This past Monday offered a humid, intermittently rainy afternoon in Coolidge Corner. My friend and I wandered the Arcade--avoiding the rain and killing some time before transporting me and my stuff to Logan Airport for my evening flight home to Los Angeles. Tucked in the back corner of the Arcade, I came upon Arcade Optical. I dropped in to inquire if there might be anything they could do to repair my recently broken eyeglasses. Long story short: camping in Narragansett; wrestling with my 4 year-old great nephew; snapped the hinge connector of the left temple*, separating it from the frame. Joanie of Arcade Optical evaluated the situation and determined that the best option was to attach a compatible temple* with a matching two-pronged male hinge piece. She went to work finding a suitable temple amongst an ample collection. A few minutes into her search, Joanie found a candidate. She went to work attaching it, reshaping the temple to fit my large head, and cleaning the neglected lenses. (Glass Plus and Scott Toilet Tissue are her recommended supplies). It was quick work done expertly. I was more than impressed. When I asked how much, Joanie brushed away the question. I was surprised and grateful. I can't say if Joanie will provide excellent service, free of charge, for the next victim of great-nephew wrestling. But I can highly recommend the excellent, expert service of Arcade Optical. *Temple is the anatomically correct term for the sides that include the "temple tip" that rests on your ear. Who knew? I'll bet Joanie knew. read more

Very professional and careful service. Convenient location in the arcade in Coolidge Corner.

What a remarkable business! Joanie answers the phone, books the appointments and helps customers every step along the way to getting just the right pair of glasses. Dr Lahker does the exam with efficiency and thoroughness. The office is quiet and calm and very well run. I have taken my family there for years and think of Arcade Optical as my go-to place for vision. read more

They fixed my glasses for free! Joanie was a delight to chat with. Down to earth and she cares deeply about her craft. Support a small business, go here. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

Process was very smooth. After helping me find glasses, they helped expedite insurance, and they fitted the glasses and spec-ed the lenses with more expertise than any other shop I've been to. The glasses were ready in a few days and were perfect. read more

So I just received my bill from Blue Cross Blue Shield and was charged a deductible of $77.58 just for the retinal photo done by Dr. Lakher. I came to his office only for an annual eye exam-which is usually 100% free under any eye or BCBS insurance. I called BCBS and they said that the retinal photo fell under the fee of 'labs' and not under the annual eye exam category. I was never given an option of whether I wanted the retinal photo done and never made aware this is usually not part of the routine annual eye exam. I next called Dr. Lakher and confronted him about this issue. He said he knows "all about insurance" and the coverage depends on my plan. Duh. He proceeded to ask the 3 letter letters to my BCBS member #. I requested if he can try to cancel charging BCBS and charge VSP, my vision insurance instead. I have a separate vision insurance. He knew about it. He even checked into the visit with my vision insurance, yet chose to bill BCBS. Exact words from Dr. Lahker= "I'm not going to argue with BCBS because they're too big." Ok....excellent customer service. I hung up. I called VSP insurance next to see if they cover retinal photographs. VSP says that Arcade Optical's billing code for retinal photos does not qualify to be covered under VSP, which was why they billed BCBS. OK, things are finally starting to make sense. For someone who "knows all about insurance," Dr. Lakher should have notified me what would not be covered under the annual eye exam before he proceeded with anything during that visit. Instead, I receive a bill with "Surprise! Here's $78 for you to pay!" I know it's going to be a waste of time trying to argue with a professional with such a bad attitude, so I will pay the deductible. But the long term repercussions are gonna get real. 1. I'm not coming back to do business. 2. No, I will not be retracting this review from yelp. 3. I myself am a health care professional. I will be letting all my co-workers and friends on social media know about how I've been treated and your tricky tactic. read more

I was trying to use my EyeMed vision insurance to purchase new glasses and went to at 6 or 7 stores before finding Arcade Optical. What a gem! It is a small store, but unlike the other stores I had visited, I found at least 5 pairs that I really liked thanks to Joanie and Michael selecting glasses to try on. They were honest about which frames they thought were most flattering on me and which frames would work best for my low nose bridge, strong prescription and progressive lenses. If you are in the Coolidge Corner area looking for new glasses, I highly recommend stopping by! read more

