Bookham

Address
9 Church Road
Bookham
Surrey
KT23 3PD
Opening Times
Monday to Friday09.00 - 17.30
Saturday09.00 - 16.00

An experienced and friendly optician in Bookham

If you’re looking for an optician or audiologist in Bookham, Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care – formerly Donner Optometrists – is here to help. We’ve proudly served the communities of Bookham, Effingham, Fetcham, Leatherhead, and Horsley for over 50 years, providing expert eye and hearing care in a warm, welcoming environment. Rawlings history goes back even further, serving Surrey (and later Hampshire) since 1895.

The highest standards of Eye Care and Hearing Care

Our well-established reputation is built on clinical excellence, continuity of care, and a personalised approach that our patients truly value.

At our Bookham branch, we offer comprehensive eye examinations using the latest diagnostic technology, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Our dedicated optometrists, Helen Roberts and Maria Dovey, provide in-depth assessments tailored to your needs.

Suffering with Glaucoma?

Maria, who also works in the glaucoma clinic at Cobham Hospital, holds an advanced glaucoma certification. This allows her to offer extended glaucoma screening services, including: Gonioscopy, Goldmann applanation tonometry, glaucoma visual field testing as well as advanced OCT imaging.

Customer Service is at the heart of what we do

Whether you’re coming for a routine eye exam or specialist screening, you’ll receive the highest level of care. Both Helen and Maria are experienced in fitting and managing contact lenses, ensuring clear, comfortable vision for all lifestyles and prescriptions. Whether you’re new to contact lenses or need an updated fit, we’ll find the perfect solution.

Following your eye exam, you’ll be looked after by our knowledgeable dispensing team Katherine and Ant. They’ll help you find the perfect spectacle frames and lenses, with expert advice tailored to your style, vision needs, and lifestyle. We stock a beautiful selection of designer and boutique eyewear you won’t find elsewhere in Bookham.

Audiology in Bookham

As well as eyecare we also provide professional audiology services, including:

Our audiologist Jessica will take time to understand your hearing needs and offers solutions from a wide range of leading hearing aid manufacturers. She and her colleague Decio use gentle microsuction for effective earwax removal, and all assessments take place in our custom-built hearing booth, ensuring accurate results without background noise interference.

What our Bookham customers say about us

  • Appointment available at short notice. Very pleasant staff, friendly and efficient. First time of having ear irrigation, no problems at all. Highly recommend the team at Bookham

    Jane White
    7 July 2025

    Used Rawlings opticians for the second time the lady that took my eye test was the same as two years ago very efficient and very friendly helping to make the process easy unlike the large company were it’s like a production line choosing my new glasses was made very easy by a helpful member of staff so I recommend.and will be using them in the future

    Richard Lejour
    26 June 2025

    All was straightforward. I needed a change of glasses and received helpful advice on choice of frames. There was a slight delay before the glasses were ready but I was kept informed. Very happy with the new specs now I have them.

    George Field
    19 June 2025
  • All went smoothly: *appointment arranged in good time *eyetest went satisfactorily * glasses fitted in good time

    Peter Gosling
    10 June 2025

    Very polite and pleasent staff , explained everything they were doing . all done very quickly and with no discomfort . Very pleased .

    cliff pinnington
    10 May 2025

    Very thorough eye test and examination and lots of assistance in selecting spectical frames by Ant who had a lots of patience to assist myself a very senior male, the eye test was the most thorough I have ever had and I received an explanation at each step, thank you Helen.

    Johm Mears
    10 May 2025
  • Having been to several high street big name opticians and always feeling a little dissatisfied with the outcome I can honestly say Rawlings has been great! The professional, knowledgeable staff willing to spend time explaining prescriptions and the various options and trade off’s filled me with confidence. I strongly believe I have the best solution for my vision now! Would highly recommend!

    Mike
    10 May 2025

    Thank you to the team for such great care for my kids! I love our local Bookham team who are so helpful and offer a brilliant local service.

    Fran Pyatt
    10 April 2025

    Took my 91 year old mother. The patience and care of the optician was great. We discussed the best approach to next steps and I felt that the needs of my mother, at her age, were taken into account and there was no push to buy new glasses - despite a very small change. A really good service.

    Surrey graham
    10 February 2025
  • Took my 91 year old mother. The patience and care of the optician was great. We discussed the best approach to next steps and I felt that the needs of my mother, at her age, were taken into account and there was no push to buy new glasses - despite a very small change. A really good service.

