Optometry has come a long way in the past century – and OPSM has been there every step of the way.
“We celebrated our 90th birthday last year,” says Elizabeth Kodari, an optometrist with OPSM. “Ninety years of great heritage is something that very few companies can attest to, especially to this scale and size.”
Throughout its history, OPSM has pioneered vital progressions in eye care, from making contact lenses widely available to adopting technology that detects eye health issues sooner.
So, what does 90 years of optical expertise look like? Here, we map the key milestones, and, with them, some of the history of Australian eye care.
1932: the first Optical Prescription Spectacle Makers store opens
When the first Optical Prescription Spectacle Makers (now OPSM) store opened on Macquarie Street in Sydney back in 1932, optometry looked very different. That flagship store was staffed by just five people, supplemented by a 17-year-old trainee optical dispenser who started the following year.
“Back then, it sounds like there was quite a bit of separation between having an eye test and getting glasses at a separate store,” Kodari says. “But it really has evolved and changed since then.”
Eventually, OPSM began to conduct eye tests and dispense glasses in the same place – a gamechanger for those in need of vision correction. “We were pioneers in the eye care space at that time,” Kodari says.
1939: contact lenses are made in Australia
It wasn’t until 1939 that contact lenses became widely available in Australia. That year, OPSM started a partnership with a contact lens manufacturing service in Sydney, together with English optometrist Ken Ireland, who was the first person to make contact lenses in Australia.
The availability of contact lenses made life a lot easier for Australians.
“It meant that people had more choice,” Kodari says. “Particularly if they played sport. It enabled people to have that flexibility and freedom to be able to do more.”
1970: soft contact lenses arrive
OPSM acquired the licence to manufacture soft contact lenses – the sort most of us use today.
“In the past it had been hard contact lenses,” Kodari says. “When soft contact lenses were introduced, they were much more comfortable for the wearer. It was quite a revolutionary moment.
“I think the last time I wore a hard contact lens was at university when I was learning about them,” she laughs. “We still prescribe hard contact lenses for specific purposes, but it was a huge moment for the industry in general to have soft contact lenses become available.”
2011: ultra-wide digital retinal scans change the game
The new century brought important advancements in eye care for the masses. One was the ultra-wide digital retinal scan, which OPSM rolled out to its hundreds of stores in Australia and New Zealand. It allowed optometrists to see more at the back of the eye – an important evolution.
This technology enables optometrists to identify eye conditions that previously patients may not have had detected without a dilation. It gives optometrists the opportunity to provide a more comprehensive analysis of people’s eye health.
2014: a revolution in childhood eye care
To improve the vision of children across Australia, in 2014 OPSM released Penny the Pirate, which it claimed was the world’s first free children’s eye screening book and mobile phone app.
“About one in five kids have an undetected vision problem, and about 80% of the learning that they do in classrooms is obtained through their vision,” Kodari says. “So when we introduced Penny the Pirate, the idea was to provide a way for parents to be able to do a screening of their childrens’ eyes.”
Penny the Pirate tested things such as colour vision and depth perception in a way that was fun for little ones, who often don’t know that they’re having vision problems.
“It was a really lovely initiative and it’s something that, still to this day, we have parents come in and talk about.”
2020: tele-optometry is adopted
In response to the initial Covid outbreak, OPSM adopted tele-optometry, allowing Australians to book a free video consultation with an optometrist.
Tele-optometry proved useful not just for people in lockdown, but for older Australians in need of new glasses after breaking a pair, or people living in remote areas who would normally have to drive a long distance to see an optometrist.
“Although you couldn’t do a complete eye test in terms of a prescription, we were able to help guide and provide interim solutions,” Kodari says. “Even simple things like helping someone get new contact lenses until they could come in for an in-person appointment had a profound impact.
“Some of our team members also helped nurses and doctors who were working long shifts and had eye issues. After hours, they were able to dial in and have a consultation.”
2021: an advanced digital eye exam lands
In 2021, OPSM introduced the Clarifye digital eye exam, a 7-in-1 eye health screening assessment that has revolutionised eye tests. It’s now available in more than 100 OPSM stores around Australia and New Zealand.
It involves a series of eye tests, and uses different devices that enable optometrists to provide a more precise, personalised and 100% digital eye test. It’s very different from the days when people just read letters on a board; the new eye test is much more interactive and gives optometrists a 360-degree view of the eye.
2023 and beyond: a clear vision
Eye care is only going to get better from here, Kodari says.
“I believe the technology we have available now, like the ultra-wide digital retinal scan and Clarifye, is just the beginning of what we can do to help us as optometrists provide great eye care.”
There’s more innovation on the way.
“Globally we have a dedicated instruments division that works on releasing cutting edge technology for our OPSM stores,” Kodari says. “We’re continuing to invest a lot into technology so that we can offer the next level of eyewear solutions for our patients.”
Learn more about the latest advancements in OPSM eye care technology
