Our Story
For over 75 years, Mackey Opticians has been caring for the sight of families across Northern Ireland.
What began as a single independent practice in Belfast has grown into Northern Ireland’s largest group of independent opticians, with practices across the country and generations of families continuing to trust us with their eye care.
Although much has changed since 1949, our philosophy remains the same: professional eye care should always feel personal, friendly and trustworthy.
Where it began...
The Mackey family’s connection to optics began before the Second World War.
Fred Mackey originally trained as a pharmacist and worked in England before returning home to Northern Ireland. With limited opportunities to establish a new pharmacy business at the time, Fred instead travelled to London to retrain as an Ophthalmic Optician.
The first Mackey Opticians practice opened near Cornmarket in Belfast, but was destroyed during the Belfast Blitz. Undeterred, Fred rebuilt the business from Berry Street before later opening a second practice at the bottom of the Newtownards Road in East Belfast.
These were busy years following the introduction of the NHS, with patients often queueing along the street for sight tests. Family stories still recall Fred stepping outside to encourage passers-by to come in for an eye examination.
Fred also helped establish one of Belfast’s first spectacle glazing laboratories, which would later become part of City Optical and eventually United Optical.
In the 1960s, Fred’s son James Mackey followed in his father’s footsteps, travelling to London to train in optics before returning to Northern Ireland with his wife Jean.
In 1966, they opened a new practice in Holywood in a small terrace property on the High Street — next door to where the practice stands today. For almost three years, the family lived above the practice itself in a space smaller than one of today’s consulting rooms. James had three sons - Mark, Chris & Richard.
James quickly expanded the business, opening further practices in East Belfast and developing a wholesale optical business importing frames from France and Italy. A glazing laboratory was also established to support the growing number of practices.
During this period, Mackey Opticians also became heavily involved in training the next generation of optometrists and optical professionals — something that remains an important part of the business today.
Independent, Professional and Proudly Local
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mackey Opticians continued to grow across Northern Ireland.
Many practices joined the group as independent opticians approached retirement and wanted their patients and staff to remain in trusted hands. Several of these optometrists had originally trained alongside James, and later Mark Mackey, creating long-standing professional relationships built on shared values and standards of care.
The business also adapted to major changes within optics during the 1980s, when practices were first permitted to advertise and openly display eyewear collections. Mackey Opticians embraced these changes while remaining firmly committed to independent, community-based eye care.
Over the years, the company has helped introduce new developments in optics and contact lenses to Northern Ireland, while continuing to invest in technology, training and patient care.
The Next Generation
More than seventy-five years after Fred Mackey first opened his doors, the business remains in family hands. Today, Mackey Opticians is led by brothers Mark, Richard and Chris Mackey, each bringing their own experience and expertise to the company. Pictured is Mark, James & Richard Mackey.
Mark Mackey followed both his father and grandfather into Optometry in 1988 and has played a major role in the growth of Mackey Opticians across Northern Ireland. Alongside clinical practice, Mark has helped guide the development of many of the company’s modern practices and continues to focus strongly on patient care, professional standards and the future of independent optics.
Richard Mackey qualified as an Optometrist in 1999 and works primarily from our Belfast practices. Richard has a particular interest in behavioural vision and continues the work developed by his father in supporting patients with visual difficulties linked to learning challenges such as dyslexia.
Chris Mackey joined the business as Financial Director in 2006 following a career in international accountancy. Working largely behind the scenes, Chris has helped modernise and unify the group as Mackey Opticians has continued to grow, while ensuring the business retains the personal, family-run approach it was built upon.
Together, they continue to build on the values established by previous generations — combining modern technology and professional eye care with the warmth, trust and independence that have defined Mackey Opticians since 1949.
Looking Forward
Today, Mackey Opticians serves communities across Northern Ireland through a network of 14 practices, making us the region's largest independent optical group.
Although the business has grown considerably over the decades, many patients still value the same thing they always have — familiar faces, trusted advice and the reassurance of independent family care.
We continue to believe that excellent eye care is built on relationships, trust and taking the time to look after every patient properly.
We look forward to welcoming you to Mackey Opticians.