Best Optometrists in Dunedin
We assessed 11 optometrists in Dunedin and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 1,020 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 19 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Every optometrist in New Zealand must be registered with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board and hold a current annual practising certificate, and the board publishes a public register you can search by name. A dispensing optician fits and supplies glasses but does not examine your eyes. Ask what the eye examination includes, since some practices charge extra for retinal photos or a 3D OCT scan and others build them in, and whether the exam fee is credited against glasses. Children aged 15 and under in a family with a Community Services Card can get help with the exam and glasses through the Children's Spectacle Subsidy.
Top 5 Optometrists in Dunedin
The top 5 optometrists in Dunedin are #1 Specsavers Dunedin, #2 OPSM Dunedin, #3 Bridgman Eyecare, #4 Specsavers South Dunedin, and #5 Bailey Nelson, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Dunedin
★ 4.7 541 reviews Top5 Score 1755★ 477 4★ 32 3★ 6 2★ 8 1★ 18Specsavers Dunedin takes time with clients who need extra patience during their eye care appointments. Staff like Jacinta are noted for guiding people through the process without rushing, which suits anyone who wants to feel genuinely supported rather than moved along.
location_on 290 George Street, Dunedin
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2
OPSM Dunedin
★ 4.7 162 reviews Top5 Score 1585★ 142 4★ 8 3★ 1 2★ 3 1★ 8OPSM Dunedin works well for families, anxious patients, and people with complicated health histories, covering eye exams, foreign body removal, and cataract referrals. Optometrists like Lilian are noted for thorough explanations and follow-up contact after appointments, and the team has supported children with autism through exams that would otherwise cause significant anxiety.
location_on 291 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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3
Bridgman Eyecare Dunedin
★ 4.9 96 reviews Top5 Score 1575★ 90 4★ 3 2★ 2 1★ 1Bridgman Eyecare gets first-time glasses wearers and patients with emerging eye conditions through the process without feeling rushed, covering eye exams, prescription assessments, contact lens fittings, and specialist referrals. When concerns are found during an exam, results are reviewed and referrals arranged before the patient leaves the building.
location_on 218 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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4
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - South Dunedin
★ 4.8 101 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 91 4★ 6 3★ 3 1★ 1Specsavers South Dunedin delivers eye tests, prescription assessments, and frame fittings at prices that regularly come in below what customers paid elsewhere, including high-power thin lenses with coatings. Staff like Ben and Jennifer take time to explain each stage of the process, and ordering changes after leaving the store are handled with a single phone call.
location_on 155 King Edward Street, South Dunedin, Dunedin
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5
Bailey Nelson Optometrist - Dunedin
★ 4.9 41 reviews Top5 Score 1465★ 39 4★ 1 3★ 1Bailey Nelson covers eye exams, contact lens fittings, retinal checks, and prescription assessments, with optometrists like Emily known for walking patients through every test step-by-step and explaining what results actually mean. Same-day appointments are regularly available, and the team has resolved prescription issues after dispensing without putting the burden back on the patient.
location_on Meridian Mall Shop G05/285 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
Before you book an optometrist in Dunedin
Drawn from 345 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does an eye test cost in New Zealand? expand_more
A standard adult eye examination at a chain practice is published at $75, with packages adding an ultra-wide retinal scan for $120 or a 3D OCT scan for $150. A 2024 University of Auckland School of Optometry and Vision Science fee survey found adult examinations charged at $90 to $155 an hour, with a median of $115 for a median 45-minute exam. Otago and Southland practices had the lowest regional median at $105, so Dunedin fees may sit at the more affordable end of the national range. Glasses are priced separately, with survey medians of $225 for stock single-vision lenses, $349 for ground single-vision lenses, and $599 for entry-level progressives before frames. For children aged 15 and under whose parent, guardian, or child holds a Community Services Card or High Use Health Card, the government's Children's Spectacle Subsidy covers the eye examination and glasses up to $287.50 a year, claimed directly by the optometrist to Enable New Zealand.
How do I check an optometrist is registered, and what is the difference from an optician? expand_more
Optometry is regulated under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, and every practising optometrist must be registered with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB) and hold a current annual practising certificate, which you can verify on the public register at odob.health.nz. The board registers four scopes: a Provisional Optometrist works under supervision and cannot prescribe medicines; an Optometrist provides comprehensive eye health and vision care including prescribing restricted medicines and signing statutory certificates; a Specialist Optometrist may also perform certain laser procedures in an approved hospital setting; and a Dispensing Optician fits and supplies glasses and contact lenses but does not examine eyes or diagnose conditions. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specialising in eye disease and surgery, registered with the Medical Council, to whom an optometrist refers when surgical or complex medical treatment is needed. The New Zealand Association of Optometrists is the voluntary professional body, and if you have a concern about care, the route for complaints is the Health and Disability Commissioner.
