Steel & Varley Opticians

13/08/2026

Six weeks is a long time to keep the kids entertained! 😅 As beautiful as our local coast is, sometimes you just need a break from finding sand in absolutely everything! 🏖️

Getting the kids away from their screens can feel like a daily battle, but it is incredibly important for their developing eyes. Regular breaks from digital devices help prevent eye strain and encourage healthy visual development.

If you are looking for a screen-free distraction this week, how about an outdoor adventure walk? 🌳👟

Meet Merkel! This friendly woodland creature is currently hiding out in Holywell Dene, just waiting to be discovered. It is the perfect excuse to lace up your trainers, stretch your legs, and give those young eyes a well-deserved rest in nature. 👟

Let us know if you manage to find spot him! 📷👇




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12/08/2026

Brightening up our day with a lovely collection with Nicola, 😁visiting us today to collect her gorgeous new Orgreen specs 👓 - complete with a beautiful splash of pink 🌸

Nicola was accompanied by her beautiful guide dog Izzy, who absolutely stole the hearts of everyone in the practice today ❤️🦮
We think Nicola looks absolutely fantastic in her new Orgreen eyewear, and Izzy definitely gave her wagg of approval too 🦮❤️

Thankyou for choosing us for your eye care, Nicola. It was an absolute pleasure looking after you both today!

12/08/2026

☀️ Whitley Bay Eclipse Guide: Watch Safely Without Glasses!

Missed out on solar eclipse glasses? You can still experience the event safely from Whitley Bay without looking directly at the sun!

Protecting your vision is our top priority. You do not need specialist equipment to witness the spectacle. Here are three simple, safe ways to watch the eclipse indirectly using everyday household items:

The Colander Trick: Stand with your back to the sun. Hold a kitchen colander over the ground. It projects dozens of tiny, safe eclipse shadows onto the pavement.
The Pinhole Card Projector: Poke a small hole in a piece of card. Let sunlight shine through it onto a second piece of paper to see the crescent.
The Cereal Box Viewer: Cut two holes in an empty box top. Tape foil over one, poke a pinhole, and look through the other.

⚠️ Crucial Safety Warnings:Never look directly at the sun with your naked eyes or regular sunglasses. Standard sunglasses do not block the harmful radiation that causes permanent retinal damage. Do not use smartphone cameras to look at the sun, as this can damage your eyes and the lens. Enjoy the view safely from the coast! 🕶️🌊

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27/07/2026

✨🥂70 YEARS OF MARRIAGE! 🥂✨
A massive congratulations to our absolute favourites, the lovley Muriel and Norman, who are celebrating their Platinum Wedding Anniversary today!

We aren’t supposed to have favourites, but we have to admit, these two completely steal our hearts every single time they visit! 70years together is a truly breathtaking milestone, and seeing their enduring love and laughter is an absolute joy! ❤️

Please join all of us in wishing this spectacular couple the happiest of anniversaries. Here’s to Muriel, Norman, and 70 years of beautiful memories! ❤️🍾

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29/06/2026

It’s a DUTZ kinda day 🤓🧡


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27/06/2026

⚽️We’ve got our eyes on the ball today!⚽️

We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring the match ball for today’s charity football match in honour of Glenn.

We are incredibly proud to support this fantastic event raising vital funds for MIND.
Mental Health is a cause close to all of our hearts, and seeing the community come together for this is truly inspiring ❤️

We want to wish all the boys and our very own Optometrist Ro taking part in today’s match the absolute best of luck out on the pitch today! Give it your all, look out for each other, and let’s raise as much as we can for an amazing charity!



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25/06/2026

25/06/2026

When Happy patients bring you flowers 🌹🤍Charlotte’s smile says it all 🥰

Our hearts are officially melting today and not just from this heat ☀️🥵

One of Charlotte’s wonderful patients stopped by to collect her new hearing aids with a beautiful bunch of flowers today just to say a special thankyou to her audiologist for helping her navigate her new journey with Widex hearing aids.

There is truly nothing more rewarding then helping our patients rediscover the sounds of life, from birds chirping to laughter with family and friends. Seeing her walk out with a huge smile (and hearing every detail perfectly!) is exactly why we love what we do!
Huge thanks to our amazing patient for brightening our day, and kudos to our superstar audiologist Charlotte for providing such incredible care! 🌟

18/06/2026

👓 Spot a familiar face? 👨🏻‍🦳😁

If you think you recognise this gentleman… you probably do! This is Robyn’s dad, he popped into the practice today to collect his new specs 🤓

Working at an independent opticians means we get to look after our local community every day - but it is extra special when we get to take care of our own families, too! 💕

Robyn gave her dad the full VIP treatment, and helped him to find the perfect frames, we think he looks ace 😁

This silhouette frame gives him that maximum comfort he was looking for with its super light weight frame but adds splash of colour to keep in the fun 🤩 Good pick Rob👍🏼😁


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17/06/2026

Love a Birthday Collection 🥳🎉

Always nice to surprise our clients if we’re lucky enough to be included in their special day 🎂🥳

If your special day is coming up and your new frames are ready, come on down - we cannot wait to celebrate with you! 🥂🎈

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