Your Boutique Independent Opticians in Hove

As our eyes are one of our most important organs, it is essential that they are looked after properly to keep them in their best possible condition for as long as possible. When you choose Taylor-West & Co as your preferred opticians in Hove, you can expect the highest quality of eye care with the latest hospital-standard equipment. Our priority is to keep your eye health the best it can be, for longer.

When it comes to choosing the right spectacles for you, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your sense of style for perfect vision. It is a fact that the very best frames only come from brands that specialise in designing spectacle frames.

Our opticians covering Brighton and Hove only stock frames from the very best manufacturers from Japan, France, Italy, Germany and right here in the UK and, we can safely say that the superior quality of our range will speak for itself.

A Personal Experience with Taylor-West & Co Opticians in Hove

We’ve invested in the most up-to-date eye testing equipment in each of our branches. This state-of-the-art OCT and Optomap equipment enables us to provide fully comprehensive eye examinations which can detect a full range of eye conditions years before commercially available eye tests. We can even complete highly tailored contact lens fitting in order to get the lenses that are perfect for your specific eyes.

From private eye examinations and contact lens fitting to professional spectacle dispensing services, read on to discover how our services offer that extra something.

Comprehensive Eye Examinations in Hove

During your visit to our opticians in Hove, our opticians will give you the opportunity to discuss any concerns you have regarding your eye health. We take all of your concerns very seriously, so whether you’ve been suffering from headaches more frequently than usual or you’ve noticed one eye going more blurry than the other, your optometrist will be able to efficiently identify the cause of your concerns.

We’ve invested in £120,000 worth of extremely accurate hospital-grade equipment, including OCT and Optomap machines, in our opticians in Hove, Clapham, and East Dulwich in order to quickly discover conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, macular holes, retinal disease, and diabetic retinopathy years before they have a chance to severely affect your vision.
We also take your current prescription, health history, and hereditary issues into account in order to fully determine the cause of any problems.

Pricing for our private eye examinations are as follows:

• Adult eye examination (with OCT and Optomap) £145
• Child eye examination (with Optomap) £75

Discover Specialist Contact Lenses

Just because you’re having an eye examination, that doesn’t mean you have to leave with a pair of spectacles – we also specialise in contact lenses!

We have extensive experience in the fitting of both standard and complex contact lenses, and we love seeing our patients thrive with their new contact lenses. There is almost always a lens out there for any prescription so, whether you have a high or ‘tricky’ prescription or you’ve previously been told you aren’t a suitable candidate for contact lenses due to astigmatism, come chat with us.

In reality, there are very few people who are truly unsuitable for contact lenses, and that usually has something to do with the willingness to help. We will always do our very best to find the perfect lenses for you.

Typically, a contact lens fitting with Taylor-West & Co opticians in Hove will contain the following steps:

• Initial consultation:
  Following an eye assessment which involves carefully measuring and scanning your corneas, we will discuss your visual needs, your lifestyle, and your hobbies in order to find the perfect contact lenses for your lifestyle. This session will also involve the trying of some lenses and, once we’ve found a good match for your eyes, we’ll get to order them for you.
  Some of our lenses come from as far as the US and as locally as right here in the UK, so they could take up to three weeks for as little as a few days to arrive.
• Collection appointment:
  When your lenses arrive at our opticians in Hove, you’ll be able to try them once again as we need to check that they are as perfect for your eyes as we predicted. If they’re the perfect match, we’ll teach you how to insert, remove, and care for them; and you can take them home to try out for real.
  If they aren’t right, we’ll gladly re-order a new pair with the necessary adjustments taken into account.
• Follow-up / Second collection appointment:
  Once you’ve had the chance to try your contact lenses out for real, you’ll need to come to our opticians in Hove so we can see how you’ve been getting on. If everything is going smoothly, you can keep them for another 1 to 2 months before another check-in. If any problems arise at this time, please do come in again and we can make any changes for you.
• Second follow-up / Third collection appointment / Regular check-ups:
  The second follow-up and third collection will follow the same routine as before until we finally get the right contact lenses for your eyes. Once everything is completed and you’ve received the contact lenses that work for you, we’ll recommend coming back to our opticians in Hove for regular checkups and examinations to see how you’re getting on.

The entire fitting process may last just two visits, but it can take months to find the right lenses for your eyes. However, once we’ve found what works for you and once you’ve finished your concluding checkups, you should be able to wear your new lenses with ease.

Pricing for contact lens fitting is as follows:

• Standard contact lens refit (existing wearer) £120
• Standard contact lens fitting (new wearer) £200
• Complex contact lens fitting eg. multifocals (new or existing wearer) £300
• Medical contact lens fitting eg. for keratoconus or corneal graft (new or existing wearer) £450
• Eye examination + contact lens aftercare (with OCT and Optomap) £205
• Contact lens aftercare £80
• Ortho-K fitting from £300

Beautifully Hand-Crafted Spectacles in Hove

While this may sound obvious, our ethos is that the best spectacles come from companies that only make spectacles. Rather than a high-fashion brand lending its name to mass-produced frames, we stock beautiful handmade frames made by expert manufacturers based in Japan, France, Italy, Germany and the UK.