How often should I have my eyes checked, and when is it urgent? expand_more
The New Zealand Association of Optometrists recommends an eye examination every two years for most adults, and every year for anyone over 40 or with a family history of glaucoma, and your optometrist should tell you at the end of your appointment when to return. Reviews from Dunedin practices back this up, with patients noting that thorough practitioners use the appointment to explain ongoing monitoring needs, particularly for conditions that change over time. Sudden loss or blurring of vision, flashes of light, a shower of new floaters, a shadow or curtain across your vision, or a painful red eye should not wait for a routine booking and need same-day attention from an optometrist, a GP, or an emergency department.
What are the warning signs of an optometry practice you should avoid? expand_more
- –A rushed examination where the optometrist does not explain the results or ask about your medical history before starting tests.
- –Pressure to choose and buy frames or lens upgrades in the same visit, before you have had time to consider the prescription.
- –An examination fee that does not include the scans the optometrist then recommends, with the total only becoming clear at the end.
- –Glasses that are wrong on collection, followed by a slow remake process and difficulty getting a straight answer on when the correct pair will arrive.
- –Vague or verbal-only warranty terms, with reluctance to confirm what adjustments or remakes are covered and for how long.
- –Resistance to providing a printed copy of your prescription when you want to shop for frames or lenses elsewhere.
What should you ask before booking an optometrist? expand_more
- –Ask exactly what the examination fee includes, specifically whether retinal photography, an OCT scan, and pretesting are covered or charged separately.
- –Confirm you will receive a printed copy of your prescription at the end of the appointment, regardless of whether you buy glasses from them.
- –If you have children, ask whether the practice sees paediatric patients and whether it claims the Children's Spectacle Subsidy directly if your child qualifies.
- –Ask what warranty applies to glasses purchased there, how long free adjustments are available, and how long a remake takes if the prescription is wrong on collection.
- –If you wear or are considering contact lenses, ask whether the practice offers contact lens assessments and what that costs on top of the standard examination fee.
- –Ask whether you will see the same optometrist at follow-up appointments, as continuity matters if you have a complex prescription or an ongoing eye health condition.
Also recommended optometrists in Dunedin
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Milburn and Neill Optometrists
★ 4.8 22 reviews Top5 Score 1355★ 21 1★ 1Milburn and Neill draws patients with difficult prescriptions, complex conditions, and science-level questions, covering eye exams, prescription assessments, and condition management. Optometrists like Callum and Karyn are noted for explaining the reasoning behind each finding, and patients who have gone undiagnosed elsewhere have had conditions identified and clearly communicated here.
location_on 21 Dunbar Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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7
Matthews Eyecare (formerly Bridgmount & Matthews Optometrists)
★ 4.8 17 reviews Top5 Score 1345★ 16 2★ 1Matthews Eyecare is a strong fit for families with young children, covering eye exams, frame selection, and minor repairs like screw replacements, with staff noted for being calm and gentle even with toddlers. Consultations include thorough investigations such as optic nerve scans, with clear explanations given at each stage and no pressure to buy.
location_on 160 King Edward Street, South Dunedin, Dunedin
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8
Stewart Caithness Gray Optometrists
★ 4.8 19 reviews Top5 Score 1325★ 18 1★ 1Stewart Caithness Gray draws patients who want time taken with them, with optometrists like Paul and Jonathan noted for thorough examinations, detailed explanations, and genuine attention to individual concerns. Walk-in frame repairs are regularly done on the spot at no charge, including glasses not originally purchased from the practice.
location_on 323 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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9
Fairmaid Chance & Crawford
★ 5.0 10 reviews Top5 Score 1295★ 10Fairmaid Chance & Crawford attracts patients who stay for decades, with optometrist Jack known for thorough examinations, clear explanations throughout each appointment, and after-hours availability when something urgent comes up. Appointments move at the patient's pace, with nothing left unexplained before they leave.
location_on 235 Moray Place, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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10
Visique Peter Dick Optometrists
★ 4.7 11 reviews Top5 Score 1275★ 10 2★ 1Visique Peter Dick covers eye exams, prescription assessments, and frame repairs, with optometrist Katrina noted for thorough, careful work with children including those with autism. The practice has invested in up-to-date diagnostic equipment, and patients who have attended for over two decades report that the standard of examination has remained consistently detailed throughout.
location_on 17 Moray Place, City, Dunedin
About this ranking
What the 10 optometrists listed above hold, at the 19 September 2026 check.
Across the 10 locations we assess optometrists in, the 100 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.8, and one-star reviews are 3.7% of their total.
How are the top optometrists in Dunedin chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for optometrists in Dunedin. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free, and adds a phone number to the card. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and gives the owner a dashboard with their score breakdown, ranking history and competitor analysis. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for optometrists in Dunedin. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.