Centre for Eyecare Excellence (CEE): our clinics

Find out more about the clinics offered at the Centre for Eyecare Excellence
Optometry with University of Plymouth
You can call or email us to make an appointment:
Telephone: +44 1752 583100
Centre for Eyecare Excellence, 41 Gibbon Street, Plymouth, PL4 8BZ
We're open from Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00.
Centre for Eyecare Excellence, 41 Gibbon Street, Plymouth, PL4 8BZ
Find us on Google maps. 
The clinic has disabled access. Disabled drivers using our facility may park in the pay and display bays or resident parking bays in the immediate area free of charge as long as a valid blue badge and clock is displayed.
There are several car parks within walking distance of the clinic, namely Regent Street car park, Mayflower House Court, Mayflower Street East and Mayflower Street West. A full list of car parks and their locations can be found on the Plymouth City Council website.
The clinic is also accessible via numerous public transport routes, please refer to the Plymouth City Council website for details. 
Appointment checklist
To provide you with the best possible care, it is helpful if you bring the following with you to all appointments at the CEE:
  • your latest spectacle prescription
  • all spectacles and contact lenses you currently use
  • a list of your current medication
  • your GP's details.

Eye examinations

The Centre for Eyecare Excellence offers eye examinations with our third year student optometrists under the direct supervision of qualified optometry staff. These comprehensive tests provide a detailed assessment of the health of your eyes and a full vision check.
Our thorough eye examinations are double-checked by the qualified supervisors, therefore appointments can last approximately two hours. These are completely free of charge and as a goodwill gesture we offer 20% discount on full priced spectacles purchased through us. 
Throughout the year we provide paediatric appointments. It is important for all children to have regular eye examinations as it is vital in a child’s development. Our clinic is a child friendly environment with all appointments supervised by experienced staff. We also offer a wide range of spectacles and contact lenses for children with also a selected stock of frames designed to fit children with special needs.
We also offer private eye examinations with a qualified member of staff. These are £35 for members of the public and £25 for University of Plymouth staff, NHS workers, armed forces, emergency services and carers. If you are eligible for NHS funded sight tests then this appointment if also free of charge. 
Before your appointment, make sure you have had a look at our appointment checklist so that our students may provide you with the best possible care.
Please see below for full details of other clinics and services that we provide.

Low vision assessments

This clinic is usually for patients who are already registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired, however we also welcome patients who have not been diagnosed with sight impairment yet find that their sight cannot be improved to their satisfaction by wearing conventional spectacles or contact lenses. Whilst we endeavour to find a solution specific sight problems, it is not always possible to help every individual.
The provision of low vision aids may involve a number of appointments until the most suitable visual aid(s) has been identified. We allow sufficient time for discussion to ensure that the most appropriate advice is given.
This clinic is run by a small group of students working under the close supervision and guidance of experienced clinicians with a special interest in visual impairment. The assessments are free of charge and has the possibility of loaning or purchasing visual aids.
As well as the items listed in the appointment checklist, it is helpful if you could bring the following with you to your appointment:
  • any low vision aids you may currently be using
  • any low vision aids you have been supplied with previously and that you are no longer able to use.
 

Spectacle dispensing

The CEE clinic has a well-stocked spectacle dispensary with a range of frames from economy frames to designer brands. We have our own in-house glazing lab and where applicable, may be able to glaze your spectacles within the week. 
We offer a wide variety of spectacles, lenses and coating, including:
  • Single vision lenses
  • Various types of Bifocals and Varifocals
  • Glass/plastic/polycarbonate and toughened lenses
  • Lightweight/thinned lenses
  • Photochromatic lenses
  • Scratch resistant/hydrophobic/anti-reflection coatings
  • Ultra-Violet (U.V) protection and a wide range of tints
  • Specialist lenses such as Vistamesh (for migraine sufferers)
  • Prescription sunglasses, safety glasses, sports spectacles, swimming goggles and specialist ski goggles.
  • Specialist children’s spectacles, including sports frames as well as Tomato brand frames – suitable from 6 months old
We will discuss your exact requirements including fit and comfort. In addition to this we will give expert and objective advice on the best style of frame as well as the optimum lens type and material best suited for your needs. Our frame prices now include complete pricing which offers frame and single vision hard coated lens for as little at £50. We stock brand such as: William Morris, Ted Baker, Penguin, Joules and Radley.
Don't forget, we provide you with a 20% discount on full price frames if you sit as a patient for one of our students.

