Local source of eyeglasses

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

I finally have to admit to myself that cheaters no longer work and I need proper reading glasses. What recommendations do you all have for a local eyeglass store?

As a first time eyeglass wearer I'm mostly interested in a shop that will take the time to help me select the right kind of lenses for my usage and get the prescription fine tuned. I'm less concerned about a wide selection of frame styles. I'm no fashion plate.

Has anyone tried the place on Elm across from Posto?

Comments

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Harvard Square Eye Care is great, although their frames are spendy. Steve at their Davis location (formerly their Porter location) is fondly referred to as The Frame Whisperer in my household -- he'll take one look at you and pick out the perfect frames.

[elements.livejournal.com]

OH lord, no, not them! My past interaction with them involved them lying to me about the total cost, presenting a cost package once we actually added in everything that was more than twice what they quoted, and then arguing with me trying to persuade me that spending $1,100 for glasses was a good investment while I was unemployed. I had begun my interaction with them telling them about my unemployment and my maximum TOTAL for both frames and lenses, and they had continually reassured me as I spent two hours trying on frames there that each one would be within that maximum of $500. I found much nicer glasses that year at Saragas in Davis, still one of a kind designer, which including my lenses were $417. That was a few years ago, but damn. I have rarely had so negative a customer service experience.

Saragas is awesome, and has real eye doctors there, and the small + local thing. They have a range of stuff but especially lots of good one of a kind things.

My current glasses are from See in Harvard Square - who are also re-lensing my Saragas glasses. I had a Groupon (which pops up fairly frequently for them), but still, excellent price (harder for me to quantify when all I remember is I paid ~$350 post-Groupon for one full pair of frames and lenses, plus another set of lenses). They did a great customer service experience too.

Other places I would recommend are Cambridge Eye Care (?) in Harvard Square, on the rounded-edged corner of Mt. Auburn opposite the Harvard Square Hotel, and if fashion isn't a factor, the place on the first floor of the Harvard Vanguard building in Davis.

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

Well let me preface by saying that I am glad you have had a good experience with Saragas.

My experience of him...is that he is an unethical hack. He had me going in twice a year for checkups for macular degeneration (despite no history and no problems). So, ok there was never any evidence of anything but hey, safe, not sorry, etc.

The way he worked it, I would get tests in one appointment and then in a follow-up appointment he would sit with me for 5 minutes and tell me everything was ok. So he was able to bill my insurance for two appointments. Even that was marginally acceptable, although no one I knew had any sort of experience like that with their eye doctors.

The final straw was when they tested one eye and then tried to get me to come back to test the other eye (!) in addition to the follow-up consultation to review test reviews. Total scam to try to bill for three appointments.

This was a few years ago and I posted about it here, as I recall, just to see if anyone had similar experiences with him. Saragas charged me $20. in order for me to get my records so I could take my business elsewhere. I ended up going to the eye place in Porter (above the Pier 1 space). When I described my experience to the optometrist there she rolled her eyes and made some non-committal comment, and has always run the same tests, (for both eyes!) and reviewed the results in one appointment.

Saragas. Ugh. A creep.

[elements.livejournal.com]

Gah, that sucks! I never used them as eye doctors - I go to Harvard Vanguard for my opthalmologist - so there wasn't any possibility of trying to milk extra insurance money when I was just going to get glasses. That is a real bummer to learn about them though.

Maybe the lesson is, every place is going to be icky sometime. I hope not, but...

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

I like Harvard Square Eye Care for eye exams but have never bought glasses there. As I said below, remember that you don't need to do both in one place, and I think it's probably better not to unless you have a strong attachment to The Frame Whisperer or some similar person. I like to shop around a bit for frames, and I feel more in control of the buying experience when I'm NOT doing it at my eye doctor's office.

[lomagna.livejournal.com]

I've had good luck and good service from Eye Q in Harvard Sq.

[grapefruiteater.livejournal.com]

I second Eye Q. The glasses I bought there five years ago are only just now starting to show wear (and only in ways that are visible to me). The service was excellent, the price was fair, and they helped me to pick out a nice pair of frames that have withstood the test of time.

Remember that you don't need to get your glasses from the same place where you get your eyes examined! You are free to take the prescription anywhere you want.

[madrigal.livejournal.com]

My last couple of pairs have come from For Eyes. Love them, plus they have really good deals.

[jenskot.livejournal.com]

If you will venture as far as Central Square, I've been a fan of Custom Eye for years - Dr Murphy is direct and explains things well, and Kevork the optician is patient and understanding of people who are neurotic choosy about frames and broke-assed on a budget. I've been very happy with my pair (never paid more than $350 without insurance for my oh-so-pretty eyeglasses), and have taken them in multiple times for readjustments.
... Also, I know you're not a fashion plate, but as someone who has begrudgingly begun wearing eyeglasses more frequently, there is still something really satisfying about having complete strangers compliment me on my eyewear. :)

[thesoxgap]

Seconded--I like Custom Eyes a lot. and they have online appointment scheduling. And Dr. Murphy is nice about the fact that I DON'T LIKE THINGS TOUCHING MY EYES, even though it makes her life difficult. And Kevork is super nice to me, making sure everything is right.

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Parelli Optical in the Galleria at Porter Square--the building across from CVS. I've had good experiences every time I've gone (three pairs of glasses now). They do careful, thorough exams to determine your prescription, then are really good at helping you with frames.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

I've been a happy customer of General Optical (on Mass Ave across from the fire station) for over 15 years. The people are old-school, competent, and friendly.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

I am just going through this process myself for the first time ever. I was lucky and my Health Insurance cover 1 eye exam a year, however it doesn't cover the cost of glasses. I had my eye exam at a Pearl Vision center and I assume the doctor did a good job. I went to the one at Twin City Plaza off McGrath. However, their glasses were very expensive. I went a few places and figured out the right shape frames for my face, and then started the hunt for glasses. I have to tell you, Sears Optical in the Burlington Mall was half the price of other places and they are currently having a 50% off sale, which I think ends soon...maybe even April 1. Pearl Vision also took me as a walk in on a Saturday last week. I did a lot of reading online and places that make your glasses in an hour are expensive, Sears takes about a week to get them to you but to save over 250$ is worth it to me. I've also heard really good things about Costco for glasses, they also have to send them off site but you don't need to have a membership (I believe). Good luck!

[somervillesnow.livejournal.com]

I feel like someone should mention that option of buying glasses online. Get your prescription in a retail location, then order from zenni or some other place. Cost is *way* less and I find it more convenient. ( I do like to support local places, but I still do because I use the money I save to take my loved ones out to dinner at a locally owned place. :-) )