    Surrey graham
    26 January 2025

    Great local service in replacing a lens after my dog chewed my glasses. Ordered over the phone, sent a photo by email and the replacement was in in a few days. Fitted while I waited the next day. Thank you

    Elizabeth Absalom
    26 January 2025

    I had excellent service at my recent eye examination. A very thorough and a real caring professional approach made me feel as though I was in very good hands. I have also just had my first set of hearing Aids fitted here and i felt this was very professional. They really work so well I wish I had had them earlier

    Andre Hedger
    26 December 2024
  • So pleased that I transferred from Vision Express - high quality service with the personal touch!

    Keith Whale
    26 November 2024

    Great, friendly, thorough service and ready to answer any questions.

    Alexa Bisson
    26 November 2024

    Lovely staff and a very quick and efficient turnaround on my new glasses. Thoroughly recommended.

    Russell Packford
    26 November 2024
  • All the team are friendly & efficient - a good experience.

    Kevan Sharp
    26 November 2024

    I'm so very glad to be with an experienced and trustworthy Optician. Having always worn glasses, I know how important it is to feel safe in the knowledge that you will get the very best advice and testing using the most up to date equipment.

    Hilary Ward
    26 November 2024

    Excellent communication, a thorough examination and a very pleasant atmosphere. You feel very confident that your health is in good hands. Many thanks.

    Roger Gill
    26 October 2024
  • Immediate response to an urgent need. Good advice to go for emergency treatment at eye hospital. Very grateful to receive follow-up from Maria!

    Alan Jenkins
    26 October 2024

    my mum had an appointment after having her cataracts done. Helen was so pleasant and spent so much time with mum. I cannot fault the treatment and care given to my mum. Thank you!

    Caroline Leggett
    26 October 2024

    Having been extremely happy with my appointment at Rawlings recently, I spoke to a lady who now lives in Bookham but has always traveled back to her previous area to have her eyes tested. I recommended Rawlings and since she is no longer able to drive, she was delighted with the recommendation.

    tig
    10 October 2024

Our Bookham branch staff

Katherine Rickards

Manager

Katherine Rickards

FBDO

I started in Optics at the age of sixteen as the Saturday girl in the local Vision Express. Although it wasn’t initially what I had thought to do as a career, the more I learned, the more I found I enjoyed dispensing. The branch I worked in also had a busy on-site spectacle laboratory, and I was therefore given the invaluable opportunity to learned how to make glasses as well as just dispense them. After finishing my A-Levels I started the day release Dispensing Optician degree course in London and, despite not being a big lover of mathematics, I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying and also being able to apply that knowledge into practice straight away. My particular interests are low vision and paediatric dispensing.

I began as Manager at Bookham in April 2022. Something that drew me to Rawlings in particular was the big emphasis on customer care and on delivering the best quality spectacles possible. Another, slightly more personal, reason for my choosing to work in the Surrey Hills was that this is a region that I have been a frequent visitor to taking in Dorking, Box Hill and the surrounding area to meet with family and enjoy walks in the gorgeous countryside.

Something that I am very proud of is that I worked for a time with the charity Vision Care for Homeless People in London. It was a deeply rewarding experience even though it could also be very challenging!

I have always been a lover of music and have played the bassoon since the age of 11. I can also play the organ and enjoyed singing in a polyphonic choir.

Optometrists / Contact Lens Opticians / Audiologists

Maria Dovey

Maria Dovey

BSc Hons MCOptom, Higher Cert. Glauc.

I arrived in the UK from Denmark to study Optometry in 1999, then qualified from City University in London with a 1st class Honours degree in Optometry in 2003.

Since qualifying, I have always enjoyed a varied working week and Optometry has taken me into different avenues from teaching at City University / The Institute of Optometry to hospital work, where I have been working in the Glaucoma clinic at Cobham Hospital since 2015. Combined with this, I have always favoured working in Independent Practice as you can offer that special touch and have been in a couple of different practices across Surrey.

I joined Rawlings in December 2020 in the middle of the Pandemic with all the challenges that entails and am settling in nicely. Bookham is a beautiful village, and the staff and patients are wonderful and welcoming. I enjoy seeing a great range of patients from children to the elderly and always make my best effort in getting to a visual solution that is perfect whether it means new spectacles, contact lenses, monitoring eye disease or referring for eye surgery. Having attended various courses and lectures over the years, I feel well equipped to do exactly that.

My spare time is spent with my family: Husband, two boys and two girl cats! I enjoy keeping fit doing running, spinning, walking, and going to the gym and I have been known to attempt various DIY and baking projects too; the latter usually appreciated by my colleagues! Prior to having children, I have been travelling with my husband all over the world and hope that one day this will again be possible…

Helen Roberts

Helen Roberts

BSc MCOptom

I qualified with BSC honours degree in Optometry in 1998. Since then, I have worked in larger multiple Opticians. My latter post was with a large multiple, working part time in a very busy practice. I then decided to take on role as Optometrist Store Manager on a full-time basis which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am proud that I trained and developed a workforce to share and exemplify my passion of delivering exemplary customer service.