I've seen Dr. Lahker at Arcade Optical for going on 3 years. Each year he's been great to me and I have no complaints with his practice. Dr. Lahker is extremely thorough; he's very flexible with scheduling appointments; and he's efficient. Although his office feels a bit cramped at times, his practice is in a convenient location with ample parking at the Arcade and he has all the equipment necessary for a comprehensive, and modern, eye exam. During my most recent trip a few weeks ago him and Joanie especially impressed me with their customer service after a small screw-up with my prescription. Needing to stock up on my dwindling supply of monthly contacts I made an appointment to refresh my prescription and order more. After my appointment they inadvertently ordered me daily lenses instead of the monthlies I've been wearing for 10+ years. Understandably, I was concerned when upon arrival Joanie gave me a bag of boxes that were 10x's the size of what I was expecting. Having never tried dailies Dr. Lahker quickly scrambled to supply me with samples so I could 'try them, before I buy them' and they ultimately worked out. I've save a ton of cash on contact lens cleaning solution, so my bank account thanks him as well. Now I just need to figure out if I can recycle all that extra plastic! read more

I was so pleased-- yes they take walk-ins, but they can also get you in very quickly. This was one of the few places in Coolidge Corner that took MassHealth, and since we had other errands to run there, it was a perfect chance to get my eyes checked, since it'd been two years and I've been waiting. I've had a lot of optometrists in the past, but was happy with the no frills Dr Lakher and his very sweet office associate. I enjoyed being treated like a person and not an inconvenience, which sadly can become the case when you've got MassHealth. I can say this is an office I would go to most happily with regular insurance as well (And they've got a groupon right now! Save, fellow yelpers-- save!). And after how much I disliked my previous provider, this was a breath of fresh air. Dr Lakher figured out quickly and easily why I was having difficulties when my prescription hardly changed-- since I'm so near sighted, I tend to take my glasses off to work on fine detail crafts, reading or on the computer. Turns out I needed a second pair of glasses entirely, with less power, for work that takes my full visual attention but doesn't need the full power I need for distance. Awesome news for someone who has been given stronger prescriptions to attend to the issue that has been plaguing me for years, worried I'd be getting bifocals by the time I'm 30. Plus, he cared about what was easiest for my eyes and my comfort over just getting me in & out. I'm rather glad he did the optic nerve photo-- having seen a 1 star review specifically about having to pay for it. I'm very glad to be able to track historically what drs previously only looked at; I can have that photo sent to another doctor if needed or know exactly on this day should I begin having issues later on. As someone who suffers from many chronic illnesses, I cannot begin to say how important it is to track key parts of your health over time-- even if they seem healthy now. read more

I found this place through my insurance and I selected them bc they were described as specializing in 'hard to fit contacts'. When I was younger I wore contacts and then had to stop because I got this problem with my eyes. I decided I wanted to give them another try so I picked this place. In between scheduling my appointment and going I looked up my earlier condition and found out I basically still can not wear contacts, he confirmed it too. So I could not 'see' him to his magic and get me in contacts I had a good experience anyway. After getting my eyes checked out I went to select a new pair of glasses. He and the woman who was there (husband/wife maybe?) were really helpful with selecting a new pair of glasses. The woman even took pictures of me on my phone so i could send my final 3 for my mom's opinion too. They have a really nice selection of glasses at different price points. They have a different look to them too so you know you won't see a bunch of other people wearing the same pair around Boston. read more

It is only fair for me to update my review of Arcade Optical. As I noted before, It's quaint, friendly, local, and the selection is small but eclectic and cool. I thought the saleslady was very nice and helpful, and also the optometrist. Unfortunately, I have terrible eyes (-8.5) so my lenses cost more, which isn't Arcade Optical's fault, but including the fancy frames, the cost was over $500, which is the most I've ever paid for a pair of glasses - I've been wearing glasses since I was 8 years old (that's 22 years). I was unhappy with my glasses because the frames chipped slightly almost as soon as I started wearing them, and the lenses developed an odd pattern of hazy lines on them. It was particularly disappointing because of the price tag. Arcade Optical contacted me after I wrote my review here to let me know that my glasses were still under warranty (most interesting thing about this was that they were able to figure out who I was despite only having my first name and last initial). I sent the glasses back to them and now, a few weeks later, I have received what look like a brand new pair (even shipped cross country to where I now live). I am pleased with that level of customer service and dedication. read more

