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Croydon

Croydon

020 8667 9153

croydon@rawlingsopticians.co.uk

Address
8 High Street
Croydon
CR0 1YA
Opening Times
Monday to Friday08.30 - 17.30
Saturday08.30 - 17.30
We are closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays
Croydon Branch
Eye Examination

Eye Examination

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Find out more about eye examinations

Contact Lens

Contact Lenses

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Find out more about contact lenses

Hearing Examination

Hearing Assessment

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Find out more about hearing assessments

Wax Removal

Wax Removal

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Find out more about wax removal

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Cartier Glasses
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About
Croydon
branch

About Croydon branch

Our staff
Our dispensing team
Travel information
Out of hours

Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care in Croydon

Welcome to Rawlings Opticians Croydon, proudly serving the local community since 1895 with the highest standards of Eye Care & Hearing Care. We’ve been at our 8 High Street location since 1900 and recently completed a stunning refurbishment in 2023. With a calming colour scheme, our boutique-style practice now offers a more spacious, modern, and welcoming experience with leading brands like Cartier. We’ve created a friendly, relaxed environment where personalised care is our priority.

Optical services in Croydon

Our expert Optometrists provide thorough eye examinations using the latest technology, including OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography). This advanced scan allows for early detection of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other retinal conditions with incredible detail.

We also offer:

  • Contact lens fittings (soft and rigid)
  • Eye health appointments, including access to the Croydon COS scheme
  • Specialist children’s eyewear, from infants to teens, with dedicated support during their transition to adult frames
  • Designer frames from cutting edge brands like Cartier
  • Our Dispensing Team takes the time to ensure you feel confident and comfortable with your new glasses – no rush, no pressure.

Audiology Care in Croydon

As well as our eyecare services, we’re delighted to offer professional hearing care, our experienced Audiologist services include:

Pop in and meet our team at Rawlings Croydon – where heritage meets modern eyecare and hearing expertise.

What our Croydon customers say about us

  • Absolutely amazing service. I have always used specsavers for myself and my older daughter however my youngest was referred through school. The optician was so professional, friendly and patient with my almost 5 year old who is extremely shy and struggles talking to new people, she also struggles to concentrate for long periods of time, the optician was amazing with her and made her feel comfortable.

    Ashleigh Avatar Ashleigh
    4 September 2025

    I went here with my little girl for a checkup after which she needed glasses. The ladies here were very nice and helpful and helped us every time we needed glasses adjusted.

    Cristiana Busuioc Avatar Cristiana Busuioc
    27 August 2025

    Very attentative and thorough examination by Deeviya who makes you feel you are a valuable customer.

    Peter Cooper Avatar Peter Cooper
    29 July 2025

  • Everybody in store was very friendly and helpful. Priscilla was very thorough, she explained each stage/ test and let me know if it was normal etc. Would definitely recommend

    Nicola Stones Avatar Nicola Stones
    22 July 2025

    Always friendly service

    melody dale Avatar melody dale
    15 July 2025

    I had my annual eye test at Rowlings Optitians with Francesca Hale - she was great! She explained the test results in detail to me. I could tell that she loves her job and she is also very good at it!

    felicita gimenez Avatar felicita gimenez
    3 July 2025

  • I would highly recommend this place. They really care. When I needed to see a specialist they referred me promptly. I've got some really lovely frames here that aren't easily found and when I needed a faulty lens replaced, they replaced it promptly and with no fuss. I would recommend highly for their excellent quality of care.

    rachel holland Avatar rachel holland
    3 July 2025

    Here’s a summary of my experience: - **Excellent communication**: The staff were very communicative and helpful. - **Wide variety of frames**: There was an amazing choice and variety of frames available. It wad hard for me to pick just one! - **Quick service**: The glasses were ready very quickly. - **High quality**: The overall quality of the glasses and service was very high. - **Recommendation**: I am very happy with my experience and will not hesitate to recommend Rawlings Opticians to my friends and family.

    Elena Lebedeva Avatar Elena Lebedeva
    10 June 2025

    Superb service and a very professional and compassionate approach from all the staff at Rawlings. Particularly I would like to praise Deeviyah who carried out my eye examination and was so thorough and thoughtful in her approach. Also must mention Reena and her colleague who helped me select new frames. Cannot thank you all enough. Wonderful staff and committed to their work.

    Ann Osborn Avatar Ann Osborn
    10 June 2025

  • Good post cataract op review. i had confidence that Rawlings staff know what there're doing

    Nigel Orton Avatar Nigel Orton
    10 May 2025

    My contact lens appointment was truly exceptional as usual. Mr Barker expertise, professionalism, and care made the entire process smooth and reassuring. Even after moving to Welling, I keep coming back—I’ve tried going local twice, but no one matches the quality of care I receive here. I simply don’t trust anyone else with my eyes. Special thanks to the front desk ladies, who went the extra mile to help me—even though it was past closing time. Outstanding service from start to finish. Highly recommended!

