British Optical Association Museum re-opens with new collections and enhanced visitor experience

Baroness Hayter, Member of the House of Lords, officially re-opened the museum at an exclusive event on Thursday 4 September.  

The museum, located at the College’s Central London headquarters, is home to the world’s oldest collection of ophthalmic and optical exhibits. It comprises over twenty-eight thousand outstanding items that tell the story of the history of eye health, including spectacles dating from the 1500s, a wide range of vision aids, diagnostic and sight-testing equipment, artworks and eye health curios. The collection includes original historic items, models, and modern replicas.  

The museum is open for pre-booked tours from 8 September 2025. The museum hosts tours for optometrists and other eye care professionals, researchers, and optical-curious members of the public.  

The newly opened Giles Room, named after former Secretary of the British Optical Association George Henry Giles OBE, is home to some artefacts that have never been on display before, including some of the earliest contact lenses, the Peter & Jean Hansell Collection of Eyebaths, and an eye-opening collection of artificial eyes. Its displays also include sight-testing equipment, ophthalmic lenses, symbolism of the eye, and ocular anatomy and hygiene exhibits.  

The Sutcliffe Room houses collections of antique spectacles and other historic vision aids from around the world, including opera glasses, monocles, sunglasses, spyglasses and cameras.  

Visitors can interact with some of the exhibits, as well as virtually trying on a range of historic and vintage frames from the collection with the museum’s virtual try-on tool. Both rooms also feature archive film footage with optional audio.