This place offers service you just don't get a Lenscrafters. I went for an eye exam and brought along my 16 month old son. While the doctor did my exam, the other staff member entertained my son with stuffed animals and toys they have for children visiting. Later when I was looking at glasses, my son wanted to grab every pair, and they gave him an old pair of glasses to hold... totally kept his curiosity for the rest of our time there. They also really helped me find glasses that fit and are practical. Truly a special shop! read more

I LOVE this place. It is a smaller place for eyeglasses, but they have such an awesome selection. If you want something totally different, or the popular styles, or just the classic styles for your glasses - they have it all! The store is run by two people who I assume are husband and wife. They are both really nice and very helpful. They also do optometrist appointments here, too, but I haven't experienced that. My review is solely on their glasses. They do take some eye insurance as well -- I have EyeMed and they take that. A lot of the smaller local eye glasses stores in this area don't take insurance, so this is definitely the place to go if you don't want to just go to Lenscrafters and you want to support a local business. I was even able to get an itemized receipt from them for my glasses purchase over 8 months ago (silly healthcare flexible spending account - they required additional "proof" of my FSA purchase 8 months after the fact - I'm glad Arcade Optical was so helpful so I could get this receipt!). If you're looking for glasses - GOOOO. Check them out. They have everything you're looking for, and MORE, with superb service to top it all off. I won't lie, I used to get my glasses from Lenscrafters, but I will be coming here from now on! read more

What led me here was the health insurance plan but I will always come back because of the superior service. This place is located in the back of the old Coolidge Corner Arcade. It reminds me of the movie Hugo. Walking toward the store from Harvard Street entrance makes me feel like I could travel back in time and get a magical pair of glasses in this tiny shop. Initially, I came for the annual eye exam, new glasses and contact lenses prescriptions. As some had previously advised, get the eye exam here as Dr. Lakher is thorough, but get glasses elsewhere. I didn't have much time after the eye exam to look for glasses anyhow so I left. I went to LensCrafter a day later, looking for some chic, brand name glasses such as Prada, Tiffany, Coach, etc. However, not only did they not have my size, (I have an extra wide face), they didn't have anything in my price range. Even with the health insurance coverage, I'd have to pay at least $200+ just for the frame alone. So I returned to Arcade Optical, and Dr. Lakher personally went around the store picking out glasses for me to try on. I had made it known that I did not wish to pay more than what my insurance covers. (Yes, I sounded cheap) He was extremely patient and selected two pairs of glasses that fitted my large face. I chose one that was "free" (did not have to pay extra for the frame). And with various options I needed for the lens, it added up to the minimal I expected to pay. The best part was - I presented my broken original glasses to see if they could fix it. Not only did they happily repair the glasses for me ON THE SAME DAY and it was FREE. FREE!!! Who does that nowadays?! I am extremely grateful for Joan who fixed my glasses. It's still a good, useful pair. I'd hate to toss them. And she upgraded the original nose pieces so now they are BETTER than EVER! Now I am waiting for the new pair of glasses. Will send updates later. read more

I visited for an annual eye appointment, and felt that the appointment was unhelpful. The doctor seemed to breeze through the appointment, trying to move as quickly as possible, despite the fact that no one was waiting. The doctor was overall unattentive. I had a relatively good experience while searching for glasses. Both employees were helpful in trying to find me frames. However, the doctor changed the price of a frame on the spot after viewing my insurance. I am sure it is illegal on many fronts to charge customers different prices based on their insurance. I decided to search online for a better price (as i was quoted over $100 the true cost of the frames based on what my insurance would pay). I later called Arcade Optical to confirm the quoted price I received, and when i told the employee that I felt that the price was exaggerated, she repeatedly called me "foolish," for comparing costs with competitors. I am not someone who doesn't like to support small businesses, although they often come with a heavier price point; however, as a college student I can not afford to make such sacrifices when it comes to healthcare, especially businesses who seemingly take advantage of people based on their insurance. In short, the business runs on an unprofessional basis and is disrespectful to customers. read more

Very accurate eye measurement reading. After all, your eyes' health is the key. Arcade Optical did a great job! The glasses were of good quality. Services were good. I regularly wear the two pairs of glasses I got last year. As a result, my eyesight is getting better even when I sometimes read without glasses. They reduce eye strain when I look at the laptop or iPad screen all day. Great, accurate measurement. read more

