Clare & Illingworth

What Clare & Illingworth does

Clare & Illingworth is an independent optometry practice founded in 1990 by Derek Clare and Alyson Illingworth, operating from two locations in the affluent Cheshire catchment of Knutsford and Wilmslow in North West England. The practice delivers comprehensive primary eye care services including NHS-funded and private eye examinations, contact lens fitting and aftercare, prescription dispensing, and a recently launched dedicated Dry Eye Clinic that uses specialist ocular surface diagnostics (IDRA analyser, HRT corneal imaging) and treatments such as TearStim IPL and Activa Heat Mask. Its dispensing operation is staffed by five or more qualified Dispensing Opticians, with precision lens supply anchored by preferred partnerships with Zeiss and Nikon, and a curated luxury eyewear portfolio spanning independent and designer brands including Thelios/LVMH labels such as Celine.

The business operates a multi-revenue-stream model combining regulated NHS General Ophthalmic Services fees for sight tests and vouchers, private examination fees, contact lens subscription and supply income, and higher-margin designer frame dispensing. The 2024 introduction of the Dry Eye Clinic adds a cash-pay specialist consultation service layered on top of the routine optical retail core, with initial assessments priced at approximately £150 per patient. Go-to-market is entirely local and relationship-driven, relying on the founders' 35-year clinical reputation, word-of-mouth referrals within the catchment, and the practice's positioning as a premium alternative to national optical chains.

Operationally, the practice combines qualified optometrist clinical judgement with capital-intensive diagnostic equipment and an experienced dispensing team to convert sight-test traffic into dispensed prescriptions. Strategic emphasis in recent periods has been on extending the average revenue per patient — through dry eye specialism, premium lens brands, and luxury frame distribution — and on physical capacity expansion at the Wilmslow site to absorb growing demand. The practice remains privately held and sub-scale relative to UK optical multiples, with no disclosed plans for multi-region roll-out or external investment.

Name

Clare & Illingworth

Legal name

Clare & Illingworth

Website

https://theoptometrist.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clare & Illingworth is an independent optometry practice founded in 1990 in Cheshire, UK, operating two locations (Knutsford and Wilmslow) and serving individual patients with eye examinations, contact lenses, designer eyewear dispensing, and a specialist Dry Eye Clinic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optometry Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Eye care services
• Optometry practice
• Prescription eyewear
• Contact lens fitting
• Dry eye treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Knutsford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Eye Examinations: Comprehensive eye examinations including NHS-funded tests for eligible patients and private examinations. Includes assessment for eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetes.
2. Eyewear Sales: Sale of prescription frames and lenses including luxury designer brands (Tom Ford, Dior, Celine, Fendi, Prada) and independent designers. Preferred lens partners include Zeiss and Nikon.
3. Contact Lenses: Sale of contact lenses including daily disposables, two-week lenses, monthly lenses, and gas permeable lenses. Regular wearers require 6-month check-ups.
4. Dry Eye Clinic Services: Private specialist clinic offering 75-minute consultations at £150 including comprehensive assessment, lid massage with therapeutic visor, and personalized treatment plans. Uses IDRA diagnostics, TearStim IPL, and Activa Heat Mask treatments.
5. NHS Optical Vouchers: NHS optical vouchers that cover basic single vision lenses and provide contributions towards bifocals or varifocals for eligible patients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clare & Illingworth is an independent optometry practice offering comprehensive eye examinations (NHS and private), prescription eyewear with curated designer and independent brands, contact lens fitting, children's eye care and myopia control, and a specialist Dry Eye Clinic. Services are delivered across two retail locations in Knutsford and Wilmslow, Cheshire, by a team of qualified optometrists and dispensing opticians.

