Bottomley Opticians

Bottomley Opticians Bottomley Opticians has looked after the eyes of Halifax people for over 75 years ! 🤓😎👓☕️

We pride ourselves on being the only family owned community opticians in Halifax town centre. Because we're not answerable to any shareholders we can invest our time and money exactly where we feel it should be in clinical excellence both in our staff and equipment. We also have the largest range of designer frames on show which include: - Dior, Vanni, Paul&Joe, Country Casuals, Sophia Loren,Marc

Jacobs,Lulu Guinness and many more! and then Luxury brands like Lindberg, Silhouette and Tom Davies which can be created with you for you. . For the gents we have the likes of Porsche Design, Lindberg, Tom Davies, Carrera, ,Silhouette, Safilo Design, Superdry, William Morris and Polaroid to name but a few. We offer a good choice of lenses too from world leaders Zeiss, Rodenstock and BBGR. Come down and see us in a no rush, no pressure environment and enjoy Eye care as we see it.

Most people spend a significant amount of money on their glasses and then look after them in ways that slowly ruin them....
03/06/2026

Most people spend a significant amount of money on their glasses and then look after them in ways that slowly ruin them. Here's how to do it properly.

The single biggest cause of scratched lenses is cleaning them with whatever is to hand. A shirtsleeve, a tissue, a piece of kitchen roll. All of these feel soft but they're abrasive enough to leave micro scratches on your lenses over time. Those scratches scatter light and make your vision slightly less clear, and once they're there they can't be undone.

Always clean your lenses with a proper microfibre cloth and a lens cleaning spray or solution. If you don't have those to hand, rinse the lenses under lukewarm water first to remove any grit before wiping. Dry grit dragged across a lens is what causes most of the damage.

We do see some horror stories in the practice. One of the most common is glasses that have been dropped loose into a handbag alongside car keys, coins and all the other things that live in there. It's an absolute nightmare for your lenses, your frame finish and your adjustment. Keys alone can strip the lacquer off a beautiful frame and scratch lenses beyond repair. A case takes three seconds to use and saves you a fortune.

Never leave your glasses on a hot dashboard or in a car in summer. The heat distorts acetate frames and can damage lens coatings permanently.
Always put your glasses down with the lenses facing up, not down on a surface. Use both hands to put them on and take them off. Constantly pulling glasses off with one hand gradually bends the frame and then they never sit quite right.
Bring them in to us for a check and adjustment every now and then. It takes minutes and makes a real difference.
If you feel like you've just had a telling off - you have 😜

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Reading glasses from the supermarket or chemist seem like a perfectly sensible solution. They're cheap, they're convenie...
02/06/2026

Reading glasses from the supermarket or chemist seem like a perfectly sensible solution. They're cheap, they're convenient and they seem to do the job. So what's the problem?
The problem is that they're made to a single generic strength with no account for the fact that your two eyes are almost certainly different from each other. Most people have a slightly different prescription in each eye and some people have a massive difference. Supermarket readers treat both eyes exactly the same, which means one eye is always getting the wrong correction.

Over time this causes your visual system to work harder than it should to compensate. The result is eye strain, headaches and fatigue that most people put down to too much reading rather than the glasses themselves.
There's also the question of the optical centring we've talked about before. Mass produced reading glasses aren't made to fit your face. If the optical centre of the lens doesn't sit in front of your pupil properly, your eyes are straining from the moment you put them on.
For occasional use in an emergency they're fine. As a long term daily solution they really aren't. A proper pair of reading glasses costs less than most people assume and makes a significant difference to daily comfort.
Come in for a chat and we'll tell you honestly what makes sense for you.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Nobody tells you what to expect from your eyes as you get older. So here's an honest guide.In your early to mid forties ...
01/06/2026