I'm hoping a future resolution of my current situation will encourage me to raise this two-star review to at least three. Bottom line: So far, I am incredibly disappointed. While the in-store customer service was nice, my afterwards experience has been nothing but a let down. I went in with a prescription for contact lenses... THREE WEEKS AGO. While I was in there, the husband (I believe that's the relationship between the two owners) rattled off a price with a quick glance at my situation (but then again, what do I know?). I had to pay a deposit, so I paid half and was told my prescription would be ready that next Wednesday (I came in on a Saturday). Wednesday came and went, but I know managing things in a small business can be crazy so I let it go. When no one contacted me by Saturday, I reached out. I was told to wait for their phone call this time and my certain prescription would take two weeks. Why I wasn't told this in the first place, I don't know. So now I am sitting here with no contacts and some money short with no form of communication. While the pricing was fair and the people were kind, I don't appreciate being forgotten about. Hopefully, I will hear from the nice woman who assisted me and I will be able to see the world as I was truly meant to. read more

Best deal, wonderful people, and fast service! I first came here because it was one of the only places in Brookline that would accept my insurance (VSP). It turned out to be an incredible find and I plan on doing all of my future annual eye exams here. The two who run Arcade Optical are very friendly. I was the most impressed with the quick service. I was in and out in under 30 minutes, and in the process got my eye exam, a new prescription of my glasses, and new contacts. They are also very flexible with scheduling. I called in that morning and scheduled an appointment for that afternoon. read more

UPDATE! Since writing my initial review, I have received my new glasses! I could not be more pleased! In the past, even with new glasses, it seemed like they never gave me the crystal clear vision that I so painstakingly picked while sitting in the optometrist's chair (#1, or #2....what about now...1 or 2...and now?...). This time, my eyesight was improved dramatically with the new glasses. I was amazed. I can only attribute this to the careful measurements that Dr. Lakher took when fitting my frames. I had never had this done before, but he had me put on the frames and used a marker to make a small dot at what I guess was the location of my pupil for each eye. He then measured the distance and made a note of it. I was expecting the same old results, but these glasses are definitely a cut above all my previous pairs! read more

I called for an appointment and received an incredibly rude receptionist who did not answer my question and just spoke to me in the most condescending manner I have ever experienced when making an appointment. All I was asking was how much the appointment would cost me. My goodness, who knew that I deserved such a spiteful tone. I actually was a patient last year--the service was okay, I agree the office is a bit disorderly. Based on this phone call, I will definitely be going somewhere else. read more

I picked this place because it's the only one nearby that takes my insurance, but it turned out great. The doctor is fantastic, he went above and beyond to help me choose the right contact lenses for me. The glasses selection is great too, sure it's no one hour lenscrafters but the styles of the frames are very unique and worth a little wait. The woman (whose name I can't remember) is also very helpful in finding the perfect frames! read more

Very nice and experienced eye doctor. The eye examination was quick and thorough. Convenient location. Five stars!

Arcade Optical is a gem. Dr. Lakher and Joanie are top at what they both do, respectively. I have been going since they were at their old location on Harvard Street. I briefly went to another place and really saw the difference in customer care and my own personal comfort level. They are THE best. read more

