Best Optometrists on the North Shore
We assessed 22 optometrists on the North Shore and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 4,192 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 on the North Shore
The top 5 optometrists on the North Shore are #1 Oscar Wylee, #2 Highbury Optometrists, #3 Specsavers Albany, #4 Bailey Nelson, and #5 NVISION Eyecare, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
-
1
Oscar Wylee Optometrist - Albany
★ 4.9 867 reviews Top5 Score 1865★ 817 4★ 26 3★ 2 2★ 3 1★ 19Oscar Wylee Albany walks patients through each piece of equipment as they go, so you leave with a genuine understanding of your eye health rather than just a prescription. Their optometrists are noted for adapting to clients who need extra time, including children and those with autism, completing thorough checks on retinal health, pupil pressure, and standard vision without rushing.
location_on Shop S229, Westfield Albany 219 Don McKinnon Drive, Albany, Auckland
-
2
Highbury Optometrists
★ 5.0 478 reviews Top5 Score 1805★ 458 4★ 19 2★ 1Highbury Optometrists guides clients through thorough eye examinations, progressive lens fittings, and complex prescription work, with optometrist Tony and the wider team tailoring each stage to the individual's changing vision needs. They also take on insurance claims directly, handling the process on behalf of the client once a claim number is provided, which removes a common administrative burden.
location_on 52 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, Auckland
-
3
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Albany Westfield
★ 4.6 769 reviews Top5 Score 1745★ 636 4★ 57 3★ 8 2★ 13 1★ 55Specsavers Albany takes clients from eye test through to frame selection and lens choice in a single visit, with staff walking through options like lens coatings and financing in clear terms. When problems arise, including remeasuring errors, the team resolves them at their own cost rather than pushing the issue back onto the client.
location_on Westfield Albany Shop 221/219 Don McKinnon Drive, Albany, Auckland
-
4
Bailey Nelson Optometrist - Albany
★ 4.6 584 reviews Top5 Score 1725★ 479 4★ 39 3★ 15 2★ 18 1★ 33Bailey Nelson Albany fits clients for eye examinations, contact lens prescriptions, and progressive lens work, with optometrists like Rose and Lisa drawing specific praise for patience and thorough explanations during fittings. When fitting issues arise after collection, staff follow up directly and bring clients back in to rework adjustments until the result is comfortable.
location_on Shop 254/219 Don McKinnon Drive, Albany, Auckland
-
5
NVISION Eyecare® - Albany Optometrist
★ 4.9 245 reviews Top5 Score 1695★ 238 4★ 2 3★ 1 1★ 4NVISION Eyecare catches conditions that standard eye tests miss, including dry eye syndrome, eye strain misdiagnosed as refractive error, and keratoconus, sending patients away with a clear treatment plan rather than an unnecessary prescription. Optometrist Ryan draws particular praise for adapting examinations to non-verbal and autistic children, completing thorough assessments without rushing.
location_on Ste 104/119 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland
Other suburbs
Before you book an optometrist on the North Shore
Drawn from 804 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 at $120 or a 3D OCT scan at $150. A 2024 University of Auckland School of Optometry and Vision Science fee survey found independent practices charging $90 to $155 per hour, with a median of $115 for a median 45-minute exam. Comparing two prices is unreliable until you know what each covers, since about 27% of practices exclude pretesting and only 30% include retinal photos. For children aged 15 and under who hold 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 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, and an optometrist will refer you when that level of care is needed. 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. Reviews back this up, with some patients returning annually and others noting that a thorough optometrist will tell you at the end of an appointment exactly when to come back. Sudden loss or blurring of vision, flashes of light, a shower of new floaters, a shadow 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 what the tests found, leaving you uncertain about your eye health.
- –Pressure to choose frames or lens upgrades during the same visit, rather than time to consider your options.
- –An exam fee that does not include scans the optometrist then recommends, sprung on you at the checkout without prior consent.
- –Glasses that are wrong on collection, combined with a slow, reluctant, or complicated remake process.
- –Unclear terms around warranties, free adjustments, or how long alterations take.
- –Resistance to handing over a copy of your prescription if you want to buy glasses elsewhere, which is your right as a patient.
What should you ask before booking an optometrist? expand_more
- –Ask exactly what the examination fee covers, specifically whether retinal photos, an OCT scan, and pretesting are included or charged separately.
- –Ask whether you will receive a written copy of your prescription to use at another practice if you choose to.
- –If you have children, ask whether the practice sees paediatric patients and whether it claims the Children's Spectacle Subsidy on your behalf.
- –Ask what warranty applies to glasses, whether adjustments are free, and how long a remake takes if the prescription or fit is wrong.
- –Ask whether the practice fits contact lenses and what a separate contact lens assessment costs on top of the eye examination fee.
- –Ask whether you will see the same optometrist at follow-up appointments, which matters if you have an ongoing condition being monitored.
Also recommended optometrists on the North Shore
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
-
6
Bailey Nelson Optometrist - Takapuna
★ 4.8 255 reviews Top5 Score 1685★ 228 4★ 10 3★ 14 2★ 1 1★ 2Bailey Nelson Takapuna covers eye examinations, prescription glasses, and prescription sunglasses, with optometrist Irene noted specifically for informative, thorough testing. Measurements are checked to exact fit before glasses leave the store, and staff like Tom adjust frames to sit correctly on your face before you walk out.
location_on 7 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
-
7
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Takapuna
★ 4.7 327 reviews Top5 Score 1685★ 286 4★ 20 3★ 6 2★ 1 1★ 14Specsavers Takapuna covers eye tests, frame selection, and lens consultations for multiple prescription types, including complex prescriptions involving astigmatism and multi-environment use. Staff like Maryan, Cony, and Rose are noted for taking time with indecisive or anxious clients, including children, and optometrist Rose draws specific praise for accurately diagnosing prescriptions that previous providers had missed.
location_on Shore City Shopping Centre 52/56 Anzac Street, Takapuna, Auckland
-
8
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Glenfield Mall
★ 4.6 389 reviews Top5 Score 1655★ 333 4★ 18 3★ 7 2★ 4 1★ 27Specsavers Glenfield covers eye checks, progressive lens fittings, and on-the-spot frame adjustments, with staff like Tshering, Lanz, and Libby regularly sorting repairs and fitting issues without an appointment. Glasses brought in from other stores or even other countries get the same hands-on attention, including remounting lenses and realigning frames at no charge.
location_on Glenfield Mall, Glenfield, Auckland
-
9
Crawshaw Opticians & Optometrists Ltd
★ 4.9 171 reviews Top5 Score 1655★ 164 4★ 6 1★ 1Crawshaw Opticians & Optometrists covers eye examinations, contact lens fittings, and prescription glasses, with optometrist Sofina drawing specific praise for picking up conditions that warranted specialist referral, and Mobin noted for rushing through urgent orders for travellers who have lost their glasses. Clients who have attended for decades describe the practice as their default for all eye care needs, citing the thoroughness of each examination as the reason they stay.
location_on 11/1-7 The Strand, Takapuna, Auckland
-
10
Optique Eyecare Nz
★ 5.0 107 reviews Top5 Score 1615★ 107Optique Eyecare turns around prescription glasses, progressive lens fittings, retinal scans, and urgent eye condition assessments, often completing single-vision lenses while you wait. Optometrists Sashi and Dennis are noted for taking time to educate clients about their eyes during the exam, and staff consistently let customers move at their own pace without pushing higher-priced options.
location_on Shop 323 Glenfield mall, Glenfield, Auckland
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 on the North Shore chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for optometrists on the North Shore. 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 on the North Shore. 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.