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College museum curator, Dr Neil Handley, talks to BBC's Charlotte Stavrou about the history of spectacles.

Podcast: Having recently stepped down from her role after nearly 20 years as The College's Clinical Adviser, Dr Susan Blakeney FCOptom takes a historical trip down memory lane with our Museum Curator, Neil Handley.

The historian and curator talks about his 25-year career at the College.

Following news of Jack J. Kanski's passing in January at the age of 79, our museum curator, Neil Handley, and College members discuss his legacy in our latest blog.

Podcast: Following on from London Fashion week, Neil Handley, Curator of the College Museum, discusses the history of spectacles with Daniel, exploring their unique status as a medical device and fashion accessory.

A message from Leon Davies, College President

As we prepare for the reopening of the College’s Optical Museum, Curator Neil Handley tells us what has been happening behind the scenes.

Podcast: Museum curator, Neil Handley, interviews the College's artist in residence for 2019, Iluá Hauck da Silva. Iluá talks about the inspiration for her work, including growing up a medical household and her own vision problems.

Our Museum Curator, Neil Handley, reflects on a summer of celebrity spectacle auctions and discusses whether it may prove to be the ordinary things that retain the most resonance.

The museum’s maintain a combined museum collection and archive, comprising over twenty eight thousand historical items relating to the diagnosis and correction of refractive error, visual impairment and ocular disease.

The College of Optometrists will be opening its doors to visitors once again as part of the Open House London event on Sunday 10 September.

The British Optical Association Museum is the oldest museum of optometry in the world. We tell the story of eye care and eyewear through our fascinating collection of more than 28,000 objects, rare books, prints, photographs, historic trade literature, advertisements and works of art.

Over hundreds of years spectacles have developed into the stylish and functional designs seen today.

The British Optical Association Museum is located in a charming Georgian house, just off Strand in Central London. We are happy to offer guided tours of the museum and exhibitions to individuals and groups who book in advance.

Our collections are a nationally important resource for learning about the history and practice of optometry, ophthalmic optics and related subjects. Our role is to promote the optometry profession and raise public awareness of its past and present importance to society.