https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-specialties/ophthalmology-information-parents-and-visitors/dispensing-optician/

Dispensing optician service

The Dispensing Opticians at GOSH provide a highly specialised opticians service for children and young people under the care of the hospital. Due to a significant shortage of staff for the service, it has been necessary to make changes to the service we provide for a number of months.

We need to restrict the service at this current time to ensure we can prioritise the patients with the most complex needs and who cannot access optician’s services elsewhere.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused and have worked to provide alternative ways you can access the services you need.

Services changes

Until further notice the dispensing optician service is only available to the following patients:

Patients with visual conditions that are also seen under the Maxillofacial, Craniofacial, Epidermolysis and Dysmorphic service at GOSH AND are deemed to have very complex fitting needs. This will be discussed with you during your clinic appointment.
OR Patients under any service that require temporary aphakic glasses
OR Patients who have existing orders and are waiting to collect their glasses

All patients that fall into the above cohorts must book an appointment to see the dispensing optician by emailing glasses.dispensing@gosh.nhs.uk. No walk in patients will be seen.

If you are unsure whether you/your child fits into the categories above please contact glasses.dispensing@gosh.nhs.uk who can advise.

Any other patients requiring glasses are directed to alternative services depending on their needs:

Patients aged 9 and under who require permanent aphakic glasses are to visit The Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Further information about this service and how to access it can be found below.
Any other patients – including those over the age of 9 who require aphakic glasses – should visit their local opticians to order their glasses.

Information for patients and families

Why have we made changes to the service?

Our Dispensing Optician team are highly trained to make glasses for children and young people with complex conditions. Due to a shortage of staff and the time it takes to recruit and train new dispensing opticians we have had to make changes to the service to ensure we can prioritise supporting our patients with the most complex needs and those who cannot be seen elsewhere.

How long will these service changes be in effect for?

We anticipate needing to restrict the service for at least the remainder of the year. This is because of the time it takes to recruit and train the highly specialist staff.

My/my child’s glasses need to be repaired or changed. What should I do?

The Dispensing Optician service at GOSH is currently only available to patients with visual problems who are also seen under the Maxillofacial, Craniofacial, Epidermolysis and Dysmorphic service, or if they require temporary aphakic glasses. Any other patients who need their glasses fixed should visit their local optician.

Under NHS guidelines we can only repair the broken or scratched parts of the most recent NHS spectacles – The NHS do not provide a whole new pair.

Please do not use glue on any parts of the spectacles (including lenses). If glue is used, you may be charged for the repair.

Please send repairs clean, in a case and via recorded delivery.

How do I/my child access the service at Moorfields?

Patients aged 9 and under who require permanent aphakic glasses are to visit The Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital. This is a walk in service where you can attend and take a ticket and wait to be seen. You must take your hospital voucher that you have been given at GOSH.

Further information about the centre and how to get there can be found here: Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre (RDCEC) - Moorfields Eye Hospital. The team can be contacted on 0207 566 2103 or moorfields.spectacles@nhs.net

Will my local optician be able to make specialist glasses?

All qualified Dispensing Opticians are required to have an understanding of adapting glasses for a more specialist fit. They are also required to have a sound knowledge of high power and specialist lenses - please ask to speak to a Qualified Dispensing Optician at your local practice. For patients that have Tomato glasses because they require a specialist fit, you can find a list of Tomato stockists on the following link: stockists-opticians - Tomato Glasses UK

Can I walk into the Dispensing Optician at GOSH?

The service is closed to all walk-in patients. Please do not attend the service in person unless you have an appointment as we will not be able to see you.

I/my child is waiting for glasses that have been ordered through the dispensing service. What do we do?

Patients with current orders will be contacted as usual when their glasses are ready to collect.

Contact information

Email (preferred): glasses.dispensing@gosh.nhs.uk

We aim to get back to you within three working days.

Telephone: Please leave a message on 020 7405 9200 Ext-0631

We aim to get back to you within five working days.

Please leave a clear message stating your child’s GOSH number, name, phone number and a brief message.

Please note we can only help with glasses queries.

Address:

Dispensing Optician G03
Ophthalmology
Sight and Sound Building
Great Ormond Street Hospital
London
WC1N 3JH

Under NHS guidelines we can only repair the broken or scratched parts of the most recent NHS spectacles – The NHS do not provide a whole new pair.

Please do not use glue on any parts of the spectacles (including lenses). If glue is used, you may be charged for the repair.

Please send repairs clean, in a case and via recorded delivery.

Ref: 2025F2442

Last reviewed: June 2025