Ayr’s Urquhart Opticians is celebrating national recognition

The independent firm, which has more than a century of experience and operates 11 practices across Scotland, was named Marketing Practice of the Year for its group-wide achievements and Contact Lens Practice of the Year for its Ayr branch. The awards highlight the team’s commitment to high-quality clinical care, specialist expertise and strong community engagement.

Hosted in Glasgow by Vision Scotland and The Scottish Optical Conference, the inaugural Scottish Optometry Awards honoured leading practices from across the country and have already been dubbed Scotland’s “Optical Oscars”.

Urquhart Opticians’ Ayr practice received particular praise for its specialist contact lens services. The team works closely with the NHS to support patients with complex conditions including irregular corneas and keratoconus, and has invested in advanced technology such as orthokeratology and mini scleral lens fitting to ensure tailored, patient-focused care.

Clinical Director Alistair Duff said: “We’re truly honoured to receive such high levels of recognition and success in the 2025 Scottish Optometry Awards, especially with the separate honour for our Ayr-based practice! These achievements highlight our true dedication to delivering exceptional contact lens care and a specialised experience to every patient we serve. It’s also an incredible acknowledgement of our creative, multi-channel marketing strategy that works ardently to support all aspects across all of our practices, from the expert services we provide to our commitment to the local community.”

Contact Lens Specialist Carol Semple added: “At Urquhart Opticians, we strive to provide patients with an experience that leaves them feeling both confident and reassured. By consistently pushing to remain at the forefront of technological advancements within the industry, we are able to provide a service that ensures the eye care of our community is in the best possible hands.”

The Ayr practice is widely recognised as one of the few independent optical practices in the region offering advanced contact lens care, supporting patients whose needs cannot be met with standard lens options.