Nobody tells you what to expect from your eyes as you get older. So here's an honest guide.
In your early to mid forties most people notice that reading and close work starts to become more difficult. Arms get longer, as the saying goes. This is called presbyopia and it happens to virtually everyone. The lens inside your eye gradually loses its flexibility and can no longer switch focus between near and far as easily as it once could. It's completely normal and very manageable.
Around the same time you might find your eyes take longer to adjust between light and dark environments. Night driving can become more challenging. Glare from oncoming headlights feels more intense. Again, this is a normal part of ageing but it's worth mentioning to your optician because the right lenses can make a significant difference.
From your fifties onwards the risk of conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts increases. None of these are inevitable and all of them are far better managed when caught early. This is exactly why annual eye examinations matter so much more as you get older, and why we see our Eye Care Plan members every year without exception.

Your eyes change. The key is making sure someone who knows what they're looking for is keeping an eye on them alongside you.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Dry eyes are one of the most common complaints we hear, and one of the most commonly misunderstood.A lot of people put u...
30/05/2026

Dry eyes are one of the most common complaints we hear, and one of the most commonly misunderstood.
A lot of people put up with dry, gritty, tired or irritated eyes for years assuming it's just how their eyes are. It isn't. And the causes are often simpler than people expect.

Screen use is a big one. When we focus on a screen our blink rate drops dramatically, sometimes by as much as two thirds. Blinking is what spreads the tear film across the eye surface and keeps everything comfortable. Less blinking means a thinner, less stable tear film and that means dryness, irritation and fatigue.

Central heating and air conditioning dry the air out and make things worse. Contact lens wear can contribute too. And as we get older our tear production naturally decreases, which is why dry eyes become more common with age.

The good news is that most cases of dry eye respond well to relatively simple measures. Lubricating eye drops used regularly make a real difference. Conscious blinking during screen use helps. Staying well hydrated matters more than people realise. And a proper eye examination can identify whether there's an underlying cause that needs addressing.
If your eyes feel dry, gritty or tired on a regular basis it's worth coming in for a chat. It's very often more treatable than people assume.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

A question we get asked quite often is why we don't do NHS eye tests. It's a fair question and it deserves an honest ans...
29/05/2026

A question we get asked quite often is why we don't do NHS eye tests. It's a fair question and it deserves an honest answer.
We made the decision to become a fully private practice because we wanted to do things properly.

On the NHS, the system is under enormous pressure. The average eye test at a busy high street optician is around ten minutes. Ten minutes to check your vision, assess the health of your eyes and send you on your way. That's not enough time to do the job well and we weren't prepared to work that way.

As a private practice we can spend up to an hour with you. We look at everything properly. We talk to you. We explain what we find. And we see you every year as standard, not every two years, because your eyes can change a lot in twelve months and we think annual checks are simply the right thing to do clinically.

For £9 a month on our Eye Care Plan, you get all of that and more. A fully comprehensive eye examination every year with no time pressure. As many additional appointments throughout the year as you need at no extra charge. A structured MOT on all your eyewear to make sure everything is still working properly for you. Discounts on new eyewear, exclusive brand deals, and invitations to in store events when brand ambassadors bring their entire UK collection for private appointments.
Oh, and the best coffee in town.

If you want to be looked after properly, we'd love to see you.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692
🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Blue light glasses have been everywhere for the last few years. Marketed heavily, bought by millions, and promoted as th...
28/05/2026

Blue light glasses have been everywhere for the last few years. Marketed heavily, bought by millions, and promoted as the solution to tired eyes, headaches and poor sleep from screen use.
So here's an honest take, because we think you deserve one.
The evidence for blue light being the primary cause of digital eye strain is genuinely mixed. Most eye health researchers now believe the real culprits are much more straightforward. Staring at a screen reduces your blink rate significantly, which dries your eyes out. Holding focus at the same distance for hours causes muscle fatigue. Poor posture and screen position make it worse.
Blue light filtering lenses won't fix any of those things. What does help is taking regular breaks, conscious blinking, having your screen at the right distance and height, and making sure your prescription is up to date.
That said, some people do find blue light lenses helpful, particularly for sleep. If you're interested we'll always have an honest conversation about whether they're likely to make a difference for you specifically. We won't just sell you something because it's popular.
📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692
🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Summer is nearly here and most people's eyewear isn't ready for it.If you wear prescription glasses you'll know the prob...
27/05/2026

