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    Big City Optical

    4.5 (43 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - Big City Optical

    Eye exams

    Eye testing and diagnosis

    Eyewear fitting

    1 More Service

    Retinal imaging

    Big City Optical Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Big City Optical

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    Reviews With Photos

    Big City Optical
    Lynn B.

    This place is so fabulous. I truly can't say enough about Barbara, Cole and Chuck. They are smart, collaborative, have a collective great aesthetic sense and are just very helpful. I'm switching to THIS location because of the excellence I've experienced here today. These people have a terrific work ethic--and what your grandfather would've called "Can Do" sensibility. You go for the service. Everybody knows eyeglasses are going to be expensive. This company knows what they are doing. Clearly, I am knocked out by them.

    Adela M.

    I haven't wanted to schedule an eye doctor appointment since the start of the pandemic, but it was really time for a new prescription. Thankfully, Big City Optical was not only amazing on the customer service front, but also their cleanliness during Covid times. Chuck and company were a joy to work with to get check ups and glasses for myself and my family. They had a really stylish selection of frames, everything was explained to me easily on the pricing front, and I felt taken care of. Hands down the best experience I've had in my 20+ years of wearing glasses. Can't wait to pick up my pairs!

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    2 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Disgustingly incompetent workers broke my frame within 5 seconds. Not remotely apologetic. Told me they broke it like how I asked them to.

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    7 months ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Amazing selection and Nathan, Mary, and Dr. Larisa were incredible! Definitely recommend

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Big City Optical

    How do I buy glasses that I see on Big City web site? Ideally at a location convenient to me (Evanston), where I can try on the chosen frames.

    Hello John. My team should be reaching out to you. We would transfer in the frame along with others if that’s what was needed. Would you please share your last name and I will have someone call you.

    Does this location do lense replacements (new prescription) for Lindberg Frames? What is the price range for eye exams? Thanks!

    Yes we are able to replace lenses on a Lindberg frame. We accept all vision plans and that usually ends up to be the most affordable. If you don’t currently have a vision plan our eye exams are $84. Hope to see you soon!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Big City Optical

    Nice location, decent selection of frames, and friendly and knowledgeable staff (Chuck and Barbara).

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Evanston Eye Wellness

    Evanston Eye Wellness

    4.1(53 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Certified professionals
    Offers payment plans

    Unethical Billing, Aggressive Manager, and Hidden $140 Fees. AVOID…read more My experience was a nightmare due to non-transparent pricing and aggressively poor management. The initial scheduling call was confusing, and upon arrival, I was rushed to sign waivers with no visible price list. I was there for a simple annual exam with a $10 co-pay, which I confirmed with the staff. After the exam (where the doctor and technician were excellent), the manager demanded $150, claiming a mandatory $140 contact lens fitting fee. This fee was never disclosed, nor was I informed my specific contacts would void my insurance coverage. Eventually it was uncovered that the fee was only there because the particular brand THAT I WALKED IN WITH was a level 2 which was never disclosed. I did not even need a prescription for contacts so this was all hilarious When I requested an itemized bill, the manager was incredibly argumentative, claiming, "we don't do bills," and demanding immediate payment. After demanding to involve the doctor, the manager reluctantly accepted the $10 co-pay but retracted my contact lens prescription and trial lenses (which hilariously I had just signed a document required by illinois law stating that I had received contact lens prescriptions). This is a complete bait-and-switch operation driven by incompetent staff. Save yourself the headache and the surprise bill--avoid this establishment entirely. I hope the technician and eye doctor find employment elsewhere as they were lovely. Please retrain all your non medical staff immediately.

    In an emergency situation this place came through for me. I didn't notice my glasses were crooked…read moreuntil this morning & I needed them today. Not only did this place repair them but also cleaned them & did I mention that the beautiful young lady didn't charge me a single dime. Customer service of this magnitude is rare.

    Photos
    Evanston Eye Wellness
    Evanston Eye Wellness
    Evanston Eye Wellness

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    CustomEyes Evanston

    CustomEyes Evanston

    4.4(18 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    If I could give 0 stars, I would. I have been going to Custom Eyes in Roscoe Village since 2009…read moreand downtown since 2010 and have had absolutely phenomenal experiences at both locations. The staff were lovely, the service wonderful, and the glasses beautiful. When I moved to Wilmette, I found this was the closest location to my new home, and I will never go back after what I experienced. My husband went first, and told me the staff were obnoxious and aggressive about selling glasses, which was the opposite of our experiences over the last 15+years at the other locations. I went to see for myself, and completely agree. The woman was rude, pushy, and judgmental. When I told her I wanted a second pair and therefore did not want to spend a lot, she got very nasty and rude, and bristled at my decision. When I came to pick up my glasses, she completely ignored me, turning her attention to shoppers and those waiting to see the doctor who obviously did not need to be helped. Her behavior was classless and rude, and she cheapened the experience when clearly this establishment has beautiful items and is part of a lovely larger chain. Evanston, you can learn a lot from the Southport, Roscoe, and LaSalle locations - they have it together! Your nastiness and judgement have no place in such a sweet neighborhood. Please treat customers kindly and respectfully and reserve your judgement for your own purchases.

