Best Optometrists in Wellington
We assessed 29 optometrists in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 4,274 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 Wellington
The top 5 optometrists in Wellington are #1 Bailey Nelson, #2 Specsavers Lower Hutt, #3 Specsavers Lambton, #4 Specsavers Cuba Street, and #5 Oscar Wylee, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
Bailey Nelson Optometrist - Wellington CBD
★ 4.9 932 reviews Top5 Score 1875★ 859 4★ 43 3★ 10 2★ 6 1★ 14Bailey Nelson covers eye tests, prescription updates, and transition and reading lens fittings, with named optometrists like Priya drawing repeat visits for their balance of thoroughness and approachability. Urgent appointment requests are taken seriously: at least one caller was rung back within minutes of opening and booked in the same day.
location_on 69 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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2
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Lower Hutt
★ 4.6 1,093 reviews Top5 Score 1805★ 931 4★ 72 3★ 16 2★ 17 1★ 57Specsavers Lower Hutt handles myopia management for children, standard eye testing, and glasses fittings across all ages, with optometrists noted for taking time to explain options clearly. Children who are nervous about medical appointments get particular attention, and optometrists like Sanje are singled out for making younger patients feel at ease through the whole process.
location_on Queensgate Shopping Centre Shop 133, Cnr Queens Drive, Bunny Street, and, Lower Hutt
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3
Specsavers Optometrists - Wellington Lambton
★ 4.8 441 reviews Top5 Score 1755★ 400 4★ 25 3★ 2 2★ 3 1★ 11Specsavers Lambton runs eye tests, contact lens fittings, dilated eye exams, and urgent same-day consultations for walk-ins with immediate vision concerns. Named optometrists like Hana and Kieran are singled out for taking time to explain findings clearly, including showing patients their own scans to put complex results in plain terms.
location_on Shop 2A/160 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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4
Specsavers Optometrists - Wellington CBD South
★ 4.7 498 reviews Top5 Score 1745★ 441 4★ 27 3★ 5 2★ 7 1★ 18Specsavers Cuba Street carries out full eye exams, glasses fittings, and frame adjustments, with optometrists like David and Kieran noted for walking patients through each step of the exam and explaining their eye health findings in plain terms. Appointments run up to 45 minutes, and the team has been praised for fitting in short-notice bookings and helping patients navigate insurance claims on the same visit.
location_on 83 Cuba Street Cnr Cuba Mall, Dixon Street, and, Wellington
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5
Oscar Wylee Optometrist - Wellington Central
★ 4.9 272 reviews Top5 Score 1715★ 262 4★ 8 3★ 1 1★ 1Oscar Wylee's optometrists conduct thorough eye exams, explain prescriptions and eye health findings in plain terms, and refer patients on to hospital when a change in their eyes warrants it. Optometrists like Lucius are named repeatedly for listening carefully, double-checking results, and taking time with each patient rather than rushing through appointments.
location_on G01/18 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
Before you book an optometrist in Wellington
Drawn from 737 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does an eye test cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Adult eye examinations in New Zealand are user-pays, and fees vary considerably between practices and regions. A published chain example lists a standard comprehensive examination at $75, rising to $120 with an ultra-wide digital retinal scan and $150 with a 3D OCT scan added. 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, and Wellington practices had the highest median at $138. Two prices are rarely comparable until you confirm what each includes, since around 27% of practices surveyed did not include pretesting in the quoted fee, while others bundled retinal photos or OCT scans. 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 (administered by Enable New Zealand) covers the eye examination and glasses up to $287.50 per year, claimed directly by the optometrist on your behalf, with unused entitlement not rolling over to the next year. 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 progressive lenses before frames.
How do I check an optometrist is registered, and what is the difference from an optician? expand_more
Optometry is a regulated profession 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 provides comprehensive eye and vision care under supervision but cannot prescribe therapeutic medicines; an Optometrist provides full 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, diagnose, or prescribe. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specialising in eye disease and surgery, registered with the Medical Council, and an optometrist refers to one when a condition requires it. The New Zealand Association of Optometrists is the voluntary professional body representing around 80% of practising optometrists, 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, with your optometrist advising the right interval for your situation. Reviews show that practices do arrange urgent or next-day appointments for acute concerns, and one reviewer noted being booked in the same morning after a callback within minutes of opening. 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 explanation of findings is a clear red flag, and at least one reviewer reported that fewer checks were completed than they expected, prompting them to rebook elsewhere immediately.