Product overview

Clare & Illingworth is an independent optometry practice offering a comprehensive range of eye care services and products. The core offerings include eye examinations, contact lenses, and prescription eyewear with a curated selection of designer frames (Tom Ford, Celine, Fendi, Dior, Prada) and independent brands (Taylor Morris, Face a Face, Prodesign Denmark, Ørgreen, Cutler & Gross). Specialised services include a dedicated Dry Eye Clinic using IDRA diagnostics and TearStim IPL therapy, myopia control programmes for children, and ZEISS DriveSafe lenses for driving. The practice operates two locations in Cheshire (Knutsford and Wilmslow) and provides NHS-covered services for children under 16.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eye Examinations Comprehensive eye examinations that assess vision quality, check for eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetes, and evaluate overall eye health using diagnostic equipment. Available NHS-funded for eligible patients and privately for others.
• Contact Lenses

Quantifiable outcome

• One in five people over 40 experience moderate to severe dry-eye symptoms
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vision Aid OverseasminorOthersClare & Illingworth collects old eyewear from patients and donates all items to Vision Aid Overseas, which recycles the materials to fund eye care missions abroad providing eye care and eyewear to those most in need.
• ZeisscoreTechnology or IntegrationPreferred lens partner for prescription eyewear. Practice relies on Zeiss for high quality finish every time. Zeiss lenses offered including DriveSafe lenses designed for safer driving.
• NikoncoreTechnology or IntegrationPreferred lens partner for prescription eyewear. Nikon lenses featured in promotions such as complimentary Transitions lens upgrades. Reliable quality finish provider.
• NHScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative work with NHS providing NHS-funded eye examinations and optical vouchers. Referrals to NHS for specialized care including corneal ulcer treatment. Collaboration with GPs, hospitals, and consultants for comprehensive patient care. Patients entitled to free NHS tests include under-16s, 16-18s in full-time education, and other eligible categories.
• Private Healthcare SpecialistsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferrals to private specialists for conditions such as cataract consultations. Provides expedited access to private expertise when appropriate for patient needs.
• Partner LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationMultiple trusted partner laboratories that manufacture bespoke lenses for prescriptions. The Relaxed Vision Terminal sends measurements to labs for tailored lens production.
• The Orange OrchardminorOthersLocal juice bar and health food shop that collaborated on promoting 'Bright Eyes' fresh juice blend (carrots, kale, oranges) beneficial for eye health. Joint health promotion initiative.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Glasses Direct: UK online retailer of prescription eyewear offering affordable frames and lenses via e-commerce. Comparable on eyewear product category but operates purely online, representing a structural channel alternative to Clare & Illingworth's retail-only model.
• Ace & Tate: Direct-to-consumer eyewear brand offering fashionable prescription glasses at accessible prices through online and physical channels. Comparable as a contemporary eyewear disruptor targeting style-conscious consumers, though positioned downmarket.

Broad incumbents

• Optical Express: UK's leading provider of laser eye surgery, lens replacement, and optical retail. Comparable on eye-care service breadth but competes primarily in surgical/refractive categories rather than Clare & Illingworth's primary-care focus.
• Boots Opticians: High-street optical chain operated within Boots pharmacies, providing eye examinations, NHS services, and a broad eyewear range. Comparable business model with NHS coverage and physical retail footprint across the UK.
• Specsavers: UK's largest optical retailer with hundreds of stores offering eye examinations, eyewear, and contact lenses. Direct competitor in the same Cheshire catchment, though serving a much broader price-led volume segment rather than Clare & Illingworth's premium independent niche.
• Scrivens Opticians: Established UK family-run optical chain with branches across the country, offering NHS eye tests, eyewear, and hearing care. Comparable on family-ownership origins and broad NHS services, though at a mid-market price position.
• Vision Express: National UK optical chain offering eye tests, designer frames, and contact lenses with multiple locations. Comparable on core services (NHS eye exams, eyewear, contact lenses) but positioned at mid-market rather than luxury independent.

Regional players

• Black & Lizars: Scottish independent optical chain offering premium eye care, designer eyewear, and NHS services. Comparable on independent premium positioning and family-tradition values, though operating in a different UK geography.

Direct peers

• David Clulow Opticians: Premium UK optical chain known for designer and luxury eyewear brands. Closest peer in terms of premium positioning and designer frame assortment, though operates as a multi-location chain rather than independent.
• Leightons Opticians: Independent-feeling UK optical group with multiple practices offering NHS services, advanced diagnostics, and specialist clinics (including hearing). Comparable on independent practice ethos and clinical specialisations such as dry eye assessments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theoptometrist
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClareandIllingworth
• Instagraminstagram.com/theoptometrist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clare & Illingworth