We believe that the superior quality of these frames speaks for themselves and, with the proper care and maintenance, they really can last a lifetime.

The Taylor-West & Co Way of Seeing

The health of your eyes is not only extremely important to you, but to us here at Taylor-West & Co too. Whether you’ve noticed you’re suffering from headaches more frequently, your vision is more blurry than usual, or something else is going on with your eyes, book an eye test at our opticians in Hove.

During your eye examination, we’ll only be using the very latest hospital-grade equipment in order to complete a highly comprehensive eye test. This, along with your concerns, will help us to keep an eye out for a wide range of eye conditions, and help us to learn whether you’re at risk of developing any eye problems years before conventional eye tests.

After gaining a first class degree in Optometry and Visual Science from the University of Wales, Cardiff in 2004 I moved to London and locumed at various practices prior to commencing work at the prestigious West End contact lens practice of Nigel F. Burnett Hodd…

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Sophie Taylor-West

After gaining a first class degree in Optometry and Visual Science from the University of Wales, Cardiff in 2004 I moved to London and locumed at various practices prior to commencing work at the prestigious West End contact lens practice of Nigel F. Burnett Hodd. It is here that I learned to fit many contact lenses for diseased corneas, very high prescriptions, toric lenses for astigmatism and multifocal lenses for presbyopia.

I have, over my 8 years working at this practice, developed a keen interest in lenses for keratoconus, post graft and post refractive surgery corneas. I worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital as a specialist optometrist in the contact lens clinic for 2 years, and spent a further two years at Sussex Eye Hospital fitting contact lenses.

I have attended many International conferences on specialist contact lens practice, including the Global Specialty Contact Lens Symposium in Las Vegas, the Keratoconus Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, the British Contact Lens Association conference and the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists meeting, both in the UK. This has kept my knowledge base as up-to-date as possible, and has allowed me to always be at the cutting edge of contact lens technology and techniques here in the UK.

I have been involved in the training of other Optometrists in the use of SoClear and SynergEyes lenses and the writing of fitting guides for these designs. I have lectured internationally (in the US, Denmark, France, Switzerland and the UK) and published numerous articles on complex lens fitting.

Other clinical experience includes consulting for UK based lens manufacturer No.7 Contact lens Laboratory and conducting performance assessments on fellow optometrists undergoing investigation by the General Optical Council.

On a personal note, I genuinely enjoy the challenges that come with dealing with diseased, damaged and ‘awkward’ eyes and I get an enormous amount of pleasure and satisfaction in helping those people who struggle to see anything at all without lenses and transforming their sight.

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Coming from the Jura mountains, in the region of France where the global optics industry was born, I was destined to have a passion for exquisite eyewear. After graduating as a Dispensing Optician in 2004, I gained experience in different regions of France…

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Ibo Ozhan

Coming from the Jura mountains, in the region of France where the global optics industry was born, I was destined to have a passion for exquisite eyewear.

After graduating as a Dispensing Optician in 2004, I gained experience in different regions of France. After travelling in Europe, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Iceland and Australia, I moved to Brighton in 2013, where I worked across independent and multiple practices. I particularly enjoy helping my patients find their perfect frame, and taking the time to make sure they feel gorgeous in their specs! I couldn’t resist the opportunity to join Taylor-West & Co family with the arrival of the fabulous new Lewes practice, and I am excited to get to know the community, meet new clients, and find them the perfect eyewear.

My other passion is music, and I love attending live concerts, gigs and music festivals around the world. I also have an extensive vinyl collection.

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Reaching beyond peoples expectations is both a challenge and a passion. Dispensing what sometimes can be a life changing product, igniting ones’ confidence and achieving the best possible vision is, you could say, my calling. Educating and empowering my team to do the same provides me with enormous gratification…

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Eileen Melton

Reaching beyond peoples expectations is both a challenge and a passion. Dispensing what sometimes can be a life changing product, igniting ones’ confidence and achieving the best possible vision is, you could say, my calling. Educating and empowering my team to do the same provides me with enormous gratification.

After nearly 20 years dispensing in some of London, Brighton and now Hove’s prestigious independent opticians, I’ve gained a wealth of experience and knowledge. I’ve seen the industry change and evolve. For me, mixing “old school” and innovative dispensing keeps the dispense both exciting and precise. Modern tailored lens manufacturing is both fascinating and brilliant; twin that with new frame manufacturing techniques and materials means the possibilities are now almost endless! Someone once asked me what I look for when styling a patient/client, and truthfully I don’t have a formulae; I have an instant vision of what frame will look perfect on your face, and once I’ve assessed your needs, requirements, prescription, wants and desires I can then dispense the perfect a frame and lens for your unique self.

