Optical museum holds open house
Dr Handley with Baroness Hayter at the official re-opening
The College of Optometrists welcomed some 370 visitors to its historic headquarters as part of this year’s Open House London and Heritage Open Days event on Sunday 14 September.
Following its official re-opening to the public and members by Baroness Hayter earlier this month, visitors had the opportunity to explore the newly-renovated British Optical Association (BOA) Museum’s display rooms.
The museum is home to the world’s oldest collection of ophthalmic and optical exhibits. More than 28,000 items 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 also includes original historic items, models and modern replicas.
Expert volunteers from the Ophthalmic Antiques International Collectors’ Club, College staff and a member of the College council were on hand to guide visitors around the historic collections and answer any questions.
Visitors enjoying the open day
Dr Neil Handley, curator of the BOA Museum, said: “I want to thank our loyal volunteers for another truly great event made possible through a superb team effort. It’s wonderful to see the museum bustling with visitors following our re-opening, exploring our collections and learning about the fascinating history of eye health.
“Whether you’re looking to learn more about the profession’s history to inform future practice, intrigued by the vision aids of the past, or curious about eye health curios, there’s something for everyone at the College’s museum.”
Members and the public are now able to pre-book to attend guided tours of the museum throughout the year.