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Vision Express Opticians - Vision taken seriously

Vision Van

Vision Van

The Vision Van

Our award-winning Vision Van has travelled quite a few thousand miles since its first appearance in 2014. As a virtual ‘practice on wheels’, it’s been providing free eye tests for local communities in towns and cities the length and breadth of the UK.

But it seems all those miles have taken their toll. Which is why we’re now replacing the original Vision Van with a brand new one. And we’re planning to take it to more locations than ever before.

Although the look of the Vision Van has changed, it’s purpose remains very much the same. In the words of Vision Express CEO, Jonathan Lawson, that purpose is to “take the eye test to the people, breaking down the invisible barriers which prevent them caring for their vision”.

Where to find the new Vision Van

You can find the Vision Van at the following locations:

World Glaucoma Week

Find out more
  • Nottingham - 12 March

    Nottingham Head Office

  • Brighton - 13 March

    Brighton, Ship Street

  • Chichester - 14 March

    Chichester, Northgate Car Park

  • Canterbury - 15 March

    Canterbury, St george's st

  • Bedford - 16 March

    Bedford, Harpur Square

  • Coventry - 17 March

    Forest in Arden hotel in Coventry

Love Your Lenses Week

  • Loughborough - 26 March

    Loughborough Town Centre

  • Birmingham - 27 March

    Edgbaston Street

  • Liverpool - 28 March

    Williamson Square

  • Manchester - 29 March

    Albert Square

CV Show

  • Birmingham - 24 April

    Birmingham NEC

  • Birmingham - 25 April

    Birmingham NEC

  • Birmingham - 26 April

    Birmingham NEC

Truckfest Peterborough

  • Peterborough - 6 May

    East of England Showground, PE2 6XE

Truckfest Peterborough

  • Peterborough - 7 May

    East of England Showground, PE2 6XE

This Morning Live

  • Birmingham - 17 May

    Birmingham NEC

  • Birmingham - 18 May

    Birmingham NEC

  • Birmingham - 19 May

    Birmingham NEC

  • Birmingham - 20 May

    Birmingham NEC

  • Southampton - 22 May

    Southampton Novotel 1, 1 West Quay Road, SO15 1RA

  • Ipswich - 21 June

    Ipswich Town Football Club, IP1 2DA

Macular Week

  • Cardiff - 26 June

    Woking Street, CF10 1GN

  • Cardiff - 27 June

    Woking Street, CF10 1GN

  • Gloucester - 28 June

    Kings Square, Gloucester, GL1 1RP

  • Malvern - 30 June

    Three Counties Showground, WR1 6NW

  • Malvern - 1 July

    Three Counties Showground, WR1 6NW

  • Leyton - 10 July

    Essex Rd, Leyton, London E10 6EQ

  • Chichester - 12 July

    Goodwood House, Kennel Hill, Chichester PO18 0PX

  • Chichester - 13 July

    Goodwood House, Kennel Hill, Chichester PO18 0PX

  • Chichester - 14 July

    Goodwood House, Kennel Hill, Chichester PO18 0PX

  • Chichester - 15 July

    Goodwood House, Kennel Hill, Chichester PO18 0PX

  • Liffey Valley - 17 July

    Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland

  • Liffey Valley - 18 July

    Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland

  • Dublin Naas - 19 July

    Tesco Extra, Monread, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

  • Dublin Blanchardstown - 20 July

    Blanchardstown Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland

Carfest North

  • Cheshire - 27 July

    Bolesworth

  • Cheshire - 28 July

    Bolesworth

  • Cheshire - 29 July

    Bolesworth

  • Fort Glasgow - 7 August

    Junction 10 M8, Glasgow G34 9DL

  • Intu Braehead - 8 August

    Titanium House Braehead Shopping Centre, King's Inch Rd, Glasgow G51 4BP

  • Fort Kinnaird - 9 August

    32 Newcraighall Rd, Edinburgh EH15 3RD

Carfest South

  • Hampshire - 24 August

    Laverstoke Park Farm

  • Hampshire - 25 August

    Laverstoke Park Farm

  • Hampshire - 26 August

    Laverstoke Park Farm

Ride4Sight

  • Hanley - 13 September

    Tesco Extra, Clough St, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4LS

  • Knutsford - 15 September

    Cheshire Showground, Clay House Farm, Flittogate Ln, Tabley, Knutsford WA16 0HJ

  • Knutsford - 16 September

    Cheshire Showground, Clay House Farm, Flittogate Ln, Tabley, Knutsford WA16 0HJ

National Lorry Week

  • Appleton - 17 September

    Eddie Stobart, Stretton Green Distribution Park, Langford Way, Appleton, Warrington WA4 4TQ

