The homegrown eye-care brand celebrates its journey from a modest clinic to a modern vision-care
Manila, Philippines – Sixty-six years after opening its first clinic in Binondo, George Optical is marking its anniversary with an offer that centers its long-standing commitment to Filipino customers.
As part of the George
Optical 66th Anniversary Treat, customers who purchase any frame worth ₱6,990
and above can get a second selected designer frame for only ₱66. The
offer runs until October 31, 2026, at George Optical branches
nationwide.
The milestone promo coincides
with the brand’s 66 years of strong ties with the Filipino people, growing from
a single optical clinic into a broader eye-care institution while remaining
anchored on the same principles that shaped its beginnings: quality,
expertise, service, and genuine care.
At the helm of that evolution
is a simple philosophy: George cares.
Looking ahead: A modern approach to eye care
Today, George Optical
continues to expand beyond prescription eyewear, embracing technology,
specialized eye care, and more personalized patient care.
Leading this evolution is Dr.
Geoffrey Co, President and CEO of George Optical, representing the second
generation of the Co family to carry the company forward.
Dr. Geoffrey graduated with First
Class Honours from City University in London in 1993 and trained at
Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he gained experience in Contact Lens, Low
Vision, Glaucoma, and Corneal clinics. His contact lens training included
complex cases involving keratoconus, high myopia, post-corneal graft patients,
aphakia, and prosthetics.
He went on to top the Philippine
Optometry Board Examinations in 1996 and is licensed to practice optometry
in both the United Kingdom and the Philippines. He has also served as a
resource speaker for optometry organizations and universities, particularly on
primary eye care and contact lens fitting.
His contributions to the
profession earned national recognition. In 2012, the Professional Regulation
Commission named him Most Outstanding Professional in Optometry, while in
2023, he received the Distinction Award from the Philippine Federation of
Professional Associations for his private and specialized practice.
Yet for Dr. Geoffrey,
carrying the family name forward is about more than professional distinction.
It is about preserving a standard of care while ensuring that the brand
continues to respond to the changing needs of its patients.
Under his leadership, George
Optical has continued to build capabilities in primary eye care, specialized
services, technology, and professional practice, building on the foundation his
father established more than six decades ago.
As Dr. Geoffrey puts it, “One
thing remains constant—George cares.”
Where it all began
That commitment traces back
to the remarkable journey of Dr. George Co Sr., the company’s founder.
Born Co Kian Kong in Fujian,
China, on September 2, 1930, he came to the Philippines with his father at age
seven in search of better opportunities. He worked while studying and took on
various jobs, including selling cigarettes on the sidewalk, to support himself.
After World War II, he began
working at his uncle’s optical shop. Starting as an all-around houseboy, he
cleaned, ran errands, bought food, cooked, and did laundry. Among these
responsibilities was the skill that would shape his future: grinding glass lenses
and fitting them into spectacle frames.
Rather than remain content
with his circumstances, Dr. Co Sr. chose to pursue Optometry. His guiding
belief was straightforward: “To attain something of greater value, one must
give up something of lesser value.”
The decision proved
transformative. He graduated with honors in Optometry and placed among the Top
10 in the Philippine Optometry Board Examinations.
On October 10, 1960,
Dr. George Co Sr. and his wife, Mrs. Belen Co, took a decisive step
toward building their future by opening the first George Optometric Clinic on
Ongpin Street in Binondo.
They did not begin with
substantial financial resources. They carried their belongings in a “kariton,”
and Dr. Co Sr.’s reputation and the trust he had built with others made the
capital needed to establish the clinic possible. He honored that trust by steadily
paying his debts as the practice grew.
One patient at a time, the
small clinic built a reputation for quality, service, and expertise.
Six decades of seeing what comes next
The company continued to grow
alongside the Philippine optical industry.
In 1975, Dr. Co Sr.
began producing hard contact lenses, eventually leading to what is now G&B
Vision Care Inc. The company established its headquarters in Pasay in 1980,
and George Optical continued to evolve beyond traditional prescription eyewear
toward a more comprehensive approach to primary eye care.
Much has changed since that
first clinic opened on Ongpin Street. Optical technology has advanced, patient
needs have evolved, and eye care itself has expanded.
What has remained is the
belief that caring for people’s vision requires more than providing a product.
It requires expertise, responsibility, and trust.
That philosophy has allowed
George Optical to become part of the lives of generations of Filipino families,
and it remains at the center of how the brand looks toward its next chapter.
After 66 years, George
Optical continues to move forward with the same principle that guided its
founder from the beginning: a good name is built through the trust you earn
and the care you give, and that remains its closing promise.
66 years later, George
still cares—and always will.
About George Optical
Founded in 1960, George
Optical is a Filipino eye-care brand dedicated to providing professional,
personalized, and comprehensive vision care. From quality eyewear and contact
lenses to primary eye-care services and specialized solutions, George Optical continues
to evolve with the needs of Filipino patients while remaining grounded in its
enduring commitment to quality, expertise, service, and care.
For more information, visit www.george.ph or follow George Optical on
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @georgeph.official.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgeph.official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeph.official
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@georgeph.officialinstitution with a special ₱66
anniversary offer
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