Dr Gardner is a excellent eye doctor! The staff at Bard Optical is so nice! I always recommend Bard optical to my family and friends when people are looking for an eye Dr!! read more

Everyone here was professional, friendly and efficient. I was very happy with my exam appointment.

Optometrist and tech were great. Selection is focused towards high end costly name brand frames. They seem to hide the lower more cost effective frames until you say something. read more

This was the worst experience that I've ever had with any type of annual exam. The optometrist did not introduce herself, but instead opened with, "so I hear your eyes are giving you trouble." I had to search for her name after my appointment to learn that she was indeed the assigned optometrist. The staff were socially awkward and created a rushed experience while I attempted to choose my glasses frames. They did not offer anti-glare lenses, which I would have gladly paid for. I ended up getting the worst pair of glasses that I have ever owned and plan to donate them. read more

Staff were very nice and helpful. Both of my kids had eye appointments and the staff were very patient with them during the exam and at the end when they were selecting their glasses. They handled everything through our insurance. The glasses came in very quickly and my kids are happy. read more

This place and the front desk staff are terrible and really suck.. Even yelp has only one star reviews for them.. I should have seen that before making my appt. I needed an ophthalmologist and not an optometrist anyways so it was an easy decision to walk away from this stinking front desk staff.. read more

I went to Bard Optical in Sterling, IL. for an exam because of vision issues due to a pituitary brain tumor. I had a very in-depth eye exam and discovered that I needed glasses; I've never worn them before. Firstly, the eye doctor I saw was amazing. She made me feel very comfortable and she was knowledgeable about pituitary tumors and how they can effect the optic nerves. I felt so at ease! She explained everything very well. The rest of the staff was amazing as well. They walked me through the different types of lenses there were and what would be beneficial to me. They also let me try on multiple pairs of frames (which I'm sure is normal, again I've never worn glasses before). Overall it was a great experience. Wait times are not long at all, the facility was very clean and presentable, and everyone is friendly. I highly recommend Bard Optical in Sterling. read more

Starting with the confirming appointment voicemail, I find it weird how if you don't call back to confirm, they say they will cancel or give away your appointment. They call me on a Saturday to confirm my appointment when I had a wedding all day but was luckily able to call and leave a voicemail Monday morning. Come later that morning, they call me to cancel my appointment that is later that day. Say they aren't going to have a doctor. I had already scheduled to day off work. So I reschedule. I walk into my rescheduled appointment thinking I was 10 minutes early, only for them to say my appointment was 10 minutes ago and they already had someone scheduled. 1, there is no way they scheduled someone already. And if they did, why didn't they call and say they did because I was late to my appointment. 2, I drove a half hour for this appointment with my 3 kids and after they cancelled my appointment Monday, couldn't honor that I accidentally wrote down the wrong time and still see me even tho I know I walked in not even 10 minutes late because I made a phone call right after I left, 11 minutes past my appointment time. So I know I walked in not 7-9 minutes past my appointment. Anyways, I wouldn't suggest doing business there. They are very rude and don't see to care about their patients. read more

Once again, I had a wonderful experience with Bard Optical in Sterling. These are the third pair of glasses I've purchased from Bard in Sterling and every time I've been pleased with what I received. The staff is very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. They took the time to make sure I was fitted well and had an enormous choice of frames. I frequently recommend Bard Optical to friends and people I meet at work and will continue to do so. read more

From the moment we walked into Bard Optical the employees were all very welcoming and kind.... with smiles on their faces.....My husband and myself both had appointments.....All went very well.....we were treated in a timely manor.......and very happy with our experience there.....The Doc and all the staff who worked on us....were just amazing !!!!! Very happy with our treatment @ Bard Optical.......Thanks Doc & Staff....!!!! See you all next week to pick up our new glasses !!!!! read more

I was over at your Sterling, IL facility at the end of Aug. 2013 for an eye exam with my daughter; we had received a phone call from Bard saying we were due for our new glasses per IL Medical Card rules. Both Sarah and I had our eye exams, and picked out our frames. Since we are were on the IL Medical Card at the time of our exams, it was found by the Bard Optical employee that my prescription and frames were not eligible to be renewed until Nov. 2013. Our state medical coverage expired Dec. 1, 2013. I was verbally assured by your Bard employee that my prescription would be turned into the State in Nov. when it was eligible to do so. When I had not heard anything from Bard by the middle of Jan. 2014 I called the office to inquire about my glasses. (I am aware that it takes up to 3 mos. for state glasses to be made). When I phoned Bard Optical in Jan. 2014 I was told that my prescription was still in my file and that it would be turned in that day. I received a voicemail from Amy at the Sterling Bard Optical Store on Monday, Mar. 3, 2014 telling me that they had received a denial letter for my glasses and that my glasses would not be made. I tried phoning Amy back on Tues. Mar 4, 2014 and was told by Amanda, who answered the phone, that Amy was not in that day, but asked if she could help me. I explained the situation to Amanda, that had my prescription been turned in as it should have been in November,2013, then the glasses would have been made. Amanda told me she would phone the home office and see what they said to do, and would then phone me back. Amanda phoned back and said the home office was going to send a fax to the state of IL to verify I had coverage in November. On Friday, Mar. 7, 2014 I received a phone call from Amy at Bard Optical asking if anyone had explained to me about what had happened with my glasses. I explained, AGAIN, to Amy how I had talked to Amanda earlier in the week, and what Amanda had done. Amy said that she had spoken to her boss and was told that, and I quote: "In instances like this when the eye exam is done before the glasses are due, it is on the patient to call us and remind us to turn in the prescription. Therefore, if you want your glasses, it will be $234.00 and we will need a $150.00 deposit." I told Amy that I should not have to pay for my glasses since it was Bard Optical's error in not turning in my prescription in November 2013 as it should have done. Amy said she understood but her hands were tied, and we said goodbye. About five minutes after this last phone conversation, Amy calls me back and said she called the home office and that the home office heard back from the state saying that they will not back date the claim for my glasses because it is insurance fraud to do so. I am not asking the state to back date anything, They were just supposed to VERIFY that I had coverage for glasses at the time that BARD OPTICAL WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN MY PRESCRIPTION IN!!!!! Amy again said she understood and apologized for "the incident" and said that SHE DOES PUT EMAIL REMINDERS ON HER COMPUTER TO CALL CLIENTS WHEN THEIR GLASSES ARE DUE TO BE RENEWED, BUT THAT SHE ONLY WORKS THREE DAYS PER WEEK AND IF THE REMINDER POPS UP ON A DAY SHE IS NOT THERE NO CALLS ARE MADE!!!!!!! I am very upset with Bard Optical and feel they should provide my glasses as promised, free of charge as it was THEIR MISTAKE for not turning in my prescription on time in Nov. 2013! Kelly M. Allen read more

