Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers

The company was empowered to set regulations and standards for optical devices; this was eroded by the Industrial Revolution, after which mechanical advancements made trade restrictions difficult to enforce.

The company acquired the right, however, to set examinations that opticians had to pass before practising.

and this credential stood for Fellowship in Optometry of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.

Now, the Spectacle Makers' Company is a thriving membership organisation working across vision care and sight loss.

The Spectacle Makers' Charity (registered Charity in England and Wales no.1186122 supports charities improving the quality of life for people with impaired vision, as well as research in the field of optics and bursaries for aspiring optical technicians, orthoptists, optometrists, dispensing opticians, ophthalmic nurses and optical imaging professionals.