ABOUT DAVIS OPTOMETRISTS

The History of Our Practices.

DAVIS OPTOMETRISTS

Family Values & Solid Foundations

We’re proud of our history and our evolution. Our family values and our experience give us solid foundations, and the confidence to seek out new innovations and best care for our patients. We are proud of our status as an Independent Opticians, which allows us to give unbiased advice and offer a vast product range.

IN THE BEGINNING

Established in Kettering by Rodney Davis in the 1960s

Once upon a time ... well, over sixty years ago ... our founding partner Rod Davis bought Ashbournes, an established independent practice in Kettering Northamptonshire. Rod re-named us Rodney Davis Opticians. We had a small office in Gold Street, and Rod also started testing in Thrapston at the Doctor's surgery, and then in 1979 we opened in our own premises there. Shortly after this we opened a branch in Rothwell.

The Kettering practice moved to its present location, Moyune House in 1974. This was a beautiful Victorian property complete with stables! We converted the latter into a lens workshop, the first optician in town with glazing facilities. Nick, Jeremy and Kim joined the firm soon afterwards, and we became Rodney Davis & Partners.

In the early nineties we became one of the first Carl Zeiss lens centres in the county, improving the range and standard of lenses we could offer our patients. We love German manufacturers and are now a major account for Rodenstock UK.

A TIME FOR GROWTH

Investing in Eyecare Technology

In 1997 we refurbished our Kettering practice, trebling the dispensing area. We also bought a new home for the Thrapston practice, a large Victorian house that was the butchers! Shortly afterwards we also refurbished Rothwell.

In 2002 we were one of the first practices in the UK to buy an Optomap machine, offering state of the art retinal screening. This revolutionary technology allowed us to examine the retina in the greatest possible detail, and store and e-mail images.

A CHANGE OF NAME...

Celebrating 40 Years of Optical Care

On our forty year anniversary in 2003, we changed our name to Davis Optometrists, to reflect the fact that Rod retired. We also spread our wings further than Northants and opened a branch in Olney, Bucks.

In 2009 we took delivery of our Ocular Coherance Tomography camera – the OCT. We had the 9th instrument in the world! This amazing technology enabled us to examine the internal structures of the eye in 3D, in even greater detail than with our retinal cameras. It's used for early detection of disease, in monitoring eye conditions and storing information about individual patients’ ocular health for future reference.

In 2011 we extended into Leicestershire too, acquiring Clinton-Smith Warren Optometrists in St Mary's Road Market Harborough. Peter Warren, the Optometrist owner joined forces with us, until his retirement in 2020. We've since expanded these premises, and also have the latest generation 3D camera for this branch.

THE PRESENT DAY

More Than 60 Years' of Eyecare Experience

In 2015 we extended Thrapston to give us a second consulting room there.

In 2019 we refurbished our consulting rooms in Market Harborough, and created a second consulting room and extended showroom for eye wear in Olney.

Thanks to our amazing team we have weathered the terrible storm of the pandemic. In 2021 we employed several new optometrists, and installed a 3D scanner in Rothwell.

We love what we do and we’re looking forward to the excitement of the next sixty years!