The chain offers optometry and optician services for eyesight testing and sells glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses.

[3][4] The company had a total turnover of £2.78 billion in 2018/2019[5] with 2,111 branches in the United Kingdom, Guernsey, Jersey, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark (under the brand Louis Nielsen [da]), the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

[7] As well as stores in the United Kingdom, Specsavers are present in Ireland, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

The co-founder of Specsavers, Mary Perkins, was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2007, in recognition of her services to business and the community in Guernsey.

Specsavers' use of Édith Piaf in advertisements has caused some adverse comment in the press, although the estate of the performer had granted full permission.

The company took advantage of the development of the Any Qualified Provider initiative in the English National Health Service from 2009 to expand into the hearing aid business.

[27][28] In May 2020, Specsavers set up a video consultation service for the first time, to check people's eyes and hearing aids during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[32] Specsavers received additional criticism for repaying only A$4 million in JobKeeper payments,[32] when other companies like Cochlear, CIMIC and Mirvac had already repaid larger amounts.

In January 2017, Specsavers were in negotiation to have shops undertake certain front line medical care linked to sight and hearing, in both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.