    Maria Elisabete Martins Avatar Maria Elisabete Martins
    10 May 2025

    Always professional, welcoming and helpful. And have been for me for many years.

    Steve Packer Avatar Steve Packer
    10 April 2025

  • I joined Rawlings due to the great care my son received when he was referred. I have been with them for nearly 3 years and the service has been excellent!

    Sheza P Avatar Sheza P
    10 April 2025

    Amazing new facilities and support with my eye care for numerous years with top treatment. Rawlings Croydon is always a place I feel comfortable and safe to go. Thank you Rawlings. Initials: OR Date: 21/03/2025 Location: Rawlings Croydon , 8 Croydon night street, CR0 1YA

    Omar Redway Avatar Omar Redway
    10 April 2025

    Extremely professional workers. Im so happy i came here rather than all the other options out there. Quick and easy. Straight to the point. No waiting around. I can see there is alot of care in this buisness.

    louis wilson Avatar louis wilson
    19 February 2025

  • The lady that we saw i think her name was Prescilla she was so thorough really good she gave so much information she was really good with my son too who is only 4 .. honestly I was blown away by the service I recieved from her really nice experience it was for my son to have his eyes tested because he is complaining of headaches and eye pain.. she should be awarded for her service .. she was good .

    Grace M Avatar Grace M
    12 February 2025

    Great store and excellent staff. It's clear they are knowledgeable and fully get to know the customer. Always leave confident they have checked everything and not a tick box exercise which I have experienced with other high street opticians. Would recommend to anyone.

    Diana Avatar Diana
    26 January 2025

    Excellent service!

    Itry Mariti Avatar Itry Mariti
    26 December 2024

  • I had a very good experience as the optician who worked on my eyes was very thorough and made me feel like i was been cared for the best way possible

    Daisy Warren Avatar Daisy Warren
    26 December 2024

    Very polite, helpful and friendly staff. Went in for eye test and they Identified problems and explained them well.

    Infinity Stone Avatar Infinity Stone
    26 December 2024

    I was so happy I went to Rawlings. First for my daughter and she loved it, how nice everyone welcomed her and they are so good and helpful with kids. After that I changed my option to Rawlings, I loved their service. It’s so nearby my house as-well. I had a condition which I never knew until they did a scan, I went to hospital and admitted. Rawlings Mrs. Hale called me after twice to see how I’m doing. Really kind and thoughtful. I highly recommended all my family and friends.

    Emberr's Tutorials Avatar Emberr's Tutorials
    26 December 2024

Our Croydon branch staff

Charlotte Batcholer

Manager

Charlotte Batchelor

FBDO

I qualified as a Dispensing Optician in 2018 at ABDO College. When I left school, I wasn’t sure what career I would like to pursue and fell into working at an Optician’s. 19 years on, I am a fully qualified dispensing Optician with a contact lens speciality that I gained in 2024. I find working in an Optician’s practice very exciting,it’s lovely to meet new people on a daily basis, learn about different eye conditions, and work with some exciting spectacle brands. Outside of work, I enjoy acrylic painting and collecting blown glass figurines.

Optometrists / Contact Lens Opticians / Audiologists

David_Barker

David Barker

BSc MCOptom Dip TP (IP) Prof Cert Med Ret, Prof Cert Glauc

Being an optometrist must be in my blood as four other members of my family have worked in the industry. My mum worked at Rawlings Opticians and I had my first eye test at downstairs in Rawlings Croydon branch when I was 11. As a young child I always loved playing with the buttons in the consulting room when I was off from school. I guess I still like playing with the buttons now but there are now just a lot more!

After graduating from Aston University I worked for a few years in Kent but eventually I returned to my optometric starting point and have been at Rawlings ever since. I have always been interested in contact lenses and have done several trials on new products for manufacturers. I am an active member of our local optometric committee in Croydon which has been instrumental in setting up local shared care service which allows me to treat and help patients referred from local GPs. Due to this I decided to take the plunge and go back to studying to become one of the few optometry independent prescribers in the country which allows me to treat manage and treat many more conditions than I dreamed possible when I started.

Outside of work I try to play golf when time allows and probably spend far too much time following the trials and tribulations of Crystal Palace FC.

Priscilla-Cunningham

Priscilla Cunningham

BSc MCOptom

Initially I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be a veterinary surgeon or an optometrist. After a year of working in a veterinary clinic I learned a lot, for example how to monitor animals’ vitals in surgery, how to get a cat to take its medication and most importantly that I really didn’t want to be a vet at all, I just wanted a pet dog! As the head veterinary nurse gently put it, I was “good with animals, but better with people”.

