What could've been a nightmare was turned into a wonderful experience! We're in Chicago, from elsewhere, for a month...25 days to go and one lens falls out of my glasses & the screw broke :-(. 5:10pm I called Big City, by 5:40 we're there chatting with 2 lovely, smart, young women working while their Manager is in the back room cutting down a larger screw to fit. By 6:10 we're on our way, no charge, other than a huge thank you to the entire team at this location of Big City Optical. PS. I was hoping not to need new glasses but was preparing myself...no hard sell, just help! read more

Have been here multiple times over the years for eye exams and for my eyeglasses. The opticians are always courteous, professional, and knowledgeable. The team in the front of the shop are also very kind and were very patient as I tried on about a dozen different frames before landing on the right one. They also offered me a great deal and i will continue to return. read more

Fantastic customer service!! 100/10 I made it into the store very shortly before they closed, and Michelle was incredibly pleasant and helped me with everything I needed. She truly went above and beyond to help me find exactly what I was looking for. Thank you Michelle!! read more

I knew I had to get my eyes tested before the end of the year for insurance reasons, and December is always hard to get an appointment. (Flexible spending is about to expire and everyone is doing the same thing). I have been in a few other optical stores but only found the run-of-the-mill styles. Walking around East Lakeview we decided to stop at Big City Optical. Evelyn welcomed us as we entered. As I looked around, I was finding real options. I told Evelyn what I would like to find. Being the pro that she is knowing her stock and taking my facial features and coloring in to account she suggested five great options. She was able to get me in to see the optometrist the same day. Everyone there was welcoming and helpful and they have an extensive inventory I have not seen elsewhere. read more

I was very disappointed by my customer service experience. There are more welcoming, more organized businesses to spend your hard-earned money. read more

Came here on a Sunday afternoon to actually get a replacement screw for my sunglass hinge. Staff were very welcoming and friendly. They went to work right away on my sunglasses. They also ran into the unfortunate trouble of having to find a particular screw size for my glasses, but were able to make it work! Got my glasses back in just a few minutes, with a quick cleaning and free of charge! Definitely left a great impression on my short visit here in Chicago and I'm sure their glasses are just as great as the service they gave today! read more

Deceptive Practices, beware of terms changing retroactively! I bought a pair of glasses from Big City Optical on October 7th of 2024 at the East Lakeview location. When I bought the glasses Big City Optical offered a complimentary 1-year warranty. My glasses got bent so I went into the Logan Square store to get my complimentary repair. I was informed my repair wasn't covered because I hadn't bought the warranty. Thinking I must have been mistaken about the earlier warranty and not wanting to cause a hassle for the nice lady working the counter (who had already called her manager to see if anything could be done). I left without getting a repair. I could've sworn, however, that I had gotten a complementary warranty and had never been asked to purchase it. Becoming curious I looked up archived versions of the Big City Optical website. Advertised plainly on their website was the complimentary 1 year repair program (which I have attached a screenshot of). It appears as though the policy has changed, as now on Big City Optical's website you will see they charge for their one year warranty program. I feel completely duped and betrayed at this point, I don't know what kind of company would try to gaslight their customers to avoid honoring their previous policies and commitments. Beware. read more

Big City Optical - Optometrists Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my second and final experience with Big City Optical, and it has been totally frustrating. My first encounter was two years ago at their Southport location, where the entire process--from start to finish--was miserable, and I swore I would never use them again. Unfortunately, I gave BCO another chance because I was interested in a pair of Ray-Ban eyeglasses, which were listed on BCO's website. I visited their Berwyn/Clark location to check out the selection, but the staff informed me that they didn't carry them. They insisted that the Clark store had them, despite me asking for confirmation due to the distance. I was told, without hesitation, that they had them. After walking in the cold all the way to the Clark location, I was told they didn't have any Ray-Bans in stock either, and the staff there had no idea why the Berwyn/Clark location had sent me. Frustrated, I checked the website again, which listed the Ray-Bans as in stock at BCO's East Lakeview location. I even called ahead to confirm, and they assured me they had them. So, I made an eye exam appointment there. When I arrived and asked to see the Ray-Ban selection, I was told that they don't carry Ray-Ban frames. I pointed out that their website clearly states they have them in stock, and their response was that they weren't sure why that was listed and that it "happens all the time." At that point, I was livid, but I didn't cancel my eye exam since I was already there, which in hindsight was a mistake. To make matters worse, I was charged $49 out of pocket when I should have only paid $10. I'll take partial responsibility for not remembering all my insurance details, but what's inexcusable is that they failed to inform me that $39 of that charge was for a service not covered by my insurance. At every other eye doctor I've visited, they clearly explain if a service isn't covered, provide the cost, and ask if I want it. Big City Optical did none of this. Instead, they assumed I wanted the service and didn't make it optional, when it absolutely was. This is deceptive. Not only did BCO fail to deliver on what they advertised on their website, but they also took advantage of me financially. I will never return. Thank you for wasting my time and money. read more

