Specsavers announces partnership with Medical Optics to improve access to eye care

Specsavers is pleased to announce a new partnership with Medical Optics to deliver a complete eye care journey for customers in Dublin and the greater Dublin region.

This new collaboration will transform access to expert eye care. Through an innovative new digital system, Specsavers optometrists can now rapidly share detailed patient scans directly with Medical Optics ophthalmologists or eye doctors. This direct, digital link means quicker diagnoses, faster decisions on patient care, and significantly reduced waiting times, bringing patients greater peace of mind.

From March 2026, this partnership will introduce a comprehensive “Total Care” model for patients in Dublin and the greater Dublin region, including select stores in Mullingar, Maynooth, Navan, Bray and Drogheda. Leveraging Specsavers’ local presence, customers will have access to sight tests, contact lens services and spectacles, along with enhanced appointments for common eye conditions such as sore or bloodshot eyes and sudden vision changes, and pre/post-operative cataract care in their local Specsavers store. This ensures advanced eye care is available locally, reducing the need for patients to travel extensively for initial specialist assessments.

At the heart of this innovation is a shared digital system that allows Specsavers optometrists to instantly upload detailed patient scans, which are often very large and complex files, directly to Medical Optics ophthalmologists. The eye doctor can then remotely provide a clinical review and decide on the next steps, often within two working days. This means patients receive expert opinions faster, experience less stress, and benefit from a truly integrated care experience.

Uniting two family-founded companies with a shared commitment to patient-first care, Specsavers and Medical Optics bring together extensive experience and expertise. Specsavers, founded in 1983 by optometrists Doug and Mary Perkins, is Ireland’s largest optical and audiology provider, with 66 locally owned stores nationwide, including 24 in the Dublin region. This network provides an unparalleled platform for enhanced eye care services. Medical Optics, established over 40 years ago by ophthalmologists Garry and Rosemary Treacy, is today led by their son, Max Treacy, and his wife Emma Duignan (Treacy), both consultant ophthalmologists and consultants at the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, providing specialist care from clinics in Bray, Co. Wicklow and Fairview, Dublin.

Commenting on the announcement, Kerril Hickey, Chairman Specsavers Ireland, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Medical Optics. This collaboration unites our shared commitment to patient-first values. As an Irish owned and run business, deeply embedded in the communities we serve across the Dublin region, Specsavers has always prioritised accessible, high-quality eye care. Our founders, Doug and Mary Perkins, established Specsavers with a clear vision of putting patient needs first, a core value we see strongly reflected in this exciting collaboration. This marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to deliver unparalleled access to better sight for our customers. This innovative ‘Total Care’ model, uniquely facilitated through our Specsavers stores, is just the beginning, and we are excited by the potential to expand this vital specialist eye care access across Ireland.”

Max Treacy, chairman and clinical director at Medical Optics, commented: “The entire Medical Optics team is excited to collaborate with Specsavers on this partnership. For decades, we have provided specialist care to communities in Dublin and Wicklow. This partnership allows us to significantly expand the reach of our expertise, leveraging Specsavers’ widespread presence to bring high-quality specialist eye care to a much broader patient base across the Dublin region, helping those who need it most.”

The roll out of the partnership will commence in March 2026 in Dublin and the greater Dublin region, including select stores in Mullingar, Maynooth, Navan, Bray and Drogheda. Full details on treatments included, how to access treatment, and participating Specsavers stores is available on the Specsavers Ireland website.