Black & Lizars is Scotland's largest independently owned opticians with over 175 years experience in delivering outstanding eye care.

We are proud of our heritage and the continued dedication we make to be at the forefront of advances in the optical industry, from the development of Challenge Cameras in the late 19th century through to the investment in technologically advanced optical equipment in use throughout our network of practices today.

Half of Black & Lizars was established back in 1830 when John Lizars, at the age of 20, opened the first practice in Glasgow's Merchant City. Have a scroll through the timeline and find out more about our history.

• 1810

  in 1810, John Lizars was born.

• 1830

  The first J Lizars practice opens in Glasgow's Merchant City.

• 1880s

  The 1880s saw the expansion of Lizars Optometrists into Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• 1892

  1892: Buchanan Street practice opens

• 1913

  An advert for Challenge Hand Cameras at J Lizars in Shandwick Place, which appeared in the Transactions of the Edinburgh Photographic Society in May 1913.

• 1929

  A prescription from 1929

• 1940

  A typical receipt from 1940.

• 1943

  Oscar Black joins Lizars as an optician

• 1946

  Oscar Black opens first OD Black Opticians practice in Shettleston

• 1974

  C Jeffrey Black Established

• 1970s

  C Jeffrey Black expands

• 1982

  1982: C Jeffrey Black merges with OD Black

• 1999

  1999: Merger of Black and Lizars

• Present

  Present day Black & Lizars