Best Optometrists in Napier and Hastings
We assessed 10 optometrists in Napier and Hastings and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 777 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 Napier and Hastings
The top 5 optometrists in Napier and Hastings are #1 Specsavers Hastings, #2 Specsavers Napier, #3 Shattky Optometrists, #4 Index Optical, and #5 Grant & Douglas, 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 - Hastings
★ 4.6 350 reviews Top5 Score 1655★ 291 4★ 27 3★ 6 2★ 6 1★ 20Specsavers Hastings covers eye examinations, prescription glasses fitting, and lens adjustments, with staff who take time to explain changes in vision and recommend solutions like specialist computer lenses that reduce headaches. They also handle practical situations on the spot, including sourcing missing screws for frames and coordinating with insurance, without charging for the extra effort.
location_on 210 Heretaunga Street West, Hastings
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2
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Napier
★ 4.5 265 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 210 4★ 24 3★ 5 2★ 4 1★ 22Specsavers Napier delivers eye examinations and prescription glasses fitting without pushing unnecessary products, something several long-term patients single out as the reason they keep returning year after year. Optometrists here take time to walk patients through changes in their eyesight and what to expect in coming years, and will carry out small practical steps during the appointment, such as removing irritating eyelashes and explaining follow-up options.
location_on 205 Emerson Street, Napier
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3
Shattky Optometrists Hastings
★ 4.8 63 reviews Top5 Score 1495★ 57 4★ 4 1★ 2Shattky Optometrists takes on dry eye treatment, Ortho-K contact lenses for myopia management, corneal injuries, and comprehensive prescription exams, often fitting urgent appointments within hours. Optometrists like Tim and Kent are noted for listening carefully and working through alternatives rather than defaulting to a single solution, including couriering specialist lenses to patients mid-holiday when needed.
location_on 116 Russell Street South, Hastings
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4
Index Optical
★ 5.0 21 reviews Top5 Score 1395★ 21Index Optical takes patients through comprehensive eye examinations using modern imaging technology, then into a curated frame selection process guided by Lynne, who is noted for matching eyewear to both face shape and personal style. Geoff's examinations go beyond basic prescriptions, walking patients through detailed results and long-term eye health advice in a way several reviewers describe as unlike any exam they had before.
location_on 5 Havelock Road, Havelock North
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5
Grant & Douglas Optometry & Eyewear
★ 4.9 19 reviews Top5 Score 1375★ 18 4★ 1Grant & Douglas gets patients through eye examinations with every step explained as it happens, and optometrists like Victoria and Jenny treat each visit as a genuine consultation rather than a quick check. One long-term patient pays for their exam rather than going elsewhere for free, specifically because of the level of care involved.
location_on 5/11 Joll Road, Havelock North
Before you book an optometrist in Napier and Hastings
Drawn from 258 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 such as OPSM is published at $75, with packages rising to $120 for an ultra-wide retinal scan or $150 for a 3D OCT scan. Independent practices charge more: a 2024 University of Auckland School of Optometry and Vision Science survey found adult examinations priced at $90 to $155 an hour, with a median of $115 for a median 45-minute exam. The price difference between practices is usually about what is included, such as retinal photos, OCT imaging, and pretesting, so two quoted fees are not comparable until you know what each covers. 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 through 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 medicines whose sale is restricted by law and signing statutory certificates; a Specialist Optometrist may 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. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who treats eye disease surgically and is registered with the Medical Council, not the ODOB, and an optometrist refers to one when a condition needs it. The New Zealand Association of Optometrists is the voluntary professional body, and complaints about care go to 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. Your optometrist should tell you at the end of your appointment when to return, and some reviews note that good practices set a recall date and follow up. 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 appointment 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 with little or no explanation of the results leaves you unable to make informed decisions about your eye health or eyewear.
- –Pressure to choose frames or lens upgrades during the same visit is a signal that the sale matters more than your needs.
- –An exam fee that turns out not to include the scans the optometrist then recommends means the real cost is higher than quoted.
- –Glasses that are wrong on collection, combined with a slow or reluctant remake process, point to poor quality control and weak after-sale commitment.
- –Refusing to provide a copy of your prescription, or making it difficult to obtain, is not in line with good practice and limits your ability to shop elsewhere.
- –Appointment confirmations that are cancelled without clear communication, as some reviews note, waste your time and suggest unreliable administration.
What should you ask before booking an optometrist? expand_more
- –Ask exactly what the examination fee includes: whether retinal photos, OCT scanning, and pretesting are covered or charged separately.
- –Confirm you will receive a written copy of your prescription to take elsewhere if you choose, as some practices have been reluctant to provide this.
- –If you have children, ask whether the practice claims the Children's Spectacle Subsidy through Enable New Zealand and whether it bulk-bills or requires you to pay upfront.
- –Ask what warranty and free adjustment period come with glasses, and how long a remake takes if the prescription or fit is wrong.
- –If you wear or are considering contact lenses, ask whether the practice conducts contact lens assessments and what that costs on top of the standard examination fee.
- –Ask whether you will see the same optometrist at your next visit, since continuity matters when monitoring conditions that change over time.
Also recommended optometrists in Napier and Hastings
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Swain & Matthews Optometrists
★ 5.0 15 reviews Top5 Score 1355★ 15Swain & Matthews brings together eye testing, frame selection, and lens measurement as a coordinated process, with named staff at each stage guiding patients through without rushing. They extend the same care to walk-ins with broken or damaged glasses, repairing frames they did not sell and taking time to explain what they are doing.
location_on 52 Hastings Street, CBD, Napier
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7
Kuske Eyewear Napier
★ 5.0 12 reviews Top5 Score 1325★ 12Kuske Eyewear fixes broken glasses on the spot, including frames not originally bought there, and staff take genuine time helping customers find frames that suit them. Brandon and the wider team are noted for making the experience feel relaxed and personal, turning what could be a functional errand into something customers actively recommend to others.
location_on 52 Hastings Street, Napier South, Napier
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8
Visique Taradale Optometrists
★ 5.0 10 reviews Top5 Score 1305★ 10Visique Taradale steps in for urgent eye appointments when other practices cannot, and optometrists like Amanda and Colleen conduct thorough testing, eye health discussions, and prescription consultations that patients describe as more informative than decades of previous visits elsewhere. Staff across the whole practice, from reception through to frame fitting, treat each patient as a genuine priority rather than a scheduled task.
location_on 299 Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier
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9
Herb Maynard Optometrist
★ 5.0 7 reviews Top5 Score 1255★ 7We generate summaries once a business has enough reviews for a reliable sample.
location_on 104 Tennyson Street, Napier South, Napier
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10
Visique Bennett & Pearson Optometrists
★ 4.5 15 reviews Top5 Score 1245★ 13 2★ 1 1★ 1Visique Bennett & Pearson walks first-time glasses wearers through consultations at a comfortable pace, answering questions about equipment and eye health along the way, and adjusting frames carefully on collection. Staff like Michele and Lucie introduce lens options that patients coming from chain stores had never been offered, and Brett's contact lens expertise spans long-term patient relationships measured in decades.
location_on 7 Carlyle Street, Napier
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 Napier and Hastings chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for optometrists in Napier and Hastings. 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 Napier and Hastings. 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.