A part of me didn't want to write this, ever- though as a faithful Yelper I thought this might be needed. I first came here after, ironically, looking at other Yelp reviews. I thought I could trust ya'll out in Yelp-land! What happened!?!?! The Eye Exam: This was about a year ago. I have insurance, so I was waiting on the date when it would kick in for me to get a new pair of glasses. In the meantime, insurance paid for an appointment and contacts so I went in and made an appointment. At first, I didn't think much of the place. Sure, a cute little hole in the wall mom and pop shop, literally owned by an old married couple. I came in and the lady was warm, maybe a little overbearing, but at this point it wasn't bothersome. I had my eye exam in the closet-like room behind the main area. I was really surprised. The equipment wasn't up to date. All of the usual routines I was use to weren't offered. For example, its good to have your eyes dilated every year, and while my last exam was more than a year ago I was never offered an eye dilation. Regardless, I wasn't going to pay for another eye exam elsewhere, so I got my prescription and went ahead and got my contacts filled. I've never had a pair of contacts be bothersome. This could be because of my eyes changing, who knows, but this was the first place I was given problematic contacts. Having gotten a new pair of Warby Parker glasses (look them up!), I went on a contact hiatus, and didn't bother following up about the contacts- though the whole box was defective ------------------- A year later, I have enough insurance $$ to get glasses. Thats when things got really bad. I come in wearing the messed up contacts and try on some glasses. The lady, this time, was a bit overbearing. My eye started hurting really bad so I switched to my WP glasses. Then the lady crossed the line. She asked me about my frames, I told her about Warby Parker WHO I LOVE because they cut the middle man out of the whole glasses shopping experience- and she goes on to not only semi-insult the brand, but continues to INSULT the type of glasses I preferred. She didn't like the more boxy cut, said it didn't really fit my face. Um. Really? Actually, it does fit my face well, but it was the style she was critiquing. Who does that? I mean, I was seriously so insulted that this woman would critique her competition in front of me, and also criticize the style I purchased. Thats a NO NO. And its not like it was a one sentence occurrence, she made it clear that her little boutique was way more superior than online blah blah blah. She also kept pushing me toward certain pairs of glasses, not taking into account the STYLE I had repeatedly told her I was looking for. Oh! I even said that I came in looking for a thick red frame- and she said, "why would you want red?" REALLY? Because I want red! *****(side note: after this I went to a number of eye shops around the area and they thought a RED thick frame was a wonderful color to get!) And, no offense lady, but I'm in my 20s, and you are in your 60s... so I'm not sure how fashion oriented you are, let alone how knowledgeable you are on what is in for a 20 something. Just an FYI. )****** Unfortunately (before she started insulting me!), I had already scheduled an appointment for another eye exam with them, but whatever "pushover" mentality I had about their being a "cute small mom&pop shop" that kept me going there was over. My husband cancelled my appointment. Other minor concerns: -the place is cluttered, even the exam room isn't too put together. -no price tags! HUGE no-no! It means that the owners can just hike up the prices if they get the impression you want the pair badly enough. Prices should always be clearly displayed- I shouldn't have to ask the owner to 'calculate' ****lastly, there are other eye places that have reasonably priced glasses, shop around, don't be pulled in like I was just because I thought that they needed my service to survive. If this lady can say what she says, she apparently doesn't need my business after all!******* oh, and making fake reviews on Yelp isn't ok either. Also, writing "real person, real review" doesn't legitimize the fake reviews you have made. Moreover, it doesn't undermine this post, it just makes you looks bad as an owner/businessman UPDATE: Per the owner's comment, I would like to make a correction- Joan Ludensky and Michael Lakher are (apparently) not married though I, like MANY OTHER YELP reviews on here from fellow Yelpers, assumed as much. I apologize for this misinformation. Regardless, I stand by the rest of this review. read more

The word to describe Arcade Optical is quirky - in a good way, mostly. The doctor (who, a very long time ago, used to be part of a three-partner optical shop across Harvard Street) is sweet, accommodating and knowledgeable. He's the best part about this place. (And for me, he gets extra points for being an ophthamologist versus an optometrist.) Don't come here for high end designer frames, however. They have an ample selection of decent frames; nothing to write home about but if you just want a pair of attractive frames and quality work, this is a good place to look. The place is very small so if there's more than one person browsing frames, it can get a bit claustrophobic. My only real gripe is the perpetually cheerful and perky woman who's always there and seems to be sort of a combination office manager and self-appointed expert on what looks good on you. She constantly hovers, even when you give clear signals that you're the kind of person (like me) who prefers to browse alone, at least at first. I wish the doctor would give her a few tips on customer service because I would give this place 5 stars if she were more palatable. Of course, other reviewers have sung her praises so I guess to each his own! They take some insurances, which is not all that common, so that's a definite plus. I don't think you need an appointment - I've just walked in and it was fine. But I'm wondering - why does the doctor always respond, "Real person, real review" after 5-star reviews? Makes it sound like he thinks all the others are fake, which is insulting to customers. Speaking of insulting, another reviewer mentioned Joan's (I think that's her name) decrying her choice of red frames. I had a similar experience: I walked in wearing an old pair of frames from a designer shop and she implied rather transparently that they were dated, which they definitely are not! She needs to get a clue about customer service, seriously. read more