AJ was super helpful. He fixed 2 pairs of glasses free of charge in minutes. Excellent customer service.

Came by today to get new nose pad pieces for my glasses because a friend recommended this place, once we walked in instantly we approached an employee, her name was Amy, and she welcomed us very well and was very willing to help! If y'all need any help with repairs or even looking for a new pair of glasses, I definitely recommend visiting Big City Optical for the help! read more

I just stopped into Big City on Broadway. Such service oriented folks! Shout out to Patrick for taking such quick efficient care of my glasses adjustment. Bravo! read more

Great experience. The staff helped me find the perfect frames. They were patient and I never felt rushed. They got me the best value for the glasses and contacts. The ophthalmologist held an actual conversation about the health of my eyes. My visit never felt clinical which I greatly appreciated. I had three staff members focus on my needs. I highly recommend you plan a visit. read more

I do really like the doctors here, they are all very friendly. I can honestly say Dr. Li and Dr. Tamulavichus are just the nicest optometrist I've ever interacted with. 2 of the staffs definitely go above and beyond, Emily and, my apologies for not getting his name, the tallest guy in the shop. He initially helped me picking out lenses and when I need adjustments he made sure everything is aligned and straight, like ask for his help, he is very dedicated to what he does. Emily is also very helpful, she's always there to help if you have questions or problems with your lenses or prescriptions. They have a pretty good selection of stylish glasses. Not cheap but definitely unique in detail. Some of it is definitely more form than function lol The pair I ended up getting looks great, works well, but the arms are really thin which puts a lot of pressure on my ear. it was painful to wear after a day. Luckily there are silicone glasses sleeve straps that can helps to cushion the ear and also prevent slipping. You can get them on Amazon. So I too had ran into the problem Charle's did, which was my prescription was very off, even after adjusting the lenses a couple times it was still off. But Emily, Megan, and Mike (owner) worked with me through the process and made sure I do get a working pair of frames that I like and enjoy wearing. I am wondering if the machine needs some retuning or something about the equipment isn't right. Maybe it's the factory they work with? not sure, it just doesn't seem like the doctors can be off by that much and that often. Especially everything worked out very well when I was getting examined. This is also the only reason why I'm taking a star off. Since it did take quite a lot of effort to get a working pair of glasses. I went in for my exam right around when shelter in place was about to start. I got my glasses last week, granted I had gone through 3 iterations and 2 re-exams through the duration. But I mean that is a lot on their end too. so like a 4.8/5 is probably what I would give if I can give partial stars. read more

Big City Optical - They special ordered this frame for me, love it, silicone sleeves to help cushion the arms - Optometrists Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Eye doctor was not very welcoming and quite rude during the exam. I understand her job is to look at my eyes but I feel minimal customer service skills are expected too. Prices are high. I went here because they offered extra discount with my insurance but the starting prices and fees they charge are much higher which basically negates any discount offered. I won't be returning. read more

Bought these sick Marni glasses from Big City Optical. Such a great find! Shoutout to Doug for the awesome recommendation and service! read more

Big City Optical - Optometrists Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went shopping there for frames... saw a pair I liked... they were $680. I then went on line to the actual manufacturer site and say then selling at the MSRP of $480 and got 20% off... Big City is gouging... before buying look it up and shop price! I mentioned this to two of the employees and they were like well I don't make the prices up and I said whoever does is not being cool read more

I needed a replacement for a lost nose support for my Maui Jim sunglasses. Though they did not have an official Maui Jim replacement, they replaced it with a very close substitute. And to top it off, they did not even charge me even though I did not buy the glasses there. Everyone was very polite and engaging and I would highly recommend this neighborhood store. Go guys! read more