  • Cannock - 18 September

    Pentalver, Pentalver Way, Cannock WS11 8XY

  • Ashby-de-la-Zouch - 19 September

    United Biscuits, Flagstaff 42 Trading Estate, Resolution Rd, Ashby-de-la-Zouch LE65 1PF

  • Loughborough - 20 September

    Fred Sherwood Group, 47 Ashby Rd Central, Shepshed LE12 9BS

  • Leicester - 21 September

    Sanwoth Bros, Madeline Rd, Leicester LE4 1WX

National Eye Health Week

Find out more
  • Coventry - 24 September

    Broadgate, Coventry, CV1 1LN

  • Northampton - 25 September

    Market Square, Northampton, NN1 2DL

  • High Wycombe - 26 September

    Eden Centre, High Wycombe, HP11 2DQ

  • Salisbury - 27 September

    Guildhall Square, Salisbury, SP1 1JH

  • British Touring Car Championship - 29 September

    Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown, Longfield, DA3 8PU

  • British Touring Car Championship - 30 September

    Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown, Longfield, DA3 8PU

  • Gateshead - 9 October

    intu Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YG

  • Sunderland - 10 October

    Market Square, Sunderland SR1 3HW

  • Newcastle - 11 October

    Grainger Street

  • Lincoln - 23 October

    Lincoln City Square, LN5 7EU

  • Lincoln - 24 October

    Lincoln City Square, LN5 7EU

Uni Tour

  • Liverpool - 30 October

    160 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TR

  • Staffordshire - 31 October

    Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF

  • Aston - 1 November

    Aston St, Birmingham B4 7ET

  • Media City UK - 14 November

    The Greenhouse, 101-110 Broadway, Salford M50 2EQ

  • Media City UK - 15 November

    The Greenhouse, 101-110 Broadway, Salford M50 2EQ

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Changing perceptions

As there are around 14 million people in the UK failing to have regular eye tests, another key objective of the Vision Van is to raise awareness, highlighting how important tests can be to both healthy vision and overall wellbeing.

Throughout the year, we’ll also be taking the Vision Van on the road in support of several awareness campaigns, such as World Glaucoma Week, Macular Week, National Eye Health Week and Road Safety Week. Encouragingly, every time we back such initiatives, we get people coming in for tests who otherwise wouldn’t have had any eyecare at all.

supporting the Vision Van initiative

What’s inside?

The new Vision Van is a custom-built mobile eye testing unit comprising two examination rooms, two pre-screening rooms and a relaxing waiting area. It is equipped with the very latest optical technology, with tests undertaken by an expert Vision Express Optometrist.

All eye examinations on the Vision Van include optical coherence tomography – complex wording for what is, basically, an ultrasound examination for the eye. The procedure takes just a few seconds, but can help detect eye conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. In fact, it can pick up on potentially damaging problems up to five years earlier than more traditional tests.

The best things in life are free

Taking vision seriously, we believe an Eye Test is one of the best ways of making sure your sight can last a lifetime. However, we’re fully aware that affordability can be an issue for some, with around 37% of people putting off having a test due to the cost. That’s why every comprehensive Eye Test carried out on the new Vision Van is absolutely free. And always will be.

If you don’t have time to spare when we visit a location near you, you don’t have to miss out on your free Eye Test. Just pop along to the Vision Van and pick up a voucher entitling you to a free test at one of our stores.

Eye Test
Vision Van Vision Van Vision Van Vision Van Vision Van Vision Van Vision Van Vision Van

Facts and figures

74% of people

visiting the Vision Van in Aberdeen had an out of date prescription.

9% of people

in Leicester were referred for further medical attention.

1 in 6 people

In Milton Keynes have never had an eye test

Latest news

Childhood cancer charity boss ‘amazed’ by national optician’s £600k donation milestoneJan 16, 2019 09:30

Police pay tribute to heroic Windsor optician who apprehended armed robbers in attempted jewellery heistDec 10, 2018 05:12

UK’s #1 visually-impaired sprinter tells of his medal hopes for Tokyo 2020 after battling disease that has stolen 90% of sightNov 29, 2018 03:52

Optician and the Macular Society outline vision for future - targeting female health gatekeepers to beat eye disease epidemicNov 29, 2018 03:45

Revealed: sight-stealing disease more prevalent than dementia faces funding crisisNov 29, 2018 03:37

Global bike brand sets sights on tackling road deaths, as free health initiative visits Raleigh in Road Safety Week 2018Nov 28, 2018 10:20

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