THE optician brothers who ran Clough's Opticians in Bolton had the foresight to recognise that laser treatment for eyes was part of the future.

So Martin, Stewart, who has since left, and Christopher Clough, made the decision to find £500,000 to expand the optician's surgery, set up by their father, Norman, 60 years ago, into premises next door which they fitted out as Visualase.

Now Visualase laser eye clinic, the first of its kind in the town, is celebrating its 10th anniversary, having treated nearly 5,000 patients, with procedures now being carried out by surgeons Dr Stephen Doyle and Dr Eamonn Hynes.

Clinic manager Hilary Smith believes laser eye treatment is not far off becoming as routine as contact lenses are now.

She said: "When contact lenses first hit the mainstream market about 30 years ago, people were initially aghast at the prospect of putting a piece of plastic in their eyes.

"Now, nobody thinks twice about contact lenses and I think laser eye treatment will become as commonplace as contact lenses are today."

Mr Clough senior established his business in Blackburn Road in 1951 aged 26, before moving to its current location in Newport Street in 1968.

Mr Clough's three sons all trained in optometry and began working in the practice once they qualified.

Mr Clough senior retired in the mid 1990s and the practice was taken over by his sons.

They started to notice a rising trend from their patients seeking their advice about laser eye treatment and it was at this time they explored the possibility of opening the first laser eye clinic in Bolton.

What followed was two years of planning which meant extending the current practice to accommodate the treatment room housing the new laser equipment.

Ms Smith said: "The initial investment was well in excess of £500,000 but the brothers were confident that the demand for this treatment was growing in popularity.

"In September, 2001, we treated our first patient and the first few months were very exciting with a lot of interest from local people and by the end of that year we had already treated a hundred eyes.

"Being a local, private independent clinic, we pride ourselves of offering extremely high levels of customer service and provide a unique blend of the latest technology, surgical skill and patient care.

"We have to be different from the High Street multiples to set ourselves apart and we believe we have achieved that.

"Many patients come to us from recommendations they have received from family, friends and colleagues."

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