometrists raise £2000 for Guide Dogs UK
Here at Malcolm Gray, we have recently been busy raising funds for one of our favourite charities, Guide Dogs UK. We are proud to have raised a fantastic £2000 during February 2019 and we had the enormous pleasure of handing over this cheque to Becky, one of the trainers for [...]
Book yourself in for a Malcolm Gray MOT!
We all know the importance of having an MOT, to ensure the car you drive each day is performing exactly as it should and working well for you but many people don’t give a second thought to paying the same attention to the glasses they wear each and every day. [...]
Which frame suits my face shape??
We all know the drill; it’s time to invest in some new frames but have that sinking feeling. Where do we even start? How do we choose between all the frames on offer? All the colours? The many styles? It can feel like an absolute minefield and, at some opticians, [...]
An Interview with the Founder – Malcolm Gray
Sitting down with Malcolm in the practice he ran for so many years, I immediately get a feeling of a man at ease in his surroundings. As I am proudly shown some of the history of the business, I am reminded of a quote that resonates with me from the [...]
The history of eyewear in fashion
Specs, glasses, readers – whatever they’re known as in your house, so many of us have them. Tucked into handbags, desk drawers, bedside tables, centre consoles in the car, we often have more than a few pairs to go with different outfits, different moods and different occasions. Which got us [...]
Eyewear, then and now
Ever wondered just where those glasses you reach for each morning came from? How did it all begin? And, where will the future of eyewear take us? Sit back, relax and let us take you through it. The concept of eyewear as we know it began back in the 10thcentury, [...]
World Book Day 2019 – What will you be reading to the kids this year?
Once again, the time of year that never fails to creep up on parents of School age children appears almost without warning – it’s World Book Day! Held annually on the first Thursday in March, it gives us a chance to celebrate the world of books and the joy of [...]
Styling appointments with Malcolm Gray Optometrists
Picture the scene. You have been browsing stores for a while, perhaps researching in fashion magazines for glasses or sunglasses that you like but are a little unsure. You may have tried the designer stores local to you but frankly have become tired of the hassle of trying multiple stores, [...]
Eight things you need to know about eye tests
Many people coming in for their first eye test, or first one in some time are often worried about what it may involve. Not only is it a vision check to see just how well you can read your daily paper or checking your long distance vision for driving but [...]
8 tell-tale signs you’re wearing the wrong glasses
Headaches and / or eye strain These symptoms can be due to a variety of factors. From something as simple as reading in bed at night, (your eyes are working harder to adjust to the angle) or overusing your smartphone, (dim light and small text) to even wearing glasses that [...]
5 things you should expect from your optician
What do you expect when you go to get your sight tested? Some technical expertise? A knowledge of optical health? What about a friendly welcome, a comfortable, clean environment, a sense of calm, an ethical, patient-first approach? A recent YouGov survey commissioned by contact lens manufacturer CooperVision showed that spectacle [...]
Why pay more for quality eyewear?
If you regard your spectacles as nothing more than a tool for correcting your vision, then spending money on designer frames probably goes against the grain. You’ll pick the cheapest pair off the shelf, take a quick glance at yourself in the mirror and head to the checkout. But are [...]
Is your child suffering from Meares-Irlen syndrome?
Meares-Irlen syndrome, commonly known as Visual Stress, is a sensitivity to visual patterns, particularly stripes. In some cases it can cause visual perceptual problems, which interfere with reading, and the symptoms can occur despite normal vision, so it is often falsely diagnosed as dyslexia. The symptoms of Meares-Irlen syndrome include: [...]