Broadly, the customer service and exam were a smooth experience. My eyes are sensitive and they're working with me to find and test contact lenses to find one that works for me. I really appreciate their expertise and help. I docked 1 star because my exam experience gave me the sense of being upsold a little bit. For example, I was under the impression that I had a choice: either having my eyes dilated OR having a special tool used take images of my retinas (which is an extra $40 copay.) I was pretty sure I made it clear during check-in that I wanted to avoid the copay, and was ok with having my eyes dilated... but I got to the end of my exam and they hadn't dilated my eyes, but rather taken pictures at some point during my exam. I got to the register to pay and my bill for a basic exam + contact lens exam was $109! $10 copay for the exam, $40 for the fancy imaging I didn't think I'd consented to, and a copay for the contact lens portion of my exam, if I remember right. I just recently switched jobs and money is tight, so I was unhappy to be on the hook for an extra $40 charge that I hadn't accounted for. When I asked again about it, mentioning that I'd thought I was going to have my eyes dilated, both the doctor and the cashier each gave a different explanation -- that they only dilate for people with small pupils, or that they only dilate when the images suggest there's a problem. Whatever the reason, that means the STANDARD exam includes a service that is an extra charge. I was unhappy with the surprise, and by then it was too late to decline the extra service, obviously. I wish either that it had been made clearer BEFORE my appointment that this was the standard procedure; or that there were a clearer process for waiving the high-speed imaging and thus avoiding an extra copay. read more

I went today for my yearly eye exam at Big City Optical in Lakeview. I saw Dr. Dawn Lee for contact lenses and glasses exams and prescriptions. Dr. Li was so thorough, nice and professional. The staff, particularly AJ who took care of me, and the rest of the staff were so nice and they all tried to help me find glass frames that I liked. I will go back again next year for my yearly exam and I highly recommend Big City Optical in Lakeview. read more

Wow helped me with my gucci sunglasses! Amy is the best!! Stop here for all the sunglasses help you need.

New patient here. The associates working up front were SO lovely and welcoming. Assisted me with which glasses were best, most cost efficient, answered all my questions, etc. really really appreciated their help. My experience with the doctor wasn't as warm. Did not explain anything, felt that they rushed through my actual eye exam which made it hard for me to know if I was really getting the best prescription and it was my first time there. If I'm spending $300-$500 on frames, exam, etc., i want to know I'm getting the most accurate script. I will return just because of how lovely the staff was they have multiple choices of doctors which is nice! read more

Not the best experience with ordering glasses. The doctor and eye exam was good but the ordering process with the rep was not a good. They didn't go over all the costs and add ons. Felt rushed . read more

AJ help me by quickly fixing my Ray Bans. He was kind and obliging. And BCO is a great place for glasses.

Overall average experience for a returning patient. Had to wait 2 weeks for a pair of glasses - no one reached out when they were ready. Refused to honor a $25 birthday offer they sent me one day after dropping $1,000 on 2 pairs of glasses. For the premium prices will probably take my business elsewhere where it would be more appreciated. read more

Jay and Edwin are top notch. They replaced my lost glasses in record time, pushing hard to find the same pair at another store and then filling my progressives prescription in a very short time for a big meeting I had. Pleasant, professional - and really, really knowledgeable about frames and how to work work quickly within the Big City Optical system. If you're looking for first rate pros to give you first rate service, look no more! read more

Big City Optical used to provide a thorough, quality eye exam, taking their time and making sure the evaluation and prescription were correct. "Used to." Now if feels like you are being rushed through. The consequence is incorrect prescriptions! Twice now, my family have been rushed through, and have received incorrect prescriptions, wasting time, and causing stress. My husband, who received an incorrect prescription from this Big City location, suffered needlessly for 9 months with crippling headaches. He went to an ENT specialist, had a brain scan, etc., all to find out his prescription was incorrect, which caused the headaches. Now my daughter went in for a simple eye exam because she could not see the white board at school. The prescription received was too strong and she still could not see the white board. When we complained and came back for a consultation, we learned that the original prescription was incorrect. Now she has to wait another two weeks for a new set of lenses, which hopefully will be right. Big City Optical, please just take your time and get it right. read more