Contact lens clinic

The CEE clinic can supply a wide range of lens types in our contact lens fittings as well as aftercare appointments for regular wearers. We will assess your suitability for contact lenses and also fit you with the best lens type for you. In addition for comfort and fit, we factor in lifestyle, hobbies and working environments. Once we have enough relevant data, including prescription and measurements, we can offer you the chance to trial different types of contact lens so that we can determine the optimum lens for you.
Just like our other clinics, this is supervised by a qualified professional. If you are being newly fitted with lenses we make sure you are satisfied with them by providing trial lenses until you are getting the best lens suited for you. During the time we would see you for an aftercare appointment, this would be an appointment where you would come in wearing the lenses for a minimum of two hours. Here we can examine the fit of the lens, the prescription is the best it can be and that your eyes have not been adversely affected by wearing them. We strive to give the best quality of lens catered for you and will gather as much information from yourself to ensure this. 
The cost of contact lenses widely varies depending on the type of lens you have been prescribed. Again, appointments do last approximately two hours, however we do offer a 10% discount on lenses, provided you sat for our students.
In addition to the items on the appointment checklist, we do advise bringing, if applicable, the following with you to your appointment:
  • if you are a monthly or extended wear user do bring your current contact lens storage case and lens care solutions
  • any eye care solutions you may have been recommended/prescribed (e.g. dry eye drops)
  • always bring your spectacles as you may leave the appointment without lenses
  • for an aftercare appointment wear your lenses for a minimum of two hours beforehand; if you already wear contact lenses we recommend that you wear them in a routine manner on the day of your appointment.
 

Myopia control clinic

The myopia clinic offers evidence-based optical treatments to slow down myopia in children and young adults.
As part of the consultation we will assess your eyes with advanced imaging instruments to assess the length, curvature and power of the eye. We will also ask you about your family history and lifestyle as some of these factors may affect how quickly your myopia progresses. If we find that you are a suitable candidate for myopia control then we will discuss the various options available and book you in for a myopia control contact lens fitting appointment. If we are able to successfully fit you with the contact lenses we will need to monitor your eyes regularly. 
Please note that the clinics at CEE are student training clinics so registered Optometrist supervisors may be accompanied by trainee students.
 

Paediatric clinic

It is important for all children to have regular eye examinations as good vision is vital for children's social and educational development.
The clinic is held in a room designed to be child friendly and our staff are very experienced in providing care for children. We offer a comprehensive eye examination and can provide a range of spectacles and contact lenses for children.
We also stock frames formatted to fit children with special needs. 

Visual impairment assessments

This clinic is usually for patients who are already registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired but we also welcome patients who have not been diagnosed with sight impairment but who find that their sight cannot be improved to their satisfaction by wearing conventional spectacles or contact lenses to contact us for an appointment (please note that although we will do our best to find a solution to any specific sight problem, it is not always possible to help every individual).
The provision of low vision aids may involve a number of appointments until the most suitable visual aids have been identified. We allow sufficient time for discussion to ensure that the most appropriate advice is given.
This clinic is run by our students working under the close supervision of experienced clinicians with a special interest in low vision. The visual impairment assessments run by our students are free of charge and we can offer a wide variety of low vision aids.
As well as the items listed in the appointment checklist, it is helpful if you could bring the following with you to your appointment:
  • any low vision aids you are currently using
  • any low vision aids you have been supplied with previously and that you are no longer able to use.
 