I love to travel. I feel that living and spending time with other cultures has shaped me into the person I am today. My other loves and passions include interior design, property renovations, music, festivals, dancing in the sunshine, sea swimming, good wine, cocktails, and raising my son to be the best human ever!

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I believe that being in optics was destined to me, but it wasn’t a straightforward journey. One of my first memories is when I underwent an operation on my eyes as a child and even now I can remember the outstanding people who looked after me. Wanting to support people in overcoming their life obstacles, I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Rehabilitation.

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Joanna

I believe that being in optics was destined to me, but it wasn’t a straightforward journey. One of my first memories is when I underwent an operation on my eyes as a child and even now I can remember the outstanding people who looked after me.

Wanting to support people in overcoming their life obstacles, I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Rehabilitation. Having moved to London in 2014 I was given an opportunity to work in a high street optician and learn the basics. When I moved to Brighton I was given a chance to undertake the Dispensing Optician course, and I graduated in 2020.

My aim was always to work for an Independent Optician to gain new experience and knowledge. I joined Sophie’s team in Hove in 2021. Being a great listener supports my ability to find the best eyewear and exceed people’s expectations. I have a passion for styling, and I always go above and beyond to make sure everyone is treated as an individual.

For their unusual shapes, craftsmanship and attention to details, Anne and Valentin is one of my favourite optical brands. It makes me very proud to work in a practice that has such an incredible and unique selection of eyewear. Moreover, I find it extremely satisfying and emotional that by using the latest technology we can improve people’s lives and help them to see.

In my free time I enjoy watching crime dramas, looking after my large collection of plants and spending time with my partner and our pets. Although I prefer snow to heat, I love Italian food and architecture and always look forward to spending my holidays there.

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When the opportunity to join the Taylor-West and Co family arose, I knew it was a great space for me to dive deeper into the world of optics. Having experience in professional styling gives me a chance to incorporate my love for styling with something brand new! After moving to Brighton in 2021, I’ve truly found a community which celebrates individuality and culture.

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Parys

When the opportunity to join the Taylor-West and Co family arose, I knew it was a great space for me to dive deeper into the world of optics. Having experience in professional styling gives me a chance to incorporate my love for styling with something brand new! After moving to Brighton in 2021, I’ve truly found a community which celebrates individuality and culture.

As an optical assistant here in Hove, I have realised how fascinated I am by people. Being able to speak with people and share stories is why I really love what I do. Optics is a place I never thought I’d find myself but truthly, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Going the extra mile for our patients means everything to me and I believe it can make all the difference to someone’s experience in such an intimate process.

Since working in optics, I have been able to bring my love of problem solving forward and create lasting relationships with our patients. There is so much to learn in this fast-paced environment, and this is only the beginning.

I have recently travelled to Rishikesh, India to complete my Yoga Teacher Training. This solo travelling experience was life changing and absolutely made me into the person I am today. Painting, pottery and arts is a passion where I can express myself freely and hold space for myself to create!

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When I was younger I always knew I wanted to have a role in healthcare and to work with people, and after displaying an interest in and an affinity for maths and sciences in school it was actually my physics teacher who introduced me to the world of optics and curated my interest in optometry.

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Krystie

When I was younger I always knew I wanted to have a role in healthcare and to work with people, and after displaying an interest in and an affinity for maths and sciences in school it was actually my physics teacher who introduced me to the world of optics and curated my interest in optometry. During school holidays and on weekends I worked at a local high street opticians which only furthered my interest so I studied optometry at the Technological University in Dublin and graduated in 2015 with honours.

A week after graduating there was a mass exodus of newly qualified Irish Optometrists as three of my friends and I moved to Brighton and invaded the high street optical practices. I soon fell in love with this colourful, quirky city and its colourful, quirky people so my initial plan of staying for one or two years quickly turned into an indefinite stay as Brighton & Hove became my home away from home.

When I returned from travelling around South-East Asia in 2019 I locumed at some local optical practices, serendipitously the first practice I worked for was Taylor-West! I immediately loved working in this fabulous, unique practice and couldn’t turn down the opportunity to officially become part of the team when I was offered a role here in 2021.

I’m excited to broaden my horizons in the world of optometry and to expand and develop my skills professionally here. I love travelling – meeting new people and experiencing different cultures and new food! On days off I love to go for walks along the seafront and in the South Downs and to unwind in the evenings I love playing piano, swimming, reading books and binge-watching all the true-crime series on Netflix.

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Peggy has been a member of the team since 2015, and is our chief ‘meeter and greeter’ in residence. She loves to come and say hello to all visitors to the practice, and she takes her job very seriously!