My husband and I were really hoping to love this place, it's a local business and not lens crafters. But, the woman who sells the glasses here has been so rude. The optometrist is great (hence the 2 stars) but the saleslady just makes me never want to go back. She sold my husband a pair of frames and one year later they split in half at the nose. He brought them in and asked if there was anything they could do to fix them and she said, no they're not well made frames. She must not remember that she sold them or that she said how great they were (and that they cost $400). To make matters worse, He picked out some new glasses at a different store and she refused to tell him what his prescription was or to fax it to the new store. Needless to say we won't be going back. read more

Hidden gem in the Arcade! I stopped by on a Monday on the recommendation of my coworker, as our insurance isn't covered by bigger companies like LensCrafters, and easily secured an appointment for two days later. I saw some reviewers make a fuss about the lack of "tech" in Arcade Optical and want to note for future readers that the easiest way to interact with insurance companies is still over the phone. Dr. L called my insurance company to double check it for me (I don't have a card), dialed the number from memory, and confirmed my eligibility within about 30 seconds. When it came to the exam, I again had an easy, pleasant visit. I'm super squeamish and thought I was going to faint at one point, which was embarrassing, but they both were sweet as could be, gave me time to get myself back together and gave me a bottle of water. Later, they both helped me find some awesome frames and happily wrote the info down for me to relay to my mom, who offered to go halvsies with me (yay!). I had a wonderful conversation with the lovely woman (Joan? I'm sorry I'm forgetful!), which is something that I personally appreciate in customer service. I know that's not everyone's thing, but I enjoy some small talk at small, local businesses. They even offered to update the lenses on my prescription sunglasses, which I purchased elsewhere several years ago (I imagine it might be a hassle to track down the correct lens type for these, but they were unconcerned). So nice! Extremely convenient, great service, good prices/nice discounts, and a local business? What more can I ask for? read more

I hope that future yelpers who are looking for an optometrist in the Brookline area strongly consider going to another establishment. If you look carefully at all the negative reviews, you will notice a highly unprofessional response from the optometrist himself with no acknowledgement of any fault on his end. Rather, he delivers disparaging remarks about the patient without addressing the unacceptable care/service that was delivered. Personally, I highly recommend Dr. Cangiano at Vision North. He and his staff treat patients professionally and deliver superior eye care. read more

I've been coming to Arcade Optical for quite a few years now and this review is long over due for this hidden gem. This is a little independent optical store that comes with all the right trimmings: 1) fantastic customer service and knowledge from the only two employees there. That being Joni and Dr. Lakher. Even if it gets crowded in this tiny store, be sure that you'll get all the attention you need from both. 2) Great selection- You won't find alot of high end name brand frames here (Gucci, Prada etc) However, you will find brands that make quality frames with great attention to detail. I love their quirky Danish selection and have gotten lots of compliments on the different frames I have purchased over the years. 3) Great prices- They have something for every budget. And because this is an independent shop, they are very negotiable. 4) Last but not least- Location. Located in the Arcade Building in Brookline, there is a convenient public parking lot right behind the building. An example of how great they are. My most recent purchase was just this past June. I purchased a pair of sunglasses (they can make any frame into sunglasses). Unbeknownst to me, I did not realize that per my insurance, I was not due for another pair of frames until January. After I had picked out the frames,selected my options for the lenses and went over what my insurance would cover- i left the store with a set price in mind. A few days past and Joni called and advised that I was not due for a new pair of glasses until January and that insurance would not cover the frames. Just to be clear, I went to the store and they gave me the insurance info they received. I should have double checked with what was covered. With an obvious disappointed, sad look on my face, I think Dr. Lakher felt sorry for me because the price was going to be more, he kindly gave me a 20% discount. I thought that was very nice of them and when I picked up the frames they also gave me an extra care set = lens cloth & solution for the frames. haha.. Luv it!! read more

Wonderful. I have been wearing glasses since I was 11, and I was astounded by how quick and professional the eye exam was. I was expecting a solid 1/2 hour of hemming and hawing and, "Which lens is better?"-ing, but within a few minutes the doctor had determined my new prescription. He was also already familiar with my employer's vision benefits. The woman who fitted and helped me pick out my new frames was also great. At first I was somewhat annoyed that she was hovering while I looked at their selection of frames, but ultimately, she was very helpful. They have so many more frames than those that are displayed. If you are looking for designer frames, this is maybe not the best place to go. If you are looking for somewhere with a large selection of more reasonable frames and excellent personal service, go to Arcade Optical. Bonus: They are open on Saturdays. read more