In contrast I was really enamoured with my work experience in a local optician at the age of 17 and the open day at City University I later attended. I had not appreciated quite how much went into glazing prescription lenses into spectacles, nor how the shapes of the frames and type of lenses you chose decided the cosmetic finish. I also was fascinated with how the eyes truly were the “windows to the soul” in that you could potentially find signs pointing to issues with the blood, brain, nervous system, digestive system and more through an eye exam.

I studied optometry at City University graduating in 2007. I worked for various chains of opticians around London, Kent and Surrey over the years and also provided regular cover for the Harrods opticians.

I’m one of those weird people who actually loves my job and I have a calm, caring and friendly personality. So naturally I jumped at the chance to work at Rawlings in an independent environment where the equipment, training and links with the hospitals means I can provide the best care possible for our patients.

I’m particularly interested in contact lenses and the healthcare side of my job and am known for explaining complicated matters in a manner free of jargon that is easily understood by my patients, using day to day illustrations or apps to put the point across.

Outside of work I enjoy dancing, music, painting, cooking, bible study and in true west African style attempting to feed anyone who enters my house for more than 10 minutes! I am an avid sports fan and follow Arsenal football club, having also adopted Crystal Palace FC since moving across the river in 2011.

Francesca Hale

Francesca Hale

BSc MCOptom

My journey into Optometry began when I started wearing glasses from age two due to an unfortunate tendency to walk into objects I couldn’t see! As time passed I felt a strong urgency to utilise my own experiences alongside an appreciation of the frustration that may lie with an impairment of this vital sense. As a result I wanted nothing more than to share the gift of sight with others!

I moved to England from Northern Ireland to study at City University in order to gain insight and perspective from people of all walks of life. I am always in awe of the number of patients who will divulge their own personal ties to the Emerald Isle and share a laugh about the apparent Irish charm. Moving countries at a young age and living in a vibrant melting pot such as London has moulded not only the person I am but the clinician I aspire to be. I have an affinity for understanding not only the impact of physical manifestations of ocular conditions but also the emotional.

I joined Rawlings to work alongside like minded individuals with specialised accreditations in Optometry to provide tailored and high quality care for a range of ocular conditions at any age range. From my experience so far it has surpassed these expectations!

When not in clinic you can always find me nose deep in a book or at an early morning Pilates class. I am a big fan of rugby (but be warned the World Cup 2023 is still a sore point.)

Mike Burrin

Mike Burrin

My career has taken a few different paths, but each one has helped shape the clinician I am today.

I originally trained as a musician and recording engineer, completing my first degree in Sound Engineering for Film and Television. I then spent six years working with some of the UK’s major broadcasters, including Sky and the BBC. After moving to Sydney, Australia, with my wife, I taught music to children across New South Wales before returning to the UK to pursue a career in healthcare.

After completing my second degree, graduating with a distinction in Audiology from De Montfort University, I began working in private practice, helping patients with a wide range of hearing and balance needs. Since then, I have continued to develop my clinical skills, with additional training in tinnitus management, speech and language therapy, and Aston University-accredited microsuction wax removal.

I have been helping patients with their hearing care since 2016 and remain passionate about continuing my professional development so I can provide the highest standard of care. I believe in being honest and transparent, helping patients understand their options and supporting them to make informed decisions about their hearing health. I also enjoy using the wide range of advanced diagnostic equipment available at Rawlings to ensure every patient receives the most appropriate assessment and care.

Outside work, I enjoy travelling, hiking, discovering new whiskies, learning foreign languages and exploring a wide range of music and films.

Our dispensing team

Charlotte Batchelor FBDO (Manager)
Ariane Rodney-Mondesir FBDO
Ana Iordache
Kevin Tang

Travel information

Surrey Street Q-Park is the closest around 5 mins walk
Central Shopping Centre is slightly further away
Whitgift Centre

All are short and long stay and have disabled access
Park Street: 60, 109, 166, 197, 264, 405, 407, 455, 466
Tram stop George Street
Train station East or West Croydon
Nuffield Health Croydon Central Fitness & Wellbeing Gym 44 Surry Street CR0 1RJ. Defibrillator is at reception.
• Disabled parking: Available on Katharine Street, Park Street, and nearby car parks (e.g. Q-Park Surrey Street).
• Step-free access: Small lip at entrance.
• Thresholds/lips: None internally.
• Stairs: Audiology may take place downstairs.
• Navigation challenges: Pre-screen and dispensing areas can be narrow (equipment can be moved to create space).
• Additional notes: Front door is heavy with a high handle—assistance may be required.

Out of hours eyecare for customers of the Croydon practice

There are occasions when emergency treatment is needed for the eyes. If you are concerned and it is outside of our opening hours there is an eye casualty department based St. Georges Hospital in Tooting. For more information please click here or phone 0208 266 6115. Click here for directions to the hospital.

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