14 July 2025

College expands online museum resources with historic glasses virtual try-on tool

Museum

College Museum closes for the summer for final refurbishments

The College of Optometrists has launched a cutting-edge new virtual reality historic glasses frames try-on tool as part of the British Optical Association Museum’s collection of online resources.

Online visitors can virtually try on a range of historic frames from the museum’s collections that date from the 18th century through to the second half of the 20th century. These include spectacles historically worn with an 18th century wig, Chinese sunglasses bearing ritual emblems, ‘styled’ ladies evening wear spectacles from the 1950s, and the well-known NHS frames. 

Developed in association with Cosium, experts in developing clinical and retail software for optical, ophthalmic and audiology professionals, a selection of items from the College’s Museum collection were taken to their state-of-the-art scanning facility in Versailles, Paris, to create the museum’s new interactive exhibit.

Neil Handley, Museum Curator

“As well as a fun and interactive way of viewing our collection of eye wear and vision aids, the virtual try-on tool also showcases the role of this new technology as a contemporary exhibit itself, reflecting modern optical sector trends in remote dispensing and online shopping.

Colin Hurst, Cosium

"Cosium works with some of the industry’s best-known brands, so we’re delighted to add The College of Optometrists to our portfolio. The Virtual Try-On tool showcases frame collections from all suppliers, and it was exciting to include the College’s unique collection in our catalogue. We’re proud to help bring optical history into the digital age, making these remarkable pieces accessible to a wider audience.”

College Museum closes for final refurbishments this summer

The British Optical Association Museum, which is housed at The College of Optometrists’ headquarters near The Strand in London, is now closed for the summer while final refurbishments to the two display rooms take place.  

The museum will re-open to the public in the early autumn for pre-booked guided tours, with enhanced displays of the museum’s extensive historic collection of artefacts relating to optometry, the eye, and visual health. 

Explore the online resources

While the museum is closed, researchers, optometry professionals, eyewear fashionistas, and museum fans alike are encouraged to log on to MusEYEum’s online catalogue and the new virtual try-on tool to explore the museum’s extensive digital collection of artefacts.   

Neil Handley, Museum Curator, added: “The College’s Museum was one of the first in the country to have a digital image of almost every exhibit in our extensive database, which includes thousands of pairs of spectacles, visions aids, optical equipment, historic documents, prints, and photographs. Together with the College’s Library catalogue, our online collections facilitate hours of rewarding browsing and ensure our resources and artefacts are accessible to everyone.” 

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