Summer is nearly here and most people's eyewear isn't ready for it.
If you wear prescription glasses you'll know the problem. You either squint through the sunshine in your regular frames, or you swap to a pair of non-prescription sunglasses you can't actually see properly through. Neither is a great option and neither needs to be your only choice.

Prescription sunglasses solve it completely. And if you spend time driving, we'd really recommend looking at polarised lenses too. Polarised lenses cut through glare in a way standard tinted lenses simply can't. That low sun bouncing off a wet road or the bonnet of the car in front is genuinely reduced. A lot of our customers tell us it's one of the best things they've ever done for their driving comfort.

With the collections we have in right now from Lindberg, Booth and Bruce and more, your prescription sunglasses could genuinely be the most stylish pair you own as well as the most practical.

Come in and see us before the sun arrives properly. One appointment sorts everything.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Acetate. Titanium. Surgical stainless steel. Buffalo horn. Most opticians never bother explaining what any of it means.....
26/05/2026

Acetate. Titanium. Surgical stainless steel. Buffalo horn. Most opticians never bother explaining what any of it means...(to be fair, most opticians don't do Buffalo horn) So here's a quick honest guide.

Acetate is the classic material you'll see on most bold, colourful frames. It has a lovely weight and warmth to it and the range of colours and patterns is enormous. Great for people who want their glasses to make a statement.

Titanium is in a different league for lightness and strength. Virtually corrosion proof, hypoallergenic and built to last for decades. If you've ever put on a pair of Lindberg frames and wondered why they feel so extraordinary, this is a big part of the answer.

Surgical stainless steel is incredibly durable, holds its shape beautifully and has a quality feel that cheaper metals simply don't match.

And then there's buffalo horn. We stock Hoffman Natural frames here at Bottomley's and they are genuinely unlike anything else. Lightweight, warm to the touch, naturally hypoallergenic and completely unique — no two pairs are ever identical. If you haven't seen them, come in. They're special.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692
🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Varifocals have a complicated reputation. And honestly, some of it is deserved.A lot of people have tried them and given...
25/05/2026

Varifocals have a complicated reputation. And honestly, some of it is deserved.
A lot of people have tried them and given up.
Swimming vision, headaches, never quite feeling right. If that sounds familiar, we completely understand the frustration.

But here's what most people aren't told. The vast majority of varifocal problems are fitting problems, not lens problems. Wrong design for your lifestyle, imprecise measurements, or frames that simply aren't suited to a varifocal lens.

Modern varifocal technology has come a long way. When the fitting is done properly, the right design measured precisely in the right frame, it's a completely different experience.

If you've written them off after a bad experience, it might genuinely be worth a conversation before you decide for good.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

If you wear glasses all day in a demanding job — screens, driving, outdoors then your frames are working as hard as you ...
23/05/2026

If you wear glasses all day in a demanding job — screens, driving, outdoors then your frames are working as hard as you are.

Most people ask one pair to do all of it. But the right setup is different for everyone. A screen-optimised pair reduces the fatigue you've been blaming on the screen itself.

A driving pair with proper anti-reflective lenses makes a real difference in low light.
Prescription sunglasses mean you never choose between vision and protection outside.

At Bottomley's, we ask the right questions to find the right answer for you.

See what we can do for YOU.

📍 Halifax: 22 Union St HX1 1PR · 01422 331031
📍 Huddersfield: 55 Lidget St HD3 3JP · 01484 643 692

🌐 bottomley-opticians.co.uk/book-appointment

Address

Halifax
HX11PR

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+441422331031

Website

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