I was approached about a role at Rawlings Opticians, a few miles from where I live. This suited family life much better because, I was travelling further afield in my previous role. I joined Rawlings in August 2022 and I really love working here. We have an amazing team who care about our customers, and I really like being able to offer a more personalized service and spend the time with every customer to make sure their needs are met. Having access to the most up to date products and equipment means I know I am giving every customer a high level of eye care.

Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and friends. I live with my husband and our eight-year-old son. A lot of my time is taken up watching my son play rugby, swimming and golf.

We enjoy days out together, holidays, walking and trips to the seaside.

Jessica Tovey

(RHAD) BA Sp&A (Hons)

I qualified as a speech therapist and audiologist in 2015 in South Africa and having a deeper insight into the mutual influences of both the hearing system and speech system and how this influences the brain functioning enables me to treat my patients from a holistic point of view.

I have always had a deep passion for helping people and will always go above and beyond for my patients. I love really getting to know my patients and giving them back the gift of hearing so they can reconnect with their loved ones.

Initially I practiced full time at a government hospital (NHS equivalent) in South Africa which developed my passion for working with patients from all walks of life. Here I gained experience working with TB, noise exposure, age related hearing loss, middle ear pathologies and syndromes to name a few. I then moved to the UK in 2020 where I worked in an independent practice which strengthened my skills in hearing technology and tinnitus. I have experience working with both adults and pediatrics in Audiology and my special interests are microsuction, age related hearing loss, tinnitus and noise exposure.

I maintain current knowledge by engaging in various courses and CPD activities and I strive to continually grow as an Individual. I enjoy developing and pioneering innovative ideas for practice and clinical growth and I’m looking forward to bringing this into Rawlings hearing care and working together to provide patient centered care.

Decio Figuera

Decio Figueira

MSHAA RHAD

I qualified as a Hearing Aid Dispenser from South Devon University in September 2024. I find immense satisfaction in helping patients overcome their hearing challenges and achieve their best possible hearing. I’m dedicated to providing compassionate and effective care, empowering patients to live more connected and fulfilling lives.

My career in healthcare began in 2016, initially on the optical side of a large chain. I then joined Rawlings Opticians & Hear Care in 2018, as a dispensing assistant until 2021. After gaining further experience elsewhere, my passion led me to transition into hearing care in 2023. I embarked on my unique path to qualify as a Hearing Aid Dispenser through an apprenticeship, graduating in September 2024. My hands-on experience provided me with a deep understanding of diverse patient needs and environments, ensuring accessible and tailored care.

I have a keen interest in comprehensive auditory rehabilitation and exploring diverse hearing techniques that extend beyond traditional hearing aids. I’m passionate about empowering patients with a holistic approach to improving their hearing health.

Having previously worked with Rawlings Opticians & Hear Care, I’m delighted to return as a qualified Hearing Aid Dispenser. I was particularly drawn back by the company’s unwavering commitment to independent, patient-centred care, which allows me the freedom to offer a wide range of unbiased recommendations and truly provide the best advice for each patient. I am a strong advocate for continuous professional development (CPD) and consistently seek out new courses and qualifications to refine my skills and stay at the forefront of hearing care advancements.

Beyond formal learning, I’m always eager to assist colleagues with the day-to-day running of the practice, reflecting my deep commitment to a supportive team environment and continuous improvement. I am excited to continue my professional journey here at Rawlings.

Outside of work, my time is dedicated to my family, enjoying moments with my parents, siblings, nephews, and nieces, and exploring new places with my partner. I also have a passion for continuous learning, often researching various subjects to gain more information and knowledge and finding ways to put that into practice, which continually enriches both my personal and professional

Our dispensing team

Katherine Rickards FBDO (Practice Manager)
Anthony Neale FBDO

Travel information

Lower Road pay and display car park (behind the Co-Op)
Church Road (The Old Crown), served by the 479 bus
High Street (Rayleigh House), served by the 478 bus
Bookham
Post Office, 15 Church Road, KT23 3PF
Ramp at the rear of the practice. All appointments can be conducted on the ground floor upon request.

Out of hours eyecare for customers of the Bookham practice

There are occasions when emergency treatment is needed for the eyes. For ocular emergencies patients can present themselves Moorfields Eye Hospital in City Road, London, The Royal Surrey in Guildford or East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

Alternatively you may contact the NHS Emergency and urgent care line by dialling 111.