Definitely price gouging. At check out I was told my original brand of contacts (which were much cheaper) were discontinued. Therefore I would have to purchase a more expensive brand. Well that was a lie, considering I found the old brand on 1-800-contacts. Plus, I paid less for them- about $200 cheaper than what Big City Optical was quoting me. And that's without even using my insurance or rebate. Still came out much cheaper. Won't be returning here. Also, not sure if management has changed but they play god-awful music to the point where you can't hear anything or have a conversation conducive to good business. This is an office, not a club. read more

I went into Big City Optical for a new pair of glasses and an eye exam. Tony, Jess, and Emily were so nice and extremely helpful. They made picking out a new pair of glasses and navigating the buying process easy and fun! Dr. Li was so pleasant and professional. I don't think I've ever gotten a more comprehensive eye exam. She really knows her stuff and will put your best interests first. I'll be sure to come back here for any glasses/eye issues. It was truly a treat. read more

Not happy with the service provided. The eye appointment went fine. Friendly doctor. Its the staff that help order glasses that need some help. One they just tell you the price and say insert card here. I would maybe go over the break down of each line item so we know what we are paying for. I had a discrepancy after I paid and had to call back to get a refund. I was told my glasses would arrive in 5-7 days. I called 7 days later to check on the status and the lady told me she would call me back. She never did. So the next day I call back asking for the status the man said "yeah we busy you gunna have to wait" I sit on hold for 10 minutes. Finally someone looks up my order says they are not ready they will call when they are. Well clearly you cant call people back as you failed to already do so, and you are now on day 9 without providing my glasses. He said they told me wrong information its 10 days to get the glasses. Still don't have my glasses. Also I found the frames like 300 cheaper online then in there store. So lesson learned. Not coming back here. read more

Big City Optical is fantastic!! From start to finish - I had a wonderful experience with the team at this location. Dr. Rasa Tamulavichus is extremely knowledgeable, their use of technology is great, the facility is very clean/modern, and everyone is very friendly. They also have a great selection of glasses and are really easy to work with. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend checking them out! read more

Thanks, Chris, for a great experience! First time getting glasses and he made it easy and understandable!

I couldn't be happier with my experience here. The first glasses I got were not working for me. I was dizzy. Things were off. Aaron went above and beyond to figure out why they were giving me so much trouble. He and Dr. Li were open, patient and kind. I have had too many experiences with other places that dismissed my concerns and never got it right. Don't bother going anyplace else. The professionalism and delivery here is unmatched. read more

Very nice place. Clean, friendly, extra modern equipment. Wonderful choices for frames. I highly recommend.

I broke my glasses 1 week before leaving the country for a trip and they were able to rush order me a new pair in 6 days at a great price. The manager, Christopher, and AJ were especially helpful. Would definitely recommend Big City Optical! read more

I went here for my annual eye exam and Dr. Li is amazing. She is very thorough and I had a very positive experience. She made sure all my questions are answered and gave sufficient time for my check-up. Tony helped me select my frame and made sure I get the best one close to my budget. Wearing my new glasses now and they are as perfect as they can be. The entire experience was seamless, hasslefree and quick. I will be definitely coming here again this year for my annual check-up. And I recommend this place to everyone staying in Lakeview east. read more

I walked in just to ask to get my new sunglasses fitted on a whim and ended up with a great experience! Tony, Jess and Emily are so friendly! I asked about getting an eye exam and they were able to check my insurance within minutes and get me in the next day (they could've the same day but I had plans). After the doctor gave Tony my eye info he was able to get me quotes for all the frames I picked out within minutes and I ordered a new pair of glasses that same day. They came in the estimated amount of time and are perfect. All around a great experience for something that normally wouldn't be fun. read more

I had a great experience here. Jessica the Assistant Manager is great n so is Dr Richard Schrenzel. I was told he doesnt come to this outlet much but i would definitely ask for him if u wan yr eyes checked. He's great at troubleshooting n u can tell he is very experienced n thorough. Thank u Jessica n team for providing great customer service. read more

Chuck and Tony made purchasing my first pair of frames so fun and their store is so inviting- even to your pups! It was personalized to me- I wish they could be the ones to help me pick out my future wedding dress! read more

There were a few miscommunications but everything was resolved due to the awesome folks that work here. Special thanks to Chuck who helped me pick frames and made everything right. read more

I went in to ask for help with my eyeglasses that needed repair and the staff was great with a quick fix and did not charge me. Thanks!