I had fine service leading up to the exam. During the exam, as in others, the doctor surprised me by saying that she had to dilate my pupils. I told her that I was not told that in advance, and I have to drive myself home without glasses. She said I would be fine. Well I wasn't. I had to drive at night and each headlight, stoplight, and streetlight was the size of a dinner plate from my perspective. I was not safe to drive, but I had no other way to get home. I later completed an online survey that was emailed to me, and I noted how the woman who sold me my frames hid some pricing. She gave me a price that included some extended warranty that I don't need. When I spent more money on a second set of glasses, she suddenly hit a button and found that she could give me Teflon coating for a lower price than she had quoted me earlier. At the end of the online survey, I clicked a box that said "I do not wish to be contacted about my survey." Well a couple of days later the woman who sold me the glasses called. I didn't pick up since there is nothing to be accomplished by talking to her. She left a voice mail referencing the things I sent in the online survey. She should never have been given my contact info and she should not have called. What was she going to do? Argue with me about the pricing? I'd rather pay out of pocket than go back. read more

I wanted to write a review to let others know about my recent experiences with Bard Optical in Sterling Illinois. I recently changed jobs and consequently my insurance provider changed as well, my previous eye doctor was no longer covered so I searched for a new provider and ended up at Bard Optical. When I called and set up the appointment I wasn't told to bring anything but my insurance card and photo id. I brought my contact boxes with just in case they needed to see them, good thing because and the whole appointment would have been pointless had I not brought the contacts boxes. Even with the boxes the doctor could not figure out how to enter them into the computer system, after 5 minutes of her talking to herself she asked me to sit in the waiting room/sales floor for another 10 minutes while she tried to figure it out. Finally she figured out how to enter the prescription into the computer and let me back into the exam room. As if I wasn't already unimpressed with the professionalism I was mortified when the doctor dilated my eyes and literally had her face touching my check when she looked at my eyes and I couldn't barely breathe due to the stink of cigarette smoke. I understand the doctor needs to be uncomfortably close but I was disappointed because of the stench of cigarette on her clothes and breathe, almost to the point I had to ask her to back up and end the appointment. I am not a smoker and have no toleration for smokers, let alone a doctor who should be professional. The appointment ended quickly after and I was told I would have to wait until Monday to order the contacts because they were unsure on how to order and pricing. I was contacted the following Monday and for the first time throughout my experience was impressed with her professionalism. This quickly faded when I called today to order the contacts. I ordered with August who asked me what brand the contacts were and if I knew how much they cost since they are custom and he didn't know. I was caught off guard, this is their job not mine correct? After I told him they were two fifty a box he responded $2.50/box, does this make any sense at all? I have never heard of boxes of contacts costing $5 for 4 pairs. After I clarified $250/box he told me the total price and demanded a card to pay for the contacts. I questioned the $500+ that he wanted to charge me and asked what insurance had covered. He didn't have any idea and once again asked me to tell him what my insurance covered, then quickly told me he would have to call me back. Five minutes later August called me back and once again gave me an incorrect price, which I questioned once again. Finally I believe the price was correct and I paid half over the phone, the other half to be paid upon pickup and quickly ended the conversation. Overall I have been beyond disappointed in Bard Optical and the professionalism of the staff including the doctors. I hate to write reviews like this but prospective customers deserve to know what they are paying for and what they can expect to experience. Once I receive my contacts I will never be back to Bard Optical. I hope this reviews can help others so that they don't have to experience the same situations and disappointments. read more

yes I want to know when is my next eye exam my name is OLGA HYLES 8-20-1961 my phone is 8155351118 u can text me because I don't have a phone until Friday. read more

I would not in the least recommend this place. I went here yesterday to get my eye exam and see about getting glasses. My appointment was at 3:30 I didn't even get started til 4! Then it was just two more times of hurry up and wait. The staff was overly rude slow and lazy. They got pissy because my husband laid my three year old on the empty chairs to Finnish her nap instead of sitting in the hot truck with her for the TWO hours my appointment took! My daughter slept basically the whole time and the place was empty anyways. I finally went back and did the first set of stuff then to sit for another half hour to move on again. Then I did the eye exam and after she already told me I didn't qualify for state covered glasses she continued to shine bright lights in my eyes and then dilate my eyes without telling me what she was doing! The point of this was what she already told me I couldn't have glasses that I badly need. So the dilation is still affecting me the next day I'm super dizzy I can't see more than 8 feet clearly and I've been puking. Never will I ever go here again nor recommend it to anyone else!! Please save yourself and go else where! read more