An independent Twickenham opticians has marked an extraordinary milestone after celebrating 100 years of serving the local community from the very same premises on Heath Road.

Robert Frith Optometrists welcomed patients, neighbours and local residents to a special centenary open day on Thursday, 18 June, marking a century of eye care in the heart of Twickenham.

The celebrations featured drinks and refreshments, exclusive offers from eyewear brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, and gave visitors the chance to look back on the practice's remarkable history.

Assistant Manager Himi Bajwa told Nub News that reaching the 100-year milestone is a testament to the trust the practice has built with generations of local families.

"It is an immense milestone for any independent business," he said.

"The entire team has been buzzing with excitement. Reaching a century is a massive collective achievement for our staff and our loyal patients, and we can't wait to celebrate the last 100 years while looking forward to the next."

The practice first opened in 1926 as Frith Bros, founded by John Frith, the uncle of Robert Frith.

Unlike today's specialist opticians, the original business combined an ophthalmic optician, chemist and photographer under one roof.

As the business evolved, the three professions separated into their own premises, with the opticians becoming the independent practice now known as Robert Frith Optometrists.

The business has remained in the Frith family ever since. The late Robert Frith, remembered by many local residents who had their eyes tested by him over the years, died in 2021.

Today, the company is run by his daughter and son-in-law James, who is the firm's CEO.

Remarkably, the practice has never moved, remaining at 102-104 Heath Road for the past century.

Himi believes that continuity has made the business much more than simply another high street retailer.

He said: "Operating from the exact same premises since 1926 means we aren't just a business on the high street—we are woven into the history of Twickenham.

"We provide a sense of continuity and trust that is becoming rarer on modern high streets.

"We look after generations of the same families. It's incredibly special to test the eyes of a grandparent, and then years later help their grandchildren choose their very first pairs of frames."

Himi joined the Twickenham practice as Assistant Manager in 2018, although his career in optics began much earlier.

"I actually started in optics back in 2004 when I was just 15 years old," he explained.

"I fell in love with the profession early on because it perfectly bridges clinical healthcare with personal, face-to-face community service.

"What drew me to Robert Frith specifically was its reputation as a prestigious, long-standing independent practice.

"Here, we aren't rushing patients through an assembly line; we have the time and the cutting-edge technology to give genuinely tailored care."

Being based in Twickenham has also brought its fair share of famous visitors over the years.

While patient confidentiality means names cannot be revealed, Himi recalled one memorable appointment when they welcomed a Hollywood superhero.

He said: "We once had a very well-known Marvel superhero pop in for an emergency eye appointment.

"They were filming locally and needed urgent clinical attention.

"It was a real privilege that when a major global star needed expert, trusted eye care in a hurry, it was our practice they came to.

"But honestly, that's just the standard we set here—every single one of our patients gets the Hollywood treatment."

While the practice has a century of history, Himi says it continues to embrace the latest innovations.

"The evolution has been remarkable," the manager continued.

"If you look back to 1926, eyewear was purely a clinical necessity. Over the decades it has transformed into a seamless blend of advanced optical technology and high fashion."

"At Robert Frith, we have always prided ourselves on being at the absolute forefront of technological advances.

"We were incredibly early adopters of hospital-grade equipment like OCT and Optomap retinal scanning.

"More recently we invested in technology that uses artificial intelligence to create a perfect 3D reconstruction of a patient's face for precise frame measurements."

The practice has also recently introduced a new treatment for Dry Eye and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) using Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT).

"People today want the absolute best of both worlds—uncompromising, next-generation clinical protection and great style," Himi added.

"Bridging our 100-year heritage with technology like this is what keeps us leading the way."

To learn more about Robert Frith Optometrists visit its website here.

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