Colorimetry assessments

A Colorimetry is mainly performed to determine the possible benefits of using coloured lenses or overlays/filters for those suffering from visual stress and/or learning difficulties. It is believed that by toning the contrast between words and the background, reading and writing are made easier.
An initial assessment involves the use of coloured overlays to determine if there are any benefits found from reading with them. Should the use of the coloured overlay found to be beneficial in aiding reading performance, then a full Colorimetry assessment using a Colorimeter will follow. This piece of equipment delves deeper into the use of colour and reading by obtaining a more definitive colour. The test will perform a rate of reading testing the brightness, saturation and hue. Once this has been determined we can look at incorporating the colour into spectacle lenses by sending this away to our specialist glazing company. This can especially be useful in numerous aspects of life such as school, college or work.
A full up-to-date eye prescription is required for this appointment and, if required, a Binocular Vision assessment before a referral for a Colorimetry assessment is made.
The Colorimetry assessment is a private clinic and performed by a specialist who is certified to run this clinic. The appointment costs £50 and overlays cost £5 for an A5 piece and £10 for A4. 

Binocular vision assessments

Our Binocular Vision clinic investigates the control and co-ordination of the eyes, including how the muscles of the eye work together. This can help patients who have difficulty keeping both eyes aligned and further investigate how to manage the problem.
Misalignment of the eyes can cause eye strain, headaches and problems with focus over different distances and in more severe cases can lead to a squint, double vision and in childhood a ‘lazy eye’. Most of these symptoms respond well to eye exercises or by updating the prescription of any spectacles or contact lenses. However, if the symptom is a potential sign of a more serious eye condition, a referral for further investigation will be submitted. 
Patients are normally referred to the binocular vision clinic by their eye care practitioner as a result of symptoms or signs of an anomaly being picked up during an eye examination. Appointments are free of charge when in the student clinic and are similar to the Visual Impairment where a small group of students will lead the examination under the close supervision of a qualified Orthoptist. We also provide private appointments and these cost £25 for under 16’s, £50 for adults and £70 if you have been specifically referred to us by another healthcare professional.
 

Dry eye assessments

Dry eyes are a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. Symptoms usually affect both eyes and can include feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness, red eyes and temporarily blurred vision. Some common causes include hot or windy climates, contact lens use, underlying medical conditions and many other causes.
This clinic will examine your eyes and can advise on the best course of treatment depending on the cause of the dryness.
Patients are normally referred to the dry eye clinic by their GP or eye care practitioner as a result of symptoms or signs of an anomaly being picked up during an examination. Our assessments and follow-ups are run in a private clinic and cost £40 per appointment.

Specialist neuro-visual clinics (on referral)

These clinics are run in conjunction with the Stroke Association. They are usually performed by a qualified Optometrist and an Orthoptist. These clinics run both in and out of academic term time so there is a possibility of our students attending the clinic and gaining valuable experience from this unique clinic.
 

Tips for healthy eyes

The following tips will help you keep your eyes healthy:
  • regular eye tests – regular eye tests will allow your optometrist to monitor your eye health and spot any developing problems early on
  • eat more fruit and vegetables – eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day helps keep your eyes healthy
  • quit smoking – smokers are more likely to experience problems with their eyes than non-smokers
  • monitor alcohol intake – heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of early age-related macular degeneration.
  • exercise regularly – regular exercise helps keep your eyes as well as your body healthy
  • protect your eyes from the sun – wear sunglasses when the sun is bright and wear a sun hat
  • look after your glasses – old, scratched or dirty glasses can cause eyestrain and give you headaches
  • talk to your doctor or chemist about eye problems – it is important to protect your eyes from hayfever and allergies. Ask for help if your eyes are red, itchy or sore
  • avoid touching or rubbing your eyes – your eyes need to be kept clean. Wash your hands and face often.