I went to Arcade Optical because it accepted my insurance. At first I was a bit suspicious of the place because I have gotten burned before by optical places claiming they take my insurance but then they say that they don't have any frames that are completely covered by the insurance. This place was different, they had a broad selection of frames, some very stylish and they were flexible in working with me so that my contribution didn't exceed the $20.00 co pay. I love this place! If you have VSP insurance, this is the place to go! read more

Arcade Optical had me in for an appointment within 15 minutes of calling to schedule one. Dr. Lakher called my insurance company personally to confirm my coverage and then proceeded with a thorough but efficient exam. He also addressed specifically some of my eye concerns that have been shrugged off by eye doctors in the past. Joanie, the office manager and glasses guru, is personable and helpful. Highly recommend! read more

I really, really like Dr. Lakher. I think he's highly intelligent, and I really appreciate the time and care he takes to explain everything very clearly and answer all of my questions. I feel like he is an excellent eye doctor who cares about his patients. He worked with me to find a creative solution so that I could wear contacts (instead of glasses-only). The only (minor) complaint I have is that his wife (who is the admin/sales lady) is a little overbearing and you can feel the tension between them.... read more

Just the nicest people. I've had an eye exam and bought contact lenses here. The exam was super-thorough and didn't feel in any way rushed. Prices of the contacts were very reasonable (I compared online to 1-800-Contacts.) And they recently repaired a pair of eyeglasses I didn't get there, while I waited. They also cleaned them and gave me a free case. ...And then wouldn't let me pay. Wish there were more businesses around that offered top-notch service like Arcade! read more

I must say, I wasn't sold on Arcade Optical at my first visit. I had gotten an amazon deal from them over the holidays and decided to give it a try, since I really needed to get a full exam done and buy prescription glasses. There's bountiful parking, which everybody knows is extremely rare in Boston and it won't cost you more than 2$. The shop itself is just that - a shop. It's very very small, and can feel quite cramped....but it has a kind of authentic charm to it, and it grew on me. The exam itself....was long, tedious, and annoying...but that's just because I don't generally like having air puffs shot at my eyeballs....Dr. Lakher is obviously very smart and has a sweet personality. The woman, who it seems like runs the front of the shop, I admit was at first a bit overbearing but she was very helpful by picking out pairs for me and giving me her honest opinion. I agree that not everyone wants to hear what you like if they already know they like it, but the woman clearly knows what she's doing, so let her tell you what looks good and what doesn't! After all it isn't like you can't buy what you want... I went back yesterday to pick up my glasses, and I couldn't be happier. The prescription is on point, whatever extra coating I got on it was definitely worth it, and they were not overly expensive after the discounted coupon. The ONLY downside to the glasses is that the frame is uneven. One side is a little looser than the other, but I really don't notice it that much and I know that I will be able to bring them in anytime to fix it for free. This is something they offer, as well as a one year warranty. I would certainly recommend this location, especially to those who can afford to splurge a little bit. You're looking at at least $300 on glasses. I think that's about what I paid, and without the discount mine were $450. :) read more

I stopped in here because I was in the Arcade, anyway, and they happened to have a space for an appointment. A couple of reviewers have found the saleslady overbearing, but I'd call her "no nonsense." I explained what I wanted in a new pair of frames, which is the opposite of current fashion, and she offered me several options that were comfortable -and- stylish. Dr. Latiker wins points for being the only eye doctor to do the 'puff test' on me with only one puff for each eye. I've also never had the doctor him/herself note the way the frames fit, mark where the center of the scrip should go, double-check, etc. I now have a pair of glasses I'm actively happy with, which give me clear vision, fit great, and look as good as they can given the face they are sitting on. read more

After a bad experience with Lenscrafters, Arcade Optical was great and able to fit me with a pair of toric contacts that are comfortable. I would highly recommend this place to anyway. read more

Really great independent store, had a quick turnaround when one of my lenses popped out and needed to be sent out to be repaired. Would recommend this store to family and friends. read more

I had an appointment with Dr. Doug, and it went really well! He was very friendly and knowledgeable, and I was in and out in 20 minutes. He even took the time to explain the picture he took of my retina. read more

The duo here are incredibly kind. Best prices in town. Fast service. I'm thoroughly happy for having come here.