    Oh how I love CustomEyes. When my off-the-shelf readers went to 3.5 and my long distance was no…read morelonger perfect, it was time for progressives. I stopped in at lots of shops and after a visit to CustomEyes I never looked back. The eye business there is personal -- it's about expertise, customer service, and looking good. I cannot believe how many compliments I continue to get on the glasses I've bought at CustomEyes. Manager Laura is wonderful and her staff is a warm and caring bunch. Patient, too! After my first time, everyone in the shop knew my preferences. They are each expert at finding the glasses not that simply look good but that look great. I never stop in without an offer to clean my glasses or check the fit. It's a pleasure to do business there.

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    CustomEyes Evanston
    CustomEyes Evanston
    CustomEyes Evanston

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    I-F Optical Company

    I-F Optical Company

    4.2(15 reviews)
    2.7 miWest Rogers Park
    $$

    I had a new stronger RX from my Optimologist so of course. I looked at only two name-brand stores…read moreLenscrafter and Pearl Vision. the others America's best, vision works, four eyes. We're giving two fair price of one. It wasn't interested in those. I needed Progressive or transitional. lenses were something special. I found out that. The only two brand stores I was interested in buying glasses from had merged and there were both the same companies. both had merged into an Italian lense conglomerate I also learned that almost all of them send their lenses to the same few labs some of the labs were overseas so that's why it takes two or three weeks before you get your glasses back Now I just did not know Where to go with my new prescription A neighbor said he got glasses on Touhy & California thought I'd try it. The very important measuring it determines if you're going to see out of your glasses well or not, so these people how to measure they were using all kinds of strange instruments measuring all kinds of ways for more than an hour It was the best measurement I. ever had. another happy surprise was when I got my new glasses back in just a few days another If that wasn't enough. my bill was very reasonable In comparison with. PearlVision and Lenscrafter's well somebody's got to pay for all that advertising. I've been wearing my new Prescription. glasses with. progressive lenses. for a couple of days and I can see much sharper with them so when I need glasses again, I'm going to go there again. I'm glad my neighbor told me about this place

    1-F Optical is amazing. Beautiful store with all the brands! I went in to get my sunglasses…read morerealigned and they did it for free!

    Hauser-Ross Eye Institute - VZN Eye Care

    Hauser-Ross Eye Institute - VZN Eye Care

    2.9(80 reviews)
    3.1 miRogers Park
    $$

    The folks here have been extremely professional, especially keeping patients safe, even offering a…read moremask when mine broke. I had a nose pad fall off a pair of glasses I bought from them two years ago. They not only did the repair, they even replaced the remaining pad at no extra cost. I'm glad to do business with people who truly care about their clients.

    I was hesitant to go here, as it has a very unassuming exterior and seemingly limited frame…read moreselection and honestly just booked an appointment because I live nearby and needed a new prescription for my lenses. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by my experience!! I had a bit of a wait time before my appointment, but the exam did not take long at all. We figured out my new prescription and then talked about my previous contacts to see if a switch should be made (I was recommended a new daily lens that is good for people with allergies and struggle with dryness- they are AMAZING). They also tested my vision while wearing the new contacts in order to verify that they were the best choice (no other place has done this for me before) and determined to change the prescription a bit. This attention to detail means a lot and made my experience all the better. I had an evening appointment and by the time I was ready to pick my frames, they had technically closed, but they stayed with me and did not rush me at all in picking out my frames. I was very grateful for this! They made sure I had frames that suited me even though I am indecisive and they had already closed. The frames ended up being perfect and my overall favorite pair of glasses ever! This is a feat considering I hadn't changed frames in 3 years. Also, the lenses themselves are phenomenal and the prescription does not change at all even when looking out of the edges of the lenses. Amazing overall!

    Photos
    Hauser-Ross Eye Institute - VZN Eye Care
    Hauser-Ross Eye Institute - VZN Eye Care
    Hauser-Ross Eye Institute - VZN Eye Care

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    Big City Optical - optometrists - Updated May 2026

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