Local optician celebrates 50 years in business
IN 1968, Mansur Megji purchased a local optometric practice called ‘Hamilton’s Opticians’ at Upper High Street, Merthyr renaming it MM Opticians.
He traded in this location for many years but due to an increase in demand and the need for a larger laboratory space he re-located to The Pearl Building at Lower High Street. This move gave him the opportunity to employ more opticians and offer a wider selection of frames. The practice was re-named and became Merthyr Optical Centre. The business re-located one final time, just three doors away – to its current location.
In 1991, Shiraz Megji graduated with honours from the University Of Wales Institute of Science & Technology and joined the business, becoming the second generation of the same family to practice optometry in Merthyr. He purchased the business outright in December 2005.
Shiraz is an active member of ‘Optometry Wales,’ ‘South East Wales Regional Optical Committee’ and ‘Cwm Taff Health Board’ which are all groups of professionals appointed to discuss and make recommendations, contributing to improving health services and eye care for the people of south Wales. He was the first and only optometrist to be appointed Clinical Governance Lead.
Optical Centre has practices in Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash, Rhymney and Ebbw Vale which all offer the same high standards of patient care. It proudly re-invests in the business ensuring it offers the highest standard of care and the latest technology for its patients.
Optical Centre was one of the first optometric practices in south Wales to offer ‘Digital Retinal Photography’ as part of the standard eye examination. In recent years, and as technology has advanced, it has also invested in ‘OCT Scanners’ in all practices to enable opticians to look at the structures of the eye. The OCT allows viewing beneath the surface of the retina and optic nerve for the first time, with the ability to then detect eye disorders much earlier, therefore allowing access to faster treatments and better visual outcomes for patients.
A full NHS service is offered at all Optical Centres and all have ground floor testing rooms allowing easy access for disabled patients. Services include home visits for those patients who are unable to attend, glaucoma assessments in conjunction with local hospitals and low-vision assessments for patients who are visually impaired.
In addition, there’s free-of-charge emergency eye care to all patients. With the increased demand for GPs its vital that patients who have specific eye problems attend their local qualified and accredited optometrist as first point of call.
There is much more to your eye examination than finding out if you need spectacles or contact lenses. Optical Centre also carries out a range of tests to assess the health of your eyes. Poor sight may indicate the presence of potentially serious eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma or general health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Eye conditions can develop slowly and can be painless so, you may not notice initial symptoms. Your eyesight is your most precious sense and deserves the highest of professional care that’s why it’s essential to have your eyes examined regularly by a fully qualified and accredited optometrist.
All prices displayed include single vision lenses and start from as little as £39.95 (free to patients with an NHS optical voucher). Optical Centre supply some of the most recognisable designer brands and Essilor lenses, which are world leaders in lens technology.
Optical Centre has a fantastic team of experienced and knowledgeable staff, some who have been with the company for more than 17 years. Optometrists perform all tests themselves during an eye examination and are registered with the General Optical Council ensuring the highest of standards and continuing education.