- –Pressure to buy frames or lens add-ons during the same visit, rather than giving you time to decide, suggests the focus is on sales rather than care.
- –An advertised exam price that does not include the retinal scan or other imaging the optometrist then recommends means you should ask upfront what the quoted fee actually covers.
- –Withholding your prescription until you purchase glasses from that practice is poor practice and leaves you unable to shop around or get a second opinion.
- –Staff who dismiss requests for adjustments to ill-fitting frames, or who become difficult when asked to revisit a fitting more than once, signal you will struggle to get post-sale support.
- –Long waits without communication, appointment times that run significantly late without explanation, and front-of-house staff who appear disorganised or dismissive are worth taking seriously before you commit.
What should you ask before booking an optometrist? expand_more
- –Ask exactly what the examination fee includes, specifically whether retinal photography, OCT scanning, and pretesting are covered or charged separately, so you can compare quotes accurately.
- –Confirm you will receive a full copy of your prescription at the end of the appointment, regardless of whether you buy glasses from that practice.
- –If you have children, ask whether the practice sees paediatric patients and whether it claims the Children's Spectacle Subsidy through Enable New Zealand on your behalf if your child qualifies.
- –Ask what warranty applies to glasses purchased there, whether adjustments are free and for how long, and how long a remake takes if the prescription turns out to be incorrect.
- –If you use or want to try contact lenses, check whether the practice offers contact lens fitting, what that assessment costs, and whether the fee is separate from the standard eye examination.
- –Ask whether you will see the same optometrist at follow-up visits, which matters if you have an ongoing condition or want continuity of care.
Also recommended optometrists in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Oscar Wylee Optometrist - Queensgate
★ 4.8 317 reviews Top5 Score 1705★ 282 4★ 22 3★ 3 2★ 2 1★ 8Oscar Wylee Queensgate carries out eye exams with a clear focus on preventative care, explaining findings and what they mean for ongoing eye health rather than rushing through the appointment. Patients who have needed a second visit to get their prescription right report the optometrists stayed patient and worked through the problem until the result was correct.
location_on Shop 128, Cnr Queens Drive & Bunny Street Lower Hutt, Central, Wellington
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7
Specsavers Optometrists - Johnsonville
★ 4.8 204 reviews Top5 Score 1645★ 187 4★ 9 3★ 1 1★ 7Specsavers Johnsonville gets patients through eye tests, frame selections, and prescription fittings with a team that reviewers repeatedly describe as patient and thorough, including with children choosing frames for the first time. Turnaround on new glasses runs to around nine days, and staff like Fiona are noted for finding practical solutions on the spot when repairs are needed.
location_on Johnsonville Shopping Centre Shop 45/34 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
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8
Specsavers Optometrists & Audiology - Porirua
★ 4.7 245 reviews Top5 Score 1635★ 212 4★ 16 3★ 3 2★ 2 1★ 12Specsavers Porirua conducts eye tests, contact lens fittings, and glasses fittings, with optometrists like Forum noted for explaining findings clearly and engaging genuinely with each patient's eye health. Staff helping with frame selection are singled out for patience, taking time with undecided customers rather than steering them toward a quick choice.
location_on North City Shopping Centre Shop 151/2 Titahi Bay Road, Porirua City Centre, Porirua
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9
Visique CapitalEyes Optometrists
★ 4.9 149 reviews Top5 Score 1635★ 144 4★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 2Visique CapitalEyes builds relationships over decades, with optometrists like Leith and Kevin conducting thorough eye exams, monitoring ongoing conditions such as macular degeneration, and coordinating referrals to specialists when needed. After each consultation, clients receive a written summary covering their results, and payment plans are available for those who need them.
location_on 260 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington
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10
Visique Optometrists Lower Hutt
★ 4.9 123 reviews Top5 Score 1605★ 116 4★ 3 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 2Visique Lower Hutt has resolved long-standing prescription problems that other practices missed, including cases involving months of dizziness traced to incorrect lenses and contact lens transitions requiring patience across multiple fittings. Nick and the team are named repeatedly for listening carefully to concerns before recommending a course of action, and clients spanning more than a decade keep returning with both children and adults in tow.
location_on 155 High Street, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt
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 Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for optometrists in